Forum Post: What happened to our society?
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 7, 2011, 1:15 p.m. EST by TrevorMnemonic
(5827)
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I'm sick of all these rich people telling me to get a job, or calling me lazy or entitled and asking for handouts. I didn't know working 40 hours a week and wanting to make more than 26,000 dollars from one of the biggest media corporations in America made me lazy and entitled. I'm not some low class worker either. I'm the director. They hired me after firing their qualified staff because their qualified staff had done such a great job that they kept giving them raises. But then they cost too much so they fired them. Now they have me that works for half the price and no benefits. Whatever happened to the workers rights I used to read about as a kid? And how unions brought good wages and benefits to the employees? It's funny how people making a lot of money and have healthcare benefits think people making less money don't deserve it. Since those rich people accept healthcare benefits, would that make them lazy and entitled people who accept handouts? What the fuck is happening in America? Is this the caste system in India? They say I have "entitlement issues" yet they think they're better than everyone else? What the fuck?
The coup was in 1913 with the fraudulent passage of the Federal Reserve Act.
This! Everyone must make a fuss about Government Issued Currency, not private currency.
True, i like your moniker "jeffersonjackson1913." We the people must be "our own hero," and inform each other about this issue.
The U.S. Constitution says that the federal government is the one that should be issuing our money.
In particular, according to Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, it is the U.S. Congress that has been given the responsibility to “coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures”.
Our current debt-based monetary system is a perpetual debt machine. It is absolutely imperative that we nationalize the Federal Reserve and begin to issue debt-free money.
It cannot be stated enough how essential and fundamental this is to changing ANYTHING.
I completely agree. North Dakota is an example of publicly controlled money. They have a 1.5 Billion dollar surplus and 3.5% unemployment. Yes, they have oil but so do many other states IE: Texas, Alaska and others all of them in the red.
The PUBLICLY OWNED Bank of North Dakota returned more money to the state than the taxes on their oil production.
See articles at:
http://www.WebOfDebt.com
http://www.TheMoneyMasters.com
http://www.Monetary.org
I completely agree with both of you.
End the PRIVATE issuance and regulation of the monetary system of the United States of America.
Here's the solution.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c112:1:./temp/~c112dvlsYc:e643:
Someone was nice enough to link me this today.
Trevor, i receive a timed out message when i click the link. Is this what you had in mind? The Kucinich bill?
http://www.monetary.org/american-monetary-need-act
Yes. I wanted to use a .gov site but I guess I'll share your link to avoid the timed out search problem. Actually I wonder if you were the person who originally brought that bill to my attention.
that is possible, since i post this link frequently -
http://www.Monetary.org
Stephen Zarlengas book is on my short list of future reading. Also, want to read the recently published book written by the chair and co chair of the 9-11 investigation, "Without Precedent: the Inside Story of the 9-11 Investigation."
All these wars and for what ? - the enrichment of the military industrial complex and the international banking cartel -
Dennis Kucinich was right!
Rage Against the Machine was right!
And Thomas Jefferson was right!
Thanks for posting that link. Since first reading it yesterday I have spammed it everywhere and I have made a vow to call my senators every single day about it until they tell me what they plan to do about it.
YES! I have heard about the North Dakota situation. We must place all efforts here! And The Money Masters documentary is an excellent educational tool. How can we make this the primary conversation?
Get the word out any and every way we can. We must become mini broadcasting units.
Interesting that a plank of the communist manifesto is a central bank, and also that the so called insurgents (that over through Gaddafi) established a central bank very early in the so called revolution.
I think a website is needed. A central place for people to have access to information in order to understand why this is so important. Let's face it, Bill Still doesn't exactly seem too tech savvy.
I know how to build web sites....but more brains would be needed behind this.
A website with two goals: (1) nationalize the Federal Reserve and (2) end the enormous privilege of fractional reserve lending for private banks. State owned banks should be allowed to create loans with fractional reserves.
I'm assuming allowing the state banks to lend with fractional reserves means this is how money would be created?
jeffersonjackson19131 points 12 minutes ago
jeffersonjackson1913: I see, so this would advocate public profits, which, in theory, should go to infrastructure and other public services. In turn, creating a lack of state-debt.
