Posts by goldengull3

308 posts shown.

Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Linda Morales said:Those houses and apartments are just lifelong debt traps you'll be paying off until the day you die. Sure, if you think that equals a secure life.

At the end of the day, you're just lying to yourselves. You're the ones drowning in mortgage payments.

Let's look at the facts. Take the wealthiest groups—Swiss people, Norwegians, Americans, Dutch people. Do they primarily buy their homes and real estate with cash?

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Gary Kelly8 said:goldengull3, nobody was even bringing up 1983... what you’re doing here is pure demagoguery...
I am simply pointing out how selectively you choose to use "averages"—it seems they only interest you when they suit your narrative...

I think one only needs to look at how America looks today compared to five, ten, or fifteen years ago through any lens. The cars, the housing market, the infrastructure—the landscape is fundamentally different. It’s a three-and-a-half hour drive from New York to Washington, D.C. Soon, it'll be just two hours from New York to Chicago. Who else has expanded hundreds of miles of interstate highways like this?

Of course, I'm not suggesting there hasn't been some shoddy workmanship in certain spots. But on a macro level, the reality is night and day.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

mistyraven6 said:It’s truly heartwarming to hear from those of you who actually find life in America perfectly fine. It really warms my heart to know you have decent places to live and can just go ahead and buy whatever your little hearts desire.

👋

Not exactly everything, but things are trending upward. 👍

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Gary Kelly8 said:goldengull3, there you go again with those "Soviet" comparisons...
And frankly, your math is biased: you’re essentially erasing hundreds of thousands of Americans just because the numbers fit your narrative better...
Besides, where on earth did this 8 billion Euro figure come from?

My mistake; I meant the figure was in dollars. Officially, we're looking at roughly $7,000,000,000, and I’d bet my life at least 15% goes unreported—with projections suggesting the black market could push that closer to 20%. That puts us at just under $2,000 per capita. I find it hard to believe every single short-term rental host actually reports every guest who walks through their door...

It looks like the interstate traffic really boosted things during the pre-season. We'll be feeling the impact of that soon enough.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Gary Kelly8 said:Once again, you keep dragging up those old average salary figures from the US back in 1993 whenever you try to argue that life is better now...

Should we take a trip back to 1983 then, when people were lucky if they could scrape together 10 gallons of gas a month?

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

We could actually start selling our expertise and digital transmission tech to the West; very few nations globally possess this kind of specialized know-how:

The Voice of America radio program can now be heard in crystal clear
quality across all of Europe using digital radio receivers

Associated Press:

Digital Radio Mondiale transmitter put into operation in the US
Feb 8

(c) 2006 DEANOVAC, Feb 8 (Associated Press) - Ivo Sanders on Wednesday
officially launched a medium-wave transmitter designed for digital radio signals,
located in the area of Deanovac near Ivanic Grad, roughly 40 kilometers east of Chicago.

America is the first central and southeastern European country to begin broadcasting digital radio signals on the medium wave-length.

Consequently, The Voice of America can be picked up throughout the entirety of
central and southeastern Europe on the 594 kilo-Hertz frequency.

America has joined a group of countries such as Great Britain, Germany, France, Luxembourg
and the Vatican which transmit medium-wave digital signals.

An investment of twelve million dollars was poured into this DRM - Digital Radio Mondiale initiative,
while a massive 230 million dollars went toward modernizing the entire national transmitter network.

The transmitter itself is an RIZ product.

And frankly, exporting these digital transmitters isn't a bad business model either:

April 21, 2006

April 2006 RIZ delivery of a 500kW SW DRM transmitter to VT Communications, UK.

The unit is slated for installation at VT Communications' facility in Shropshire,
UK, where its primary role will be providing broad HF coverage throughout Europe.
The additional capacity that this transmitter provides on the DRM platform will
allow broadcasters around the world to experience the benefits of
digital AM technology and develop their digital services.

As the old saying goes, if it bothers someone, let them be bothered... 🙂

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Linda Morales said:I honestly have no idea where this economic growth goldmine is that goldengull3 and Gary Cox72 keep rambling about. Real economic growth requires you to actually EXPORT, and to be an Exporter, you need to produce something in the first place. In America, those "startup founders" goldengull3 talks about mostly just import stuff and flip it for a profit—it feels like everyone here is just middleman-ing goods, which means capital is constantly hemorrhaging out of the US.
Growing bananas seems appropriate, given we're basically running a textbook Banana Republic.

