Oh sure, let’s just hand everything over to the government; I'm sure that always leads to such spectacular results! 👍
In the real world, if an entrepreneur runs a subpar business, they’re going to fail because customers will simply walk away—that's what happens when you actually have competition. The government doesn't care about your success; they hold all the cards, maintain their monopolies, and frankly, they'll screw you over just to line their own pockets.
ruggedjackal46 said:Did I really say they were doing a "stellar" job? My mistake. Let’s be honest—they manage our money about as well as a toddler manages a glass vase. But before you start shouting about dismantling the entire federal government and handing every cent over to some visionary Silicon Valley entrepreneur, can we slow down just a second?
Oh, I see how it works... so it's better for the government to irrationally blow through our hard-earned tax dollars than to let us actually decide what to do with our own money? Is that really the logic we're following here?
ruggedjackal46 said:And honestly, he's right. It makes way more sense to pool our income into a collective fund so the government can actually build schools, daycares, hospitals, and proper sewage systems for everyone. Why should we all just sit around waiting for some private entrepreneur to show up offering to dig individual septic tanks in our backyards?
Oh, absolutely. Because we all know how incredibly well the government manages our tax dollars, right?
The government has never actually solved a single problem or helped anyone. Every time the state sticks its nose in, things just get messier. The answer is simple: minimal government, minimal regulations, minimal taxes, and personal responsibility.
So, let me get this straight. When you head to a free doctor's visit, drop your kid off at a public school, walk on paved sidewalks, drive on maintained highways, turn on a faucet and get running water, or even flush the toilet... was that all you did by yourself? You’re telling me the federal government and local municipalities had absolutely nothing to do with any of that?
What do you mean "free"? Where does this idea come from that any service is actually free? My family and I have already paid for every single one of those things through our taxes. Nothing is ever truly free.
ruggedjackal46 said:Great idea. Why don't the 200,000 unemployed people just open 200,000 hostels each, while everyone else makes a few million on Bitcoin? Problem solved. No issues at all.
The government isn't set up just so we can wave flags and beat our chests in pride; it exists so that through collective tax contributions, we ensure all citizens have decent living conditions. If that isn't happening, then what's the point of having a state, a Congress, the White House, various departments, agencies, and local municipalities? Why do we hand over nearly half our paychecks through federal and state taxes? Is it so the government can tell people in need, "Hey, go look for help somewhere else"?
Do we really need to quote the great Ronald Reagan here? He famously argued that government isn't the solution to our problems—it actually *is* the problem, right?
In my experience, the government has never truly solved a problem or lent a helping hand. In fact, whenever the government gets too deeply involved, it usually just creates an even bigger mess! Isn't the real answer found in a minimal state, fewer regulations, lower taxes, and a heavy emphasis on personal responsibility?
Look at any skilled tradesperson—a solid plumber or painter—making great money strictly under the table. And don't even get me started on the local mechanics...
ruggedjackal46, I was actually emphasizing the idea of moving abroad. I wasn't just talking about finding work within the States. Why on earth should someone be forced to find a career strictly in their hometown? Mobility is one of the most vital factors for growth, don't you think?
Take a rural area in the Midwest, for instance—there isn't a single family there that doesn't have someone living somewhere in Western Europe, and that’s been the norm for generations. It has become such a standard way of life that nobody even thinks twice about it anymore.
brightpilot6 said:Honestly, some of you people are living in a total fantasy land. Sure, anyone could launch a decent little startup anywhere in America; what we’re actually missing is the collective mindset, because everything else is already right here at our fingertips.
If you actually attempt to run a small private business in the States while following every single regulation and wrestling with the red tape, you’ll quickly realize whether or not you truly possess that American entrepreneurial spirit. And heaven help you if the venture is labor-intensive, because committing any significant amount of capital feels like walking a tightrope over a canyon, especially when you consider how the legal system operates and how deeply entrenched the political cronyism runs in our institutions.
You are absolutely right on that point. At least, from my perspective, I’m talking about finding a job rather than the complexities of launching an entire business. When it comes to that level of economic freedom, the US still feels like it's stuck in a completely different era compared to the modern landscape!
Honestly, when you look at the sheer amount of red tape involved, it’s no wonder the underground economy has become such a massive fixture here. It’s actually staggering to think about—could it really be that an entire third of the American economy is operating entirely off the books?
