Thoughts on capitalism...

Linda Morales said:No, because of good looks? What kind of question is that even supposed to be?

They gave them to me. I mean it, seriously...

It's a logical question—it helps measure the length of one's nose. 😉

Linda Morales said:You’re pulling our legs here. Either that, or you’re on some kind of trip.

Man, do you honestly think anyone outside the borders of the US has any clue about these companies mentioned above? Don't be naive.

Polar's Leipzig software is sold almost 100% in the US. Look, here is an interview with the man himself—I actually met him years ago: His Mercedes was paid for by Americans buying that software. Here in the States, we just use Microsoft Office.

Linda Morales said:Even Plivin's "Sumamed(R)" isn't even sold under the Plivin brand, nor is it used under the Plivin name.

It is questionable how much the American economy has actually prospered from that Plivin "export," and let's not even get started on how much the American export sector has been "strengthened" by companies like Varteks, Polar, or whatever else.

Every international corporation maintains multiple brands for different markets. Is that really so shocking? This is a private company; its branding strategy is entirely at the discretion of its board.

Linda Morales said:If "Varteks" exports anything, it's probably the ladies hanging out in front of their factory at night.

Let's get specific and look at the facts:

They have a contract with the Italian fashion house Essenza to deliver over 100,000 units of denim products by the end of the year (2005).

By the way, Varteks is currently working its way out of the struggles caused by a lack of competitiveness.

Is it really such a struggle to accept that there are companies in America that actually function, export goods, and even produce owners who have become dollar millionaires or even Euro millionaires? When the first Java mobile games arrived in Japan, four out of the initial twenty offerings were developed right here in America. Those people certainly made a decent living. However, the mainstream news doesn't cover it much; it was just a small blurb in a specialized trade journal. Granted, there aren't many examples like this, but they do exist.

Linda Morales said:If you’re just using aluminum foil, man, you’ve got some nerve! You’re totally kidding yourself if you think that's enough!!!

Honestly? I don't think that's nearly enough. At this rate, I might just spend my entire weekend lining the whole house with lead shielding. You can never be too careful, right? 😵

mistyraven6 said:I don't think that's nearly enough. I'll probably just line my entire house with lead this weekend. You can never be too careful. 😵

You really ought to install a Tesla Transformer as well, just to introduce some artificial interference. Otherwise, you aren't achieving anything at all. 🙂

Gary Cox72 said:It’s a pretty logical question, really—the kind of thing that actually helps you figure out just how long someone's nose is. 😉

Honestly, it feels like you’re trying to measure something else entirely here, and I don't mean how long someone's nose is...

mistyraven6 said:I don't think that's enough. I’m planning on lining my entire house with lead this weekend. You can never be too careful. 😵

And what about using an oak wood fire? Because let’s face it, nothing wipes out hardware quite like pure flames—that way the NSA won't be able to reconstruct a single byte of data from your drives.

Don't forget the iron plating around the basement walls, either, just so they can't tap into anything using those repurposed radio transmitters they use for spying!

goldengull3 said:Is the real issue just accepting that there are actually companies in America that function, export goods, and even have owners who’ve become legitimate dollar-for-dollar Euro Millionaires?

Yeah, the real struggle is actually wrapping your head around that concept. It's hard to grasp because the American mindset is just fundamentally broken—people can't fathom that someone might actually turn a profit legally without immediately pivoting to embezzlement or some other shady scheme, which is basically the standard operating procedure around here.

I saw one lady on this forum once say it's all about "me, myself, and I." Just a Klasican example of that exact way of thinking.

goldengull3 said:...
Is it really that hard to grasp that there are companies right here in the States that actually function—companies that export goods, and even have owners who've become dollar millionaires? For instance, when those first Java games for mobile phones hit the market in Japan, four out of the initial twenty titles were developed right here in America. Those folks definitely made a killing. But you won't see much about it in the mainstream news; it was just a tiny blurb in some niche trade magazine. Sure, it’s not exactly common, but those examples do exist.

Thank God they exist! But wait, isn't there that old saying about how an "exception proves the rule"? What you're describing sounds like pure exceptions... so, if those are the outliers, what exactly does that make the "rule" here?
On a different note, you're absolutely right that public opinion is shaped by the media—it would certainly be better if "success stories" were shouted from the rooftops instead of being tucked away in specialized journals. Now, whether that actually leads to a real boost in prosperity across the US... well, that's a whole other conversation...
It just reminded me of a headline that took up the entire front page of a major American newspaper during that last year of the Marković administration: "The Debt is Sinking Us!" (they had only paid back 15 million out of over 20 billion...).
Anyway, what is the actual external debt of the US...?
I suppose that in light of such terrifying figures, any story about the successes of American companies tends to be presented rather modestly...
And, regarding what you mentioned about the competitiveness of Varteks—is that tied to our incredibly cheap labor costs?
(Seriously, try telling someone working in the textile industry to take out a mortgage under the terms you're advertising...)