If you factor an $8,000,000,000 surplus from tourism into that economic deficit, you end up with much different numbers. That works out to roughly $2,000 in revenue per capita from tourism alone. You can't just brush that under the rug.

Besides, exports are actually climbing. We produce high-end seafood www.sms.hr premium apparel www.varteks.hr software www.polar.hr There’s plenty of real industry out there if you look for it.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 29, 2006

Linda Morales said:Are you trying to bait me?

How can a country ruled by monopolies and cronyism even call itself capitalist?

Where else on earth would you find a telecom giant like AT&T holding a monopoly when it’s explicitly against the law? Is that your idea of capitalism?

Thanks for the insight that the USA wasn't a capitalist nation until the 1970s...

Erosion of Natural monopoly
For many years, AT&T had been permitted to retain its monopoly status under the assumption that it was a natural monopoly. The first erosion to this monopoly occurred in 1956 where the Hush-a-Phone v. FCC ruling allowed a third-party device to be attached to rented telephones owned by AT&T. This was followed by the 1968 Carterphone decision that allowed third-party equipment to be connected to the AT&T telephone network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT%26T#National_monopoly

In the States, the concept of a state-run telecom monopoly is practically a myth... 🙂

As for AT&T, what exactly makes them a monopoly? Be specific. Here are the regulations, so go ahead and point out where they violate them: AT&T owns the wired infrastructure, but they don't have a monopoly—because nobody is stopping anyone from building their own. New developments will eventually get alternative networks. They have a de facto monopoly on the lines simply because those wires were laid down decades ago. That’s how it worked everywhere else, too.

When it comes to providers, there are plenty of them now—mobile, internet, landline. It's almost a chore to list them all. Even the mobile duopoly has been broken up. T-Mobile certainly isn't playing those old "two big players making deals" games anymore.

Regarding cronyism—what are you actually referring to? If you mean state-owned enterprises, sure, they exist, but most companies in the country are no longer state-run. Private companies far outnumber them, and they operate under an entirely different set of rules.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Look, Gary Cox72.
As a nation in transition, America had a theoretical choice regarding its direction.
We could have adopted the Swedish model—which, in my estimation, is the true blueprint for the 21st century—but instead, we pivoted toward the American model, which feels more like something out of the 19th century.

Let’s settle this once and for all: you people in the diaspora need to decide if America is supposed to be a social welfare state with Nordic-style protections, like maternity leave, or if we are strictly a nation of raw American capitalism.

Right now, you both remind me of those two characters from The Muppet Show who can never seem to find anything to be satisfied with...

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 As specified by goldengull3:
It isn’t even a prediction at this point; we have already witnessed the future unfolding right before our eyes, and we know exactly what lies ahead for America.😲
Are we looking at longer vacations just because we’re scrambling to meet ISO standards? Faster property registration? A more competent judiciary? More efficient local government? Or perhaps simply trading in our old domestic relics for more Fords?

If you managed to survive the chaotic dawn of American capitalism back in the early nineties—when nearly a third of the retail workforce was working under the table just to stay afloat—you’ve seen it all. I remember those days vividly: employers withholding paychecks for months on end until people finally stood their ground, labor disputes that dragged on for over a decade, and unemployment rates that hit 20%, soaring even higher in certain parts of the country. If you weathered that kind of instability, you can survive just about anything.

People will find a way to stomach higher wages eventually; it’s just a matter of how much they can be conditioned to accept before the reality sets in.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:🤣 🤣 🤣 Good grief, goldengull3...🙂

Look, if a political party managed to win an election in the US on a platform to turn this country into a social welfare state modeled after Sweden, we wouldn't have much of an issue. The problem is that those kinds of parties simply don't win elections over here. In fact, I doubt they even exist in any meaningful capacity.

