Forum Post: Solutions to Problems?
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 3, 2011, 11:08 a.m. EST by CoExist
(178)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
It is common in our mass-media to read and to hear commentators talk about the number of social problems that face us today, such as global warming, destruction of Earth's environment, unemployment, crime, violence, poverty, hunger, and the population explosion.
Yet, how often do we hear of workable plans for alleviating many of these social problems? It is relatively simple for people to criticize society, however it's much more difficult to identify and implement plans to resolve the problems.
What are the Solutions to these Problems?
Global Warming - Solution: Reclaiming and restoring the natural environment to the best of our ability. Developing and using clean renewable energy sources. Requiring environmental impact studies prior to construction of any mega projects.
Violence - Solution?
Unemployment - Solution?
Crime - Solution?
Poverty - Solution: In order to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, poverty we must go back to the drawing board. Concepts, institutions, and framing conditions which created poverty cannot end poverty. If we can intelligently rework these framing conditions, poverty will be gone, never to come back again.
Hunger - Solution?
Population - Solution: A new educational system that teaches relevant information to the times through proper education and voluntary birth control. Enhancing communication in schools so that our language is relevant to the physical conditions of the world.
Government - Solution: Gradually outgrow corporate entities and governments, local, national, or international as means of social management. Transcending the artificial boundaries that currently and arbitrarily separate people.
Economy - Solution?
Military - Solution?
Corporations - Solution?
Resources - Solution?
Pollution - Solution?
The ugly truth. America's wealth is STILL being concentrated. When the rich get too rich, the poor get poorer. These latest figures prove it. AGAIN.
According to the Social Security Administration, 50 percent of U.S. workers made less than $26,364 in 2010. In addition, those making less than $200,000, or 99 percent of Americans, saw their earnings fall by $4.5 billion collectively. The sobering numbers were a far cry from what was going on for the richest one percent of Americans.
The incomes of the top one percent of the wage scale in the U.S. rose in 2010; and their collective wage earnings jumped by $120 billion. In addition, those earning at least $1 million a year in wages, which is roughly 93,000 Americans, reported payroll income jumped 22 percent from 2009. Overall, the economy has shed 5.2 million jobs since the start of the Great Recession in 2007. It’s the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression in the 1930’s.
Another word about the first Great Depression. It really was a perfect storm. Caused almost entirely by greed. First, there was unprecedented economic growth. There was a massive building spree. There was a growing sense of optimism and materialism. There was a growing obsession for celebrities. The American people became spoiled, foolish, naive, brainwashed, and love-sick. They were bombarded with ads for one product or service after another. Encouraged to spend all of their money as if it were going out of style. Obscene profits were hoarded at the top. In 1928, the rich were already way ahead. Still, they were given huge tax breaks. All of this represented a MASSIVE transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Executives, entrepreneurs, developers, celebrities, and share holders. By 1929, America's wealthiest 1 percent had accumulated 44 percent of all United States wealth. The upper, middle, and lower classes were left to share the rest. When the lower majority finally ran low on money to spend, profits declined and the stock market crashed.
Of course, the rich threw a fit and started cutting jobs. They would stop at nothing to maintain their disgusting profit margins and ill-gotten obscene levels of wealth as long as possible. The small business owners did what they felt necessary to survive. They cut more jobs. The losses were felt primarily by the little guy. This created a domino effect. The middle class shrunk drastically and the lower class expanded. With less wealth in reserve and active circulation, banks failed by the hundreds. More jobs were cut. Unemployment reached 25% in 1933. The worst year of the Great Depression. Those who were employed had to settle for much lower wages. Millions went cold and hungry. The recovery involved a massive infusion of new currency, a World War, and higher taxes on the rich. With so many men in the service, so many women on the production line, and those higher taxes to help pay for it, some US wealth was gradually transferred back down to the majority. This redistribution of wealth continued until the mid seventies. By 1976, the richest 1 percent held less than 20 percent. The lower majority held the rest. This was the recovery. A partial redistribution of wealth. Then it began to concentrate all over again. Here we are 35 years later. The richest one percent now own over 40 percent of all US wealth. The upper, middle, and lower classes are sharing the rest. This is true even after taxes, welfare, financial aid, and charity. It is the underlying cause. No redistribution. No recovery.
The government won't step in and do what's necessary. Not this time. It's up to us. Support small business more and big business less. Support the little guy more and the big guy less. It's tricky but not impossible.