Quincy:

Gary Kelly8 As stated by: Regarding your point about Varteks' competitiveness—is that edge primarily driven by our incredibly low labor costs? Go ahead and suggest those mortgage terms you’re advertising to someone working in the garment industry. See how that goes.

I find it incredibly shortsighted to attempt competing with the Chinese on the production of low-end, budget apparel. It’s a losing battle from the start.

Look, if you actually put in the work to design a suit properly—if you focus on creating something truly high-quality and original—you won't even need to worry about a mortgage. I don't have much interest in browsing through corporate landing pages, but I took a look at the site you linked. It’s just another standard corporate portal—functional, if a bit uninspired. There isn't much to dig into here beyond the basic business overview.

So, why on earth aren't we selling off these homegrown American inventions while the iron is hot? We could be pulling in serious money if we actually had the sense to monetize our own intellectual property. The official website for Penkala.

There are more than just a few who have actually pulled it off. It’s still not enough, though, mostly because we’re stuck dealing with that pervasive "it can't be done" mentality—or worse, people thinking they can strike it rich just by betting on sports. But make no mistake, there are those among us who are actually making it happen.

I have officially crossed the threshold of 11,000 posts while working here. At this point, they won't even consider me a sane individual anymore. 🙂

goldengull3 said:I’ve officially hit my 11,000th post here! Can you believe it? At this rate, they aren't going to look at me as a regular, sane user anymore! 🙂

What I think doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, does it? What actually matters is what your wife thinks after watching you churn through 11,000 posts! Honestly, has she even stayed in the room while you were typing, or did she make a run for it halfway through?

It’s a holiday here today! You know what that means—it is officially time to fire up the grill, crack open some cold beers, and get the whole crew together. Is there anything better than a perfect summer afternoon like this? I don't think so! 👋

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:Here is another example, goldengull3.
A friend of mine is an IT developer.
She works for a certain firm where she earns a decent salary, but she ends up working so much unpaid overtime that it starts affecting her nerves and her overall health.
Under the law here in the US, IT firms aren't necessarily required to pay IT professionals for overtime.
Technically, you have the right to refuse, and they shouldn't be able to fire you just for that, but if everyone else is staying late and grinding away, you might end up being treated like the black sheep.
It is quite possible they would start looking for any minor mistake to find a reason to let her go under some other pretext.
Eventually, she found a job at another company; the pay was slightly lower, but there wouldn't be any overtime.
However, after a few months, the overtime demands started happening there too, so now she is essentially in the same financial position, just with a smaller paycheck.

I suppose the issue with your friend is that she really doesn't have to work those extra hours. Beyond that, I guess there isn't a specific law dictating whether overtime must be paid; it usually comes down to the initial employment contract or simply the established culture of the company you join.
Just to clarify my own perspective, I work in IT here in the US, and I have never worked unpaid overtime. If someone wants my time, they should pay for it. If they cannot afford to pay, then I suppose they don't really need my services, simple as that.

This line of thinking is somewhat frustrating to me, because I have met many people who feel they "must" work free overtime. It seems to me that, eventually, an employer tries to take advantage of you, and one simply allows it to happen.

Gary Cox72 said:If things are really that bad over there, maybe you should tell her to hurry back to the States. If nothing else, I suppose genuine IT specialists can find pretty decent pay here. 😉

Well, I suppose things turn out however you allow them to be.
It doesn't necessarily have to be that way; if one maintains a sense of normalcy, I imagine it won't feel quite like that.

Anthony Rodriguez58 said:So... how exactly is things any better under capitalism now?

Here is another example.
A friend of mine would love to go back to school, but he doesn't want to leave his job. He worries about what would happen if he became a broke student again, especially since he now has a mortgage, car payments, and credit card debt to manage.

I am not sure if you have ever seen the reality show "Survivor"?
It involves quite a lot of scheming and backstabbing just to win a million dollars.

A female friend of mine remarked that this is actually a perfect example of typical "corporate culture." She suggested that the atmosphere at work here is often the same—lots of sucking up to the boss and constant office politics.
And when you have to spend eight hours a day there, it can be quite difficult to deal with...

Most of my friends don't actually hate their jobs; rather, they hate the workplace environment, because there is a lack of respect and people are treated more like numbers than individuals.

You know, I haven't really observed any behavior here that differs from what you see at companies like ini, Elektira, Posti, or any large American corporation. Everything seems to be the same, though I suppose in Canada, actual job competence carries a bit more weight, whereas in America, it might be considered secondary.
Perhaps that "corporate culture" is simply part of human nature, rather than being specific to the country where you work.