I’ve traveled all over the United States, from the small towns to the big cities, and coming from a rural area myself, I have to say I don't quite see eye to eye with ruggedjackal46 on this one. Hardworking people generally don't struggle to find work—whether they're landing a corporate role in Chicago, finding a gig out in the Midwest, or even picking up some freelance side hustles... they make things happen. The ones who stay chronically unemployed are usually just stuck in a state of apathy, almost hoping they won't find anything. Or, you might be looking at folks in their 40s who aren't as mobile or easy to hire as the younger crowd. But even then, most of them still find ways to earn a living under the table.
We want that high Western standard of living, but without actually embracing the full brunt of raw capitalism, right? 🙄
brightpilot6 said:The American economic structure is fundamentally dysfunctional, and frankly, there’s no reason to strive for its perfection.
Furthermore, they operate with a level of organization that makes this backwater territory look like complete chaos by comparison.
And what exactly should we be aiming for? Venezuela?
I’ve truly never understood this intense anti-American sentiment among people here. We love to poke fun at them, acting like they’re just some foolish, decaying West. But isn't the reality actually quite different? Perhaps we are the ones lacking direction, living in a society that is truly struggling.
Jessica Gonzalez said:I'm not so sure about that. I guess some people work simply to cover their basic needs, no matter what those might be. Like, a hunter-gatherer in the Amazon might hunt just to stay alive, but most Americans work because they want to afford more and live better. Believe it or not, even in places where the government might offer things like universal basic income, I suspect many people would still choose to work so they can earn more. Maybe certain groups might rely on social safety nets, but it seems like some cultures just aren't big fans of hard work.
Outsourcing? In the States? You're more likely to see that kind of capitalist evil thrive in North Korea than it ever will here!
Jessica Gonzalez said:I suppose dishwashers are pretty much seen as middle class in any society. It’s a tough grind, and maybe it just isn't worth it for most people.
Based on some of the comments here, you'd think janitors should be considered middle management and getting paid top dollar!
Honestly, I can't say I know too much about the unemployment situation, but from what I've seen, it seems like most people looking for work are actually praying they don't find anything at all!
James Anderson5 said:Honestly, about 90% of these degrees from fake business schools—especially those private ones like some overpriced local community colleges—aren't worth a dime. What did they actually earn by getting that piece of paper? And since when did we start calling ourselves a civilized nation...
It feels like doctors and nurses are some of the first ones getting shortchanged instead of service workers or waitstaff... A resident physician earns about the same as a city bus driver, which just isn't right given how things should work in America. You have some executive at a massive conglomerate in Chicago making way more than a neurosurgeon, even though most of them barely lift a finger and have a fraction of the education or responsibility. It seems like this whole system was built to create these gaps just to buy votes, which is why we end up with a political landscape that protects the status quo...
Some people are probably going to act like greedy bosses are the only reason wages are low here in America... they just can't seem to let go of that old communist mindset... 😁
Honestly, Americans are hopelessly stuck in that outdated mindset. Everyone seems to be part of it; maybe even those claiming to be conservatives are actually more radical than anyone else when it comes to these ideas. It’s absolute chaos.🤦
Matthew Young35 said:I think that scenario is completely unrealistic. Why on earth would women from Mexico bother coming to a small town in rural Maine to work in a factory when they have the entire United States as an option?
It’s not just Mexican women... we're talking about immigrants in general...
I honestly can't wrap my head around where they're coming from... where is the absolute peak of poverty and desperation located these days?🤔
Matthew Young35 said:Fine, let’s go with that then. So, we'll have American women heading over to Germany to work, while over in places like San Antonio, it'll be Mexican women doing the cleaning.
Honestly, that seems like a pretty realistic scenario. Though, for the moment, it looks like both us and the immigrants are being bypassed by the larger trends.😁
Who told you, Peter Thompson4, that cleaners in Germany are starving? Sure, the wages are low, but that's just relative to the American standard—and that’s actually a good thing! It's all about perspective, isn't it? For example, a government minister in certain parts of the world might earn less than $1,000 a month, yet in those countries, that's considered a very solid salary.
I’m bringing this up again because it feels like we’re focusing on all the wrong details. Sure, the pay for cleaning services could certainly be improved, but let's be realistic: there isn't a business model out there where being a cleaner is considered a high-paying career. It just doesn't exist. I mean, think about it—in the US, are we hiring corporate managers to scrub floors, or are we looking at low-wage immigrant labor? And in Germany, do you really think they're sending executives to clean offices, or is it mostly migrant workers from Eastern Europe?