No redistribution. No recovery.
Those of you who agree on these major issues are welcome to summarize this post, copy it, link to it, save it, show a friend, or spread the word in any fashion. Most major cities have daily call-in talk radio shows. You can reach thousands of people at once. They should know the ugly truth. Be sure to quote the figures which prove that America's wealth is still being concentrated. I don't care who takes the credit. We are up against a tiny but very powerful minority who have more influence on the masses than any other group in history. They have the means to reach millions at once with outrageous political and commercial propaganda. Those of us who speak the ugly truth must work incredibly hard just to be heard.
I think your thinking too far ahead, you need to fix the current situation with government leaders and corporations first before any of those problems can be truly be resolved. I beleive you need to start at the core...
Yes I agree but this group can bypass such a government and create our own solutions. We can't wait for them to get their act together. Perhaps they are oblivious.
In order to do what your proposing ,I think there is only one way to accomplish this.... by example
I believe this is occurring is it not?
It is....
If you want it to be. One must believe to see not see to believe. Have you ever looked into the assemblage point? There is a lot more going on than meets the eye my friend.
I glad to hear it,
The focus needs to change from "Let's Agree to Disagree" to "Let's make MORE EFFORT to Find Reasons to AGREE".
So often, it has become that you have your ideas and I have mine, so let's keep them separate and try to avoid bothering each other.
As you can see, the idea of this is IMPOSSIBLE, there is no way for individual ideas not to overlap each other and not have a direct or indirect affect on each other.
There are too many of us and our existence is interdependent whether we like it or not.
I don't have to be homeless to understand that it would difficult to survive without a home.
I don't have to become gay to understand how unfair it would feel not to have the same rights as heterosexual couples do.
I don't have to be black or any other race to know that basing a person's ability on physical characteristics is ludacris.
Hi. My name is (black/asian/hispanic/african/indian). Or Hi. My name is (Mr./Mrs./Miss) and it just so happens I am (asian/hispanic/italian/black).
You don't have to abandon your current status or beliefs to empathize and relate to others who have a different background than you do.
It would take more effort to find a basic understanding, but the benefits of this outweigh the efforts.
There is no doubt that it would create a more tolerant, pleasant, and civil society for ALL of us to co-exist in.
It has become easier and easier for society to isolate our minds as well as our physical bodies to avoid further and increased tolerance of others and their ideas.
Media/Social media should be used as a SECONDARY way to ENHANCE and further unite and strengthen society.
Unfortunately, it has become a PRIMARY tool to isolate and remain in our own narrow-minded comfort zones with just a click of a button.
People see Freedom as an entitlement, but taking this for granted leads to its abuse.
I would like to view your post
Nothing is impossible. We are solving problems and will not entertain any limitations that do not bring us to our goals.
The focus needs to change from "Let's Agree to Disagree" to "Let's make MORE EFFORT to Find Reasons to AGREE".
So often, it has become that you have your ideas and I have mine, so let's keep them separate and try to avoid bothering each other.
As you can see, the idea of this is IMPOSSIBLE, there is no way for individual ideas not to overlap each other and not have a direct or indirect affect on each other.
There are too many of us and our existence is interdependent whether we like it or not.
I don't have to be homeless to understand that it would difficult to survive without a home.
I don't have to become gay to understand how unfair it would feel not to have the same rights as heterosexual couples do.
I don't have to be black or any other race to know that basing a person's ability on physical characteristics is ludacris.
Hi. My name is (black/asian/hispanic/african/indian). Or Hi. My name is (Mr./Mrs./Miss) and it just so happens I am (asian/hispanic/italian/black).
You don't have to abandon your current status or beliefs to empathize and relate to others who have a different background than you do.
It would take more effort to find a basic understanding, but the benefits of this outweigh the efforts.
There is no doubt that it would create a more tolerant, pleasant, and civil society for ALL of us to co-exist in.
It has become easier and easier for society to isolate our minds as well as our physical bodies to avoid further and increased tolerance of others and their ideas.
Media/Social media should be used as a SECONDARY way to ENHANCE and further unite and strengthen society.
Unfortunately, it has become a PRIMARY tool to isolate and remain in our own narrow-minded comfort zones with just a click of a button.
People see Freedom as an entitlement, but taking this for granted leads to its abuse.
What are your solutions? If we can agree on this we are making progress.