Jose Stewart7 said:Look, that’s entirely your friend's issue—she absolutely shouldn't have to work overtime. Furthermore, there isn't some universal law dictating whether they have to pay you for extra hours; it all comes down to the specific agreement you make when you sign your employment contract or the standard practices of the firm where you're doing your internship.
Just to clear the air on my end—I work in IT here in Canada, and I have never once worked for free—meaning, I've never done unpaid overtime. If someone wants my time, they can pay for it. If they can't afford it, then they simply don't need my services—it's as simple as that.

Honestly, this whole line of reasoning gets under my skin—because I've met so many people who feel they "have" to work unpaid overtime. Give it a little time, and you'll see: an employer is just trying to exploit you, and you're essentially allowing it to happen.

Exactly. ....To an extent.... It really just depends on what level you're at. When I first started out (without a single day of actual professional experience under my belt), I was working for peanuts—and I would put in hundreds (literally) of extra hours—not because I had to, but because I wanted to learn more and prove myself. Today, at that very same company, I only pull overtime if there is a genuine crisis and if I am being compensated properly for it. Once you possess the expertise and the professional standing, you call the shots; until then, you're stuck doing whatever is required of you.

goldengull3, you’re sitting here going on about this and that—dropping links to all these successful guys and massive corporations. But where do *you* actually fit into this grand scheme of things? You keep painting this picture of an earthly paradise right here in America, but let me tell you—even in hell, things can be just fine; that doesn't mean everyone wants to live there.
Sure, you could try selling innovations to Americans—they'll buy them up, only to turn around and sell them back to you at double the price. And tourism? America had fewer than 10 million tourists back in 2005... wait, I mean, look at a city like Toronto—it saw nearly 20 million on its own! What kind of "tourism boom" are we even talking about? You pull these random statistical figures out of thin air and then have the nerve to claim the actual numbers are even higher due to underreporting. Very "scientific" of you, truly.
The reality is that a vacuum was created in the US market when things opened up, coupled with a massive shortage of skilled professionals. By sheer force of circumstance, employers had to settle for whoever was available—which is exactly how you managed to land your job.
To those big players you keep raving about, you're nothing more than a tiny earthworm. Honestly, maybe you're just pulling our legs—because if you really are a doctor, and if you actually believe the nonsense you're writing, then America is absolutely doomed.

goldengull3 said:Law can be written however the citizens want, as long as their representatives in Congress decide to write it that way...

Look, goldengull3, you seriously need to head back to school and brush up on the basics of Marxism.

Look, we’ve already seen what the future looks like because we're living in it. We know exactly what's coming for America.

See, right now in the States, they're building this hyper-aggressive version of American capitalism—the worst kind—and acting like it’s some huge win.
I don't see things looking nearly as bright as you do... I mean, really???
Why aren't we aiming for that European style of capitalism? It actually feels more human.
It’s like we jumped straight into 19th-century capitalism instead of the 21st-century version.
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Spot on. Years ago, I could easily predict what would happen here in two or three years.
You weren't predicting it; you were just describing the reality we already had.
Anyway, the Americanization and liberalization of Europe is definitely underway. There isn't a force on earth that can stop it now. There's no longer that Eastern counterbalance that forced Western nations to "improve" their social safety nets over the last 50 years.
Haven't you heard? Their social programs have been struggling lately...

Jose Stewart7 said:Look, that’s her problem. She definitely shouldn't be working overtime. Besides, there isn't some magic law dictating whether they have to pay you extra or not; it all comes down to the contract you sign when you get hired or whatever the company's policy is during an internship.
Just to clear the air here—I work in IT in Canada, and I have never worked for free. Ever. No unpaid overtime. If someone wants my time, they can pay for it. If they can't afford me, then they don't need me. Simple as that.

This whole line of thinking just gets under my skin. I've met plenty of people who feel like they "have" to work unpaid overtime. It's a slippery slope; employers try to take advantage of you, and you just let them.

You haven't been in those shoes, and I know guys in IT who don't work overtime either, but it's a FACT that it isn't ILLEGAL to work unpaid overtime in this industry. It gives companies way too much leeway to exploit employees if they feel like it.
Alright, I explained it perfectly. Everyone's playing it safe, nobody wants to rock the boat, and what exactly are you going to do about it?
Are you the only one who’s going to say no to overtime, especially when your company is going through mass layoffs?
Find another job?
And she actually tried that.
What would you do if you were stuck in a company like that?