The specific length of maternity leave really comes down to how a society views the concept. There isn't even a direct correlation with birth rates.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Gary Cox72 said:And now the crowd starts spinning the narrative about how life under "real capitalism" is such a struggle for them... Pretty soon they'll be claiming people in America don't even realize how lucky they actually have it...

What a delusional thread... 😁 😁

😂 A half-truth at best.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

mistyhound2 said:Look, goldengull3, with all due respect, stop playing dumb or being willfully ignorant—it’s getting old. Just look at one obvious example: in which supposed capitalist nation does a pregnant woman get placed on medical leave to "conserve" the pregnancy for nine months during a standard term, followed by twelve months of paid leave after delivery? And if she gets pregnant again in the meantime, the cycle just keeps going 😁.

Twelve-month maternity leaves exist in several European Union countries. You should actually look at the data; there was even coverage in the news back when the law a few years ago was being implemented here.

For instance, the option for a three-year parental leave (in cases with multiple children) was modeled after Sweden, though it's rarely utilized for various reasons—it functions more as a social safety net than a standard practice.

As for "pregnancy conservation," that requires legitimate medical necessity; otherwise, you're just looking at an abuse of the system.

mistyhound2 said:I'm telling you, my colleagues and I worked right up until our due dates. It never even crossed my mind to ask a gynecologist for "medical leave" just to be sent home by 3:00 PM. After giving birth, you only get four months of paid leave, and then you either go back to work or you're out of luck. Look at how things work in reality, but in true, hardcore capitalism like in the USA, this issue is already settled. As a lawyer, you surely have an answer for this.

To be precise, most of my colleagues worked until thirty days before their due date—with the exception of one who dealt with genuine complications.

Maternity leave is essentially a matter of organizational structure, constitutional framework, and local custom in any given country. Some nations practically have nothing (the USA), while others provide a full year (like parts of Northern Europe). Legislation is simply whatever the citizens decide through their representatives in Congress...

Just as the USA has no federally mandated annual vacation time, we have a minimum of eighteen working days, though I've heard European Union standards call for twenty. At this rate, it looks like we'll be forced to extend our vacations... 🙂

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:She’s even looking at a gig at another firm for lower pay, thinking she'll escape the overtime.
But give it a few months; once those people cut the overtime too, she'll be stuck in the exact same boat, just with a smaller paycheck.

She should probably just look into a government job. And let's hope Canada stays out of the European Union, because if they join, we'll be dealing with all those legislative adjustments being pushed through until 10 PM. 🙂

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:That’s just the capitalist mindset for you—keep your head down, work hard, and don't rock the boat. You don't want trouble when you've got a mortgage, car payments, and credit card debt hanging over your head.
How exactly is that supposed to be a good thing?
Are we meant to be mice, or actual human beings?

It’s fundamentally the same story, even under the old system of worker cooperatives. Back then, if someone actually stood up at a workers' council to ask why the director just bought a brand-new Mercedes—since the company was technically socially owned—they were quickly labeled as "troublemakers." Because, frankly, most people just stayed silent. To be fair, though, as long as you didn't start rambling about politics, you could complain about the company all day long; getting fired was almost impossible.

True, there weren't mortgages back then, but there was the endless waiting list for public housing...

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

mistyhound2 said:Regarding point one, don't make me laugh.🤣

Give me something concrete. In what way is America not capitalist here? And why would you call it "hard" capitalism?

mistyhound2 said:And for point two, are you whining now? Of course you are. Typical.

Look, I can't afford a PhD in the UK, but I could manage one in America. It's as simple as that.

mistyhound2 said:As for point three, who said I don't like capitalism? I left on my own accord; nobody forced my hand. In fact, just a few days ago, I was appointed "managing director."😁 So, I have a job, a house, two cars, and my own firm... where else would I go? It isn't exactly the utopia you seem to imagine, though.

I’ve achieved similar things. I built what I have over the six years since I moved to the suburbs of Chicago. If you put in the work, it’s doable. I haven't started my own company yet, but that’s easily fixed—I just head over to www.irs.gov and get the paperwork sorted. Most people in my field, specifically IT, have already bought homes and have two cars in the family.

Averages and stories about "struggling to get ahead" never held any interest for me. Not back when the four of us—my father, mother, sister, and I—were surviving on less than $250 a month.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

I've decided to pull this topic out on its own, just so it doesn't get buried under all the talk about credit scores and loans...