The Solution to the problem is Impeach Congress,The Supreme Court,bought and paid for public servants of banks and corporations..Printing 50 trillion dollars backed by no goods or services,bailing out and gave bonuses to the richest people on Earth..The same people who bankrupted the world economy..High Treason is the charge.. Arrest House of Rothschild,Rockefeller,Bush1,2 for crimes against humanity,mass murder,genocide,market manipulation,money laundering,torture,financial terrorism,High Treason..Seize their assets,distribute to the people of the world,the ones these transnationals stole it from..We will stimulate the economy.. Forgive the debt, based on fiat currency..,is a fake debt,,,
Thank you for your solutions.
The web gives us a public forum for identifying and recommending solutions to problems. If OWS does nothing else, it can be the beginning of a national conversation on how to use government to solve problems.
First, build a list of problems and then build a list of solutions for each problem and then prioritize and build an action plan.
We need to document where we want to go, current problems, proposed solutions and then get agreement to implement the solutions.
We need support from all political factions that the ideas are acceptable to a majority of their members. We need consensus if we are to achieve our goals.
I agree this is what we are trying to accomplish. Problem - Reaction - Solution
I feel the same way. If you have a chance read Wildfire:The Legislation that Ignited the Great Recession, it lists solutions to America's recession...nothing about global warming though.
The issues posted are front and center on most peoples minds on experiences that need to be changed. If global warming is a problem do you think we can solve it? If you do not believe in global warming how about the earths environment, any solutions?
I do believe global warming is a problem and absolutely we can solve it. I'm not in a position to know all the facts but I do know that man-made problems almost always have man-made solutions. If I were in a position to study the problem full-time, I am certain I could develop a team that could solve the problem. Really any intelligent person could do this. Any intelligent person without influence from corporations and lobbyists which severely limits the pool.
I agree with you on this. We need a think-tank that is able to take problems and create real solutions not band-aids. Thanks
Agreed. Look to who will be losing out on money and you will find your answer.
Thanks I'll give it a read.
If you have a chance read Wildfire:The Legislation that Ignited the Great Recession, same premise, follow the money!
I just bought that yesterday on Amazon. If you have a chance, you should read "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight" :)
I also bought Wildfire:The Legislation that Ignited the Great Recession yesterday. 1 copy for me and 5 more to send to friends in an effort to spread the word about ending greed in America.
Global warming may/may not exist.
Crime and violence are human nature.
Poverty and hunger will always exist, people just aren't as willing to help others as some would like to think. Forcing them to do so would not be freedom.
Population explosion is inevitable.
You see no problems with humanities current course? Perhaps some other issues could be listed? Is there nothing you would change?
Unemployment, crime, violence, poverty, and hunger would gradually decrease with a more reasonable distribution of income and bottom line wealth. I have some ideas about that.
Spend your money as wisely as possible. Especially in middle and lower class communities. Check the Fortune 500 list and limit your support of high profit/low labor industries (Hollywood, pro sports, energy, credit, pharmaceutical, cable, satelite, internet advertising, video, and music, cell phone, high fashion, jewelry, ect.). Cancel all but one credit card for emergencies only. Call the provider and demand a lower rate. Be persistent. You may get it. (By the way. I gave this piece of advice long before NBC. I'm not looking for kudos. I'm telling you that NBC is directly affiliated with the credit industry. They could have given you this piece of advice years ago. Instead, they stood by and allowed their parent company, sister companies, and network sponsors to RIP YOU OFF. Even now, they give the occasional 'good guy' financial advice only because they are pressured to do so. They carefully balance every piece of 'good guy' advice with their primary goal to GET YOUR MONEY. Which is why their 'good guy' advice is so often followed by a plug for one of their sister companies, sister channels, network sponsors, or coorporate partners. For example: They tell you to pay down your credit card debt. Good advice. They should have given it years ago. Then, they tell you to GET MORE CREDIT CARDS and use them. Bad advice. One week Jean Chatzky tells you to avoid the 'free credit report' scam because it is always followed by a monthly service charge. Good advice. They should have given it years ago. The following week she stands by as her paid fellow advisor Carmen Wong strongly implies for you to have your credit monitered on a monthly basis and praises a caller for doing so. Bad advice. This is actually a plug for one of their network sponsors, coorporate partners, or parent company. The praise is nothing but a psychological trick. DON'T FALL FOR IT. Don't take ANYTHING they say at face value. Instead, read between the lines. Carefully weigh every piece of 'good guy' advice given against their primary goal. THEY WANT YOUR MONEY.). If you need a cell phone, then do your homework