PublicCurrency: before the 17th Ammendment , U.S. Senators were elected by the State Legislatures.
Centralization of power in the federal government was never intended. The Constitution is a limiting document as it explicitly limits the power of the Federal Government and in the 10th Ammendent - all other authority is to the states or the people.
well, that is how our money is created now. . . but the profit is all private.
Ultinately, Congress should create and regulate our currency. But they seem sooo corrupt!
I see, so this would advocate public profits, which, in theory, should go to infrastructure and other public services. In turn, creating a lack of state-debt.
There is a real difference in the way you and they see the world. They do absolutely believe they are superior because everything about their lives reinforces this to them... They deserve what they have while you do not, or else you would have it, too. Thus, what you dont have is clearly your fault, and as an undeserving person, it is not their responsibility to pay you more than a paltry sum. This is based on psychological studies into the differences between rich and not rich, and is not an idea I generated.
Also known as the caste system in India. It's bullshit.
I concur, but that does nothing to change it... First step toward change, define what is wrong...
I've defined what's wrong on a ton of posts already. I've even suggested, similarly to what many others agree with and have suggested themselves, several amendments and new laws and even boycotts. I don't want to keep copying and pasting the same thing so my posts differ each time.
Yeah, i can understand that... So how would you take action? What can you as an individual do to affect the thinking of people who dont recognize you as a peer?
I read an article about the dc koch protest by a reporter who was inside the building. He wrote as an observer, and kept his opinion out, so it was factual without bias. He saw koch at the window looking down at the protestors. Later the woman giving the introduction put photos of that scene up on screen. She said something like "this is what success looks like". Meaning that you know youre successful when the people rise up against you, is what i got from it....
How do you even start a conversation with someone like that? Let them eat cake....
There is a chart that shows the decline of union membership along side the decline in median wages. They correlate almost exactly along the same slope. Union breaking started decades ago and our standard of living has declined since.
what happened is people started thinking that there was some kind of competition about who has the most money. its a game that the people at the very top dont even play. its a game for slaves.
it's like that Eddie Murphy movie trading places.
The answer from the elite: Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.
Need your help. pl. click the link and sign the petition to send the message to politicians and fix our economic problems. Need millions of signatures to get politicians attention and make this work. Here is the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/members-of-congress-and-senators-fix-the-economy-and-balance-the-budget-now?pe=d4e
I live in Texas where unions are not allowed and people are fired for real reasons. Workers have rights but whether the people know them or not is not the corporation's issue. Did you consider that maybe their contracts were up? The company wanted new direction? Or learned from mistakes with the precious staff? No, of course not. Oh poor you right? No rights, never negotiated with the company. Well boohoo man. I work 40hrs a week for $13,000/year BEFORE taxes (and I do not resent the company I work for because of my "low wages" a fucking monkey could do a lot of the work). I am also a full time student. And I have no family support to do this, I have my own rent, utilities, cell phone, car insurance ect that I pay. So yes you, like so many others these days, sound lazy and entitled.
It's a part of a large recurring cycle. During inflationary periods(usually with high population growth) with increased workforce efficiency the demand for labor reduces while the demand for capital increases. Wages can no longer keep up with inflation as the demand is no longer as high in proportion to the population as it once was. Increased efficiency means corporations make more profit and so inequality in wealth increases.
As there is a need for more capital the intermediaries who are able to increase the flow of money (banks and investment institutions) receive more from each dollar then ever before. Money-changers become more important among society and start taking in unrealistically high wages compared to the stagnant wages of the laborer.
It's happened many times before. The crash in 2008 was a catalyst for what we are seeing today, though it was not the sole reason behind it. It ingrained in companies and corporations the concept that unlimited growth is not feasible and led to a period of workforce contractions throughout the world so that companies reflected that change in overall beliefs. Currently they have just enough workers to sustain themselves while turning out record profits. As long as things stay constant the corporations will be content with their role in sustaining as opposed to growing.