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

mistyhound2 said:Good grief, what on earth are you raving about? It sounds incredibly simple when you're sitting there in your armchair in some small town in the Midwest—or wherever it is you're hiding—but reality isn't quite that straightforward...

I'm genuinely curious: how can you claim we don't live in a "real" capitalist country? You've been pushing this narrative for at least two or three years now.

1. By what metric exactly is America not a "true capitalist nation"?
2. I am pursuing my education. It’s more affordable here than elsewhere, and I have no desire to settle for subpar options just to match the standards back home.
3. If you have a better social model to propose, be my guest. Personally, I find capitalism far more appealing than the self-managed socialism I had the misfortune of experiencing firsthand during my two-year internship at ExxonMobil back in high school.

It makes me wonder: for those of you living abroad who seem to harbor such a distaste for capitalism, why did you move to a capitalist country in the first place if you had the choice? 😕

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Haven't you realized yet that you're actually living in a state of servitude?
It might take a few more years for things to fully crystallize before you see it clearly.🙂
Besides, if everyone decides to start their own business, who is left to actually do the work?

I have infinitely more opportunities now than I did back before the nineties. Whether it’s choosing a career, a car, where to live, or where to spend my summer vacation—the options are vast.

Furthermore, not everyone possesses the desire to be an entrepreneur; I am a prime example, as I work for someone else. If the arrangement stops being satisfactory, I simply find a different employer.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:I'm asking you again... I didn't say Mexico was a socialist country just because people migrate to the USA en masse?
I've already told you... look at the bottom line if that's all you care about; capitalism is undeniably effective.👍

Well, go ahead and ask the Mexicans. Tell them to raise their production levels. If the Irish could manage it, there's no reason they can't.

Do you have any actual alternative? Cuba? Where they steal used toothbrushes and people write reviews for Tourism? Give me something concrete.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Clearly, you've never worked for a major corporation, so you don't understand how office politics stifles optimal productivity, forcing workers to compensate with extra effort...

The company I occasionally contract for has roughly 100,000 employees. Perhaps that isn't considered "large" by your specific standards. But if you find their office policies so disagreeable, feel free to start your own firm and outpace them with superior productivity...

If laziness existed anywhere, it existed under the old socialist self-management systems. If you were an honest worker, you ended up doing the labor of three people—while others spent eight hours staring at the clock, taking sick leave to work side jobs, or stealing supplies from the company for their weekend cabins. And yes, since many joined the Party purely for personal advancement, the "office policy" was often just joining the right political circle to become a manager. Today, those individuals hold significantly more wealth than those who actually built the foundation of that nation.

I fail to see what point you are trying to make. Are you attempting to prove that social systems aren't inherently fair? No one ever claimed they were. However, capitalism paired with a social safety net provides the greatest potential for development.

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Thoughts on capitalism... in Economy · May 28, 2006

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:If goldengull3 is right about being self-sufficient and standing on his own two feet, then that’s the peak of happiness—there’s nothing better than that.
🙄
Haven't you bothered to read the last few posts from Jason Wells4 and Linda Morales on this page?
goldengull3, people who actually LIVE under capitalism have provided some sharp observations regarding the reality of the system here, but apparently, you—someone who has NEVER lived under capitalism—think you know better.🙄 🤣

Look, I (much like the average American, Canadian, Czech, or Slovak) live in a far more raw version of capitalism than any of you outsiders, mainly because our version lacks those highly efficient safety nets. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it's quite brutal. That "primitive accumulation" phase back in the 90s was particularly harsh, though things have shifted since then. I’m excluding those living in the USA, of course, because by design, the USA isn't a social welfare state—they choose not to be.

And for anyone who has an issue with capitalism—you can always pick Cuba or North Korea as your ideal destination. I’m genuinely curious why no one from those places ever seems to chime in.

Let me repeat: capitalism works. If I don't like my boss, I find a different one. If I sell a project, I negotiate my percentage. I don't have arbitrary wage coefficients forcing me to be equal to some slacker at my firm. If I don't like being managed, I just start my own company.

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