and find the best deal on a local pre-pay. You may be able to get one for as little as $10 a month. Don't text. The charge may seem low at the time but their profit margins are obscene. If you want home internet access, then check for a locally based provider. They can be found in nearly every city nationwide. Otherwise, use the least expensive big name provider, and share accounts whenever possible. If you need to search, then use the less popular search engines. They usually produce about same results anyway. Don't pay for any internet download. Their profit margins for such data transfers are obscene. Don’t pay to see any blockbuster movie. Instead, wait a few months and rent the DVD from a local store, borrow it, or buy it USED. Then loan it to a friend or family member. If you prefer the outing, then choose a film produced by the lesser known studeos with lower paid actors. If you want to see a big name game or event, then watch it in a local bar, club, or at home on network TV. Don’t buy any high end official merchandise and don’t support the high end sponsors. If its endorsed by a big name celebrity, then don’t buy it. If you can afford a new car, then make an exception for GM, Ford, and Dodge. If they don’t increase their market share soon, then a lot more people are going to get screwed out of their pensions and/or benefits. Of course, you must know by now to avoid those big trucks and SUVs unless you truly need one for its utility. Don’t be ashamed to buy a foreign car if you prefer it. Afterall, those with the most fuel efficient vehicles consume a lot less foreign oil. Which accounts for a pretty big chunk of our trade deficit. Its a reasonable trade-off. Anyway, the global economy is worth supporting to some extent. Its the obscene profit margins, trade deficits, and BS from OPEC that get us into trouble. Otherwise, the global economy would be a good thing for everyone. Just keep in mind that the big 3 are struggling and they do produce a few smaller reliable cars. Don’t frequent any high end department store, mall, or any business in a newly developed center or upper class community. By doing so, you encourage greedy developers, make them richer, and draw vital support away from industrial areas and away from the middle and lower class communities. Instead, support the local retailer and the less popular shopping centers. Especially in lower or middle class communities. If you can afford to buy a home, then do so. But go smaller and less expensive. Don’t get yourself in too deep and don’t buy into the newly developed condos or gated communities. Instead, find a modest home in a building or neighborhood at least 20 years old. If you live in one of the poorer states, then try to support its economy first and foremost.
Could you condense these issues point by point? We can use this data.
Be on the lookout for commercial brainwash plots on TV. They are written into nearly every scene of nearly every show. Most cater to network sponsors, coorporate partners, and parent companies. Especially commercial health care. In particular, high profit pharmaceuticals and excessive medical testing. These plugs are countless, calculated, and VERY well written. They have commercial brainwashing down to a science. DON'T FALL FOR IT. Get off the couch and take care of your own body the way nature intended. There is no substitute. If you must see a doctor, then DEMAND that he/she give you more than 5 minutes of their undivided attention. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Be prepared with written questions about your condition and get them answered one at a time. If they refuse, then dispute their unreasonable charges. If they prescribe excessive medical testing, then ask if they personally own the equipment or if they are paid a commission for each test. If they find nothing new or signifigant, then dispute their unreasonable charges. If they prescribe a pharmaceutical, then ask for a generic. Better yet, concider a change in lifestyle or simple tolerance. If they still recommend the name brand pharmaceutical, then ask about any financial ties or conflict of interest. If they get offended, then dispute their unreasonable charges and consider a new doctor. If you must drug away your sniffles, worries, jitters, aches, and pains, then at least do your homework. Be aware of the possible side-effects ahead of time. Don't be surprised to find yourself back a week or two later feeling worse. In which case, you should dispute their unreasonable charges. If you are diagnosed with another medical condition, then ask your doctor what he/she has done to rule out those possible side-effects. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Don't let any greedy doctor treat you like a number, make you wait an hour, or rush you out of their office. Otherwise, dispute their unreasonable charges. Don't fall for this CRAP that doctors have no choice but to over-book their time or over-charge their patients because of a high overhead. ITS A LIE. YOUR DOCTOR IS MOST LIKELY A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE. The same goes for their bogus claim to over-test so many of their patients because they are afraid of missing something and being sued for it. THAT IS ANOTHER FLAT-OUT LIE. Afterall, if this were true, then it would only explain some of the unnecessary testing. NOT THE OBSCENE CHARGES. It also wouldn't explain their own financial ties directly to the manufacturers of said testing equipment. Thats right. Most doctors hold stock in the very same companies that produce that equipment. Its another conflict of interest. So don't fall for their CRAP. Demand their undivided