However, this puts the population in a bad situation. As most of what we need can be supplied with much less labor then previously how can we bring ourselves out of this mess? In the past there have been many different events that solved this problem that we are having today.
In the 14th century it was famine and plague that did it; reducing the population enough so that demand was in such high labor that wages had to increase, while prices decreased. Not so long after, the Renaissance began.
After the price revolution of the 16th century plagues and famine were much less severe as before. War occurred in this period at a much higher frequency then it did in prior periods. Revolutions and revolts occurred throughout the European continent. Perhaps it was a result of all the fighting, the low birth rates, the famines, and the epidemics that normalcy finally returned. Whatever it was the enlightenment followed shortly after; wages rose and prices once again declined, bringing with it a more equal distribution of wealth, more productivity and increased production.
The 18th century brought with it financial collapses, increased prices, stagnant wages, civil unrest, and many more revolutions and revolts. The rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Speculation grew very popular in this age. Again society had reached its peak only to see the long growth in prices and stagnant wages produce an instability among the populations and among government, as debts soared out of control, and measures to increase revenues enraged more and more people. This period in time led to the founding of America, the French revolution, the polish revolution, the portugese revolt, the Spanish revolutions, the serb revolt, and many many more including the Napoleonic Wars to cap it off.
You are not alone. I feel for young people. In some ways it's worse for the older people because we actually remember what it was like in America before the thieves stole it all. You are right. Don't despair. Keep voicing your opinion. You have millions of supporters.
Thanks! Keep up the good fight!
I know. We have come to base our ideas about merit solely on wealth. Your not any good at anything, unless you make a lot of $$.
If you have not, please read Wildfire: The Legislation That Ignited the Great Recession. It talks about the 1%ers in frank terms and outs them for the scumbags they are. It is apparently difficult for them to envision a world other than the one they have been given most of their lives..old money.
This is what happened:
We were all born with a natural instinct to gather and store for survival. A natural instinct to care for family and community. This is human nature.
When modern society was formed, we began to sell out our natural instincts. Survival turned into survival with a little more elbow room. Then survival with a little more elbow room and a nice view. Then survival with a little more elbow room, a nice view, and something pretty to hang around our neck.
Fast forward a few thousand years. With the industrial revolution, came mechanized transportation, modern housing, air conditioning, and television.
We had become somewhat spoiled. Somewhat motivated. Still relatively down to Earth. Still modest enough to appreciate one another, care for one another, and work towards a common goal.
Along the way, the potential for increased personal wealth became more and more intoxicating. Now, the vast overwhelming majority want to be rich. They want it so badly, they are willing to sell out basic morality to attain it. They WILL sell out basic morality if given the opportunity.
How can I be so sure? That's easy. Human nature plus years of corrupt influence plus opportunity.
Mother Nature did not plan for modern society. She did not plan for extreme personal wealth. Once attained, we become fully intoxicated. We simply can not process the concept without being corrupted by it. Without compromising our basic morality.
Extreme personal wealth is the single greatest corrupt influence of modern society. With every 'zero' on the paycheck, our basic instincts to care for family and community are compromised.
Those of you who still aren't convinced, consider this:
If God himself gave you the power to end poverty, bring about world peace, and take a bonus of $100,000,000 for yourself, would you do it?
If God himself gave you the power to end poverty, bring about world peace, OR take a bonus of $100,000,000 for yourself, which would you choose?
Which would the vast overwhelming majority choose?
Why are the richest men and women in the world so incredibly determined to get even richer?
How did the world's wealth become so incredibly concentrated?
Why is the concept of a partial redistribution for the good of all so incredibly divisive and controversial?
How is it that virtually every developed nation in the world has become riddled with fear, instability, and rising debt?
How have so many world leaders and those affiliated become even richer as their own economies falter?
The answer is greed. An obsessive desire for extreme personal wealth. It's become a worldwide epidemic.
Not only is the greatest concentration of wealth in world history the single greatest underlying cause of economic instability. The very concept of extreme personal wealth is the most intoxicating and corrupt influence in the history of mankind. There will be no recovery.
World peace. But only because if true world peace existed, I don't think one hundred million dollars would really matter.
Most people would choose the million dollars. It's similar to the "die to save the world or hope the world doesn't end when that meteor is heading right toward the planet" theory. Bruce Willis did it.
The whole world will wake up when it personally affects everyone, or at least 60%.
Tyler Dirden said it best, It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.
[Removed]
Woodrow Wilson =statist
Yeah, that reads like a 'director' wrote it. And I'd love to know what your reading material was as a kid when you were reading about 'workers rights.' No idea what you really do for a living but fiction writing is not in the realm of possibility.
My social studies classes in middle school had a ton of material on unions and labor laws.
"They hired me after firing their qualified staff"
Er, I think you just inadvertently answered your own question as to why you are paid low wages.
I am highly qualified. I have produced, edited, and directed media for 4 years and have an excellent reel. I even went to college for it too. But I am not as qualified as the guys in their late 40's, who are quite older than me, who had been doing their jobs for 15 years for the reason that they had been doing it for 15 years and I am in my first month. I get paid less because after firing those people they dropped their wages and benefits plan. They also got paid more because as you work somewhere, you get raises for working there for a long time. At least that's how it's supposed to be. So obviously after 15 years they make more than what their first starting wage. Don't be an asshole Nikka. You are the type of people I'm pointing out that I'm sick of dealing with.
It sounds to me like you are complaining that you have to work your way up. Isn't that the way it's always been?
Yes but I have worked my way up to a point where 26 grand is a joke for the position I hold and the fact I had to go to college for it. Years ago this position was paying double. And what's the point of working your way up if a lot of companies keep adopting the trend of firing workers that make too much money and benefits? If I'm just going to lose my job in the future, where's the motivation? It's the office space theory. If I help initech ship a couple extra units, i don't see an extra dime. So in hopes of keeping us to ship those extra units they've come up with a new theory. We will pay them less, take away benefits, and they will have no other choice. Because they will keep us in fear of being unemployed instead. Because it's cheaper and it makes the company more money. That is abuse of capitalism and is not what capitalism is supposed to be. Capitalism is supplying the best product and the consumers decide which products they want and the companies with the best products prevail. Making money at any cost is not capitalism. Killing people with tainted products because paying off lawsuits over deaths is cheaper than throwing out the entire product, that is not capitalism. That's bullshit and it is not capitalism.
You could explore the possibility of setting up your own independent company and going to work for yourself. That's what I did. I'm a graphic artist. I make more now than I did when I was an employee.
I am doing that as well. I've brought in 7 grand so far while working my other jobs. It's a slow build up but my hope is to open into another aspect of the video market come spring time.
Self employed works for me. Hope it works out for you too. All the best.
That and I would think twice before taking a job where the "whack the highest salary" mentality reigns.
I can't give you a job but I will send you a box if tissues so you can keep crying....what's your address?
I have a job, asshole. Obviously you can't read. Are you 14 or something? I didn't know adults still acted like they were in middle school.
Your bitching about having a job that you don't like while thousands of out of work people would kill to have a job at all......boohoo!
dare you to watch this and still think you know anything.
watch - http://www.hulu.com/watch/151119/the-end-of-poverty
we are changing the world for the better, we don't need folks like you.
silent boycott of capitalism -- http://wesower.org
Is that a triple dog dare or just your average dare?
just your average dare, pretty sure you can't do it.
I did it.
lulz is this all you do with your free time? Badger people on the internet? How old are you?
Oh...there, there, now dry those eyes.....so my opinions are "badgering" and your crying rant is for the cause? Don't you have to be at work or did you take the day off just to play protester?
No you're acting like a little kid. If you want to have a real conversation, I'll partake. But I'm not going to teach a 2 year old long division.
I work at 2:45. Maybe you should get a job. You obviously have a ton of time on your hands to troll people all day. Go masturbate or something, if you're that lonely.
I hope everyone reads our exchange and then votes on who is acting more like a 2 years old. By the way, I am at work and I love my job! Hope you have a great day at work getting under paid and under appreciated.....don't forget to take some Kleenex.
The question now is, will you take the last comment or leave it at this comment here?
More for me please! Thanks