attention and respect. Afterall, they took an oath. If you have the opportunity before being admitted, then check the record of your hospital. Check to see if they have been investigated or sued for providing unnecessary treatment, excessive medical testing, or fraudulent billing. Dozens have already been caught doing so. Do all of the above regardless of your coverage. Don't force your employer to cover the obscene and often fraudulent charges of a corrupt health care industry. By doing so, you make the problem worse. Keep your guard up when watching ANY talk show. These people are not your friends. They are not your advocates. They are paid actors hired to get your attention and your money. Some of them are also executive producers (Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, and Dr Phil.). Nearly every word, smile, and stupid joke is rehearsed ahead of time. Including those which take place so often during what appear to be 'technical oversights' (Today Show. Even their stage hands are mixed in behind the scenes so that you can hear them laugh at every stupid joke.). Its all fake. Its all calculated. These people are not trying to make the world a happy place. They are trying to entertain you only because their marketing studies have shown that you are more likely to drop your guard and support their sponsors. Nearly every segment is about marketing some over-priced product or service. They will use any excuse to plug a gadget, fashion item, travel destonation, credit card, university, drug, medical test, surgical procedure, movie, TV show, book, magazine, song, website, ect. Almost all of it over-priced. Almost all of it resulting in higher profits for their sponsors, partners, and parent companies. DON'T FALL FOR IT.
So what do you propose we do about this?
Keep your guard up. Don't fall for it.
Your thinking a possible ruse? Who is playing who I wonder? Your thoughts........
I was just referring to the marketing tricks.
I see, perhaps its our own ideas and imagination thats playing tricks on us.
Big business is fine on occasion depending on their product, ethics, employment, profit margins, and profit sharing. Do your homework. If they are screwing up our economy or society, then don't pay them for it. If you want to support any legitimate charity, then do so directly. Never support any celebrity foundation. Don't be fooled by the sale of baby photos, lies about percentage of income donated, or praise from other well known public figures. Celebrity foundations are CRAP. They spend most of their funding on PR campaigns, exotic travel, and super high end accomodations for themselves. Thats right. Filthy rich public figures have been jet-setting the world in the name of 'humanity' for years. Riding in personal jets, staying in super-exclusive resorts, and living it up in exotic locations around the world the likes of which most people could never afford even if their lives depended on it. They bring along agents, advisors, publicists, hair, make-up, wardrobe, lighting, and photo crews who are also in it for themselves. They are paid six or seven figures for their part to schedule, manage, document, showcase, praise, and publicize the 'good will' of said public figures and their respective industries. Every possible expense is passed of as 'incidental' or 'necessary' and billed right back to some 'foundation' named after said public figure and/or respective industry. Every possible tax deduction is claimed. Which are incredibly vague and diverse thanks to our sold-out government. Deals are cut with major networks who agree to praise the 'good will' or 'humanitarian' effort of said public figures and plug their latest commercial project around the same time. Others from around the world pick up the story and save these industries billions in advertising every year. Resulting in higher profits and paychecks for the 1% club. When its all said and done more wealth is transfered from poor to rich. NOT the other way around. So don't support any charity named after a living celebrity. Don't be fooled or inspired by any photo you see in a magazine, any clip on TV, any affiliation, or any short term short sighted progress report. Instead, go to Charitywatch.org and look up a top rated charity to support your favorite cause. Its all there. For example: 'Habitat For Humanity' is a top rated charity. They have been for many years. They operate with a low overhead, volunteer workforce, and donated materials. They have built homes for the less fortunate in nearly every city nationwide. Including New Orleans. They do so as we speak. No similar effort can match their progress hour for hour or dollar for dollar. So there is no legitimate reason to support a slower, less efficient effort represented by a filthy rich Hollywood actor who flies in on a personal jet, takes most of the credit, and makes a deal with a major network for plugs just days before the premier of his latest film or DVD release. By doing so, you support not only the inefficient effort, but also the filthy rich actor. Concentrating more wealth and dumbing down our society further in the process. Instead, support 'Habitat For Humanity'. Its not perfect. It is affiliated with some big business. However, it is MUCH more efficient, effective, and less corrupt than 'Make It Right'. The difference is profound. In general, support the little guy as much as possible and the big guy as little as possible.
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Thanks MikeyD. However your solution only creates another problem. Lets focus on Sound Solutions.
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TVP - Is a solution