Sumo. It’s an interesting study in raw power and sudden, violent conclusion. One moment you have two massive forces coiled like springs, and the next, everything is over. It reminds me of certain high-stakes boardroom negotiations I witnessed back when I was finishing my Harvard Business School degree—all that posturing and heavy breathing, only for one side to be shoved out of the room before they even realize the deal is dead. There is a certain brutal honesty to it that most modern sports lack. No bells, no whistles, just gravity and grit. goldengull3 says:
goldengull3, you spend your time posting this and that, dropping links to various successful individuals and corporations as if they were gospel. But where exactly do you fit into this grand equation? You speak of a terrestrial paradise here in America, painting this idealized picture of prosperity. It is a naive perspective. Even in hell, there is a certain level of comfort; that doesn't mean everyone finds it a pleasant place to reside.

I am currently employed at a relatively successful firm, yet I find myself profoundly dissatisfied. If given the choice, I would transition to another similarly prosperous company just to escape my current situation. It remains difficult for some to grasp that one can actually build a career and earn a decent living here in America. Granted, we aren't seeing the massive salaries found in Germany or Sweden, but the potential exists. The economic standing of the US is significantly more robust now than it was five or ten years ago. I am not under the delusion that everything is perfect—far from it. For instance, our healthcare system hasn't even begun to see the slightest hint of meaningful reform. There are plenty of other systemic failures to contend with as well.

I find myself reflecting on the sheer physicality of sumo. It is a sport that demands a certain stoic endurance, much like the grueling corporate climb one might encounter after finishing at Harvard Business School. There is something deeply cynical yet strangely poetic about two massive individuals colliding in a ring, seeking dominance through pure, unadulterated force. It reminds me of certain high-stakes negotiations I witnessed back in Chicago—all bluster and heavy breathing until someone finally breaks under the pressure. It is an ancient ritual, stripped of modern fluff, and I suppose there is a grim satisfaction in watching such raw power play out. As goldengull3 says:
You can try selling your innovations to Americans all you want, but they’ll just buy them up only to flip them back to you at double the price. And as for this talk about tourism? In 2005, the US saw fewer than ten million visitors here, while New York City alone handled nearly twenty million. So, what exactly are we calling "tourism"? You present these dubious statistical figures and then have the audacity to claim the actual numbers are even higher due to off-the-books activity. It’s quite the scientific approach, isn't it?

American tourism started from absolute zero. It was a non-entity. Today, it’s performing well, and frankly, it’s only going to get better. I have relatives out in Florida who rent out their seaside home for three months at a time; after they settle the taxes and maintenance, they’re looking at a clean profit of about $5,000 or $6,000. For a single family owning one house—not some massive resort complex, just a single residence—that kind of income fundamentally shifts their entire socioeconomic standing. And there are countless families just like them. They see hard cash hitting their pockets every year, and every year, that amount tends to climb.

I find myself contemplating the sheer, brutal simplicity of Sumo. There is something deeply unsettling, yet undeniably captivating, about watching two massive individuals collide with such singular, violent purpose. It lacks the frantic, jittery energy you see in modern American football, where the play is broken up by endless pauses and tactical debates. In Sumo, once that ritualistic circling begins, there is no recourse but to face the inevitable impact. It is a heavy, somber affair—much like those long, weary afternoons spent waiting for a verdict in a windowless courtroom in Chicago. One waits, one watches, and then, suddenly, everything shifts. kaže:
The reality of the situation is that a massive vacuum opened up in the American market following the sudden shift toward near-total deregulation, coupled with a severe shortage of specialized talent. Driven by sheer necessity, employers were forced to make do with whatever expertise was actually available on the ground. That is precisely how you managed to land the position.
You’re nothing more than a bottom-feeder, picking at the scraps left by the industry titans you claim to analyze. Honestly, I’m starting to suspect this is all just one long, elaborate joke at our expense. Because if you actually possess the credentials you claim, and if you truly believe the nonsense you peddle, then we might as well be living in a fantasy land.

I stand by my assessment. America is a nation that advances with every passing year, offering genuine opportunities to build a career and actually make a living. Nowadays, claiming you have a house and a car—even if you’re still paying them off—isn't some grand achievement; it’s practically the baseline expectation for anyone with a college degree or a skilled trade certification. You can reach the pinnacle of your profession right here on American soil. When our top-tier experts do decide to head abroad, they aren't just laborers; they are high-level specialists who command respect. They secure work visas as "essential personnel." Furthermore, we see major US corporations replacing their foreign management teams with local talent because those Americans have proven they can outperform the imports. Of course, there are still instances where we have to recruit specialists from overseas to fill specific gaps. For instance, I recently had a colleague at my firm—a second-generation American whose family moved here from Australia. He held a degree and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He isn't with us anymore; another firm snapped him up for a significantly higher salary. 🙂 If things were truly that unbearable, he would have simply retreated to Australia; he holds citizenship there and has family ties to the region. A colleague of mine, a software engineer, recently returned from the States. She moved back to be closer to her relatives, yet she maintains that the experience wasn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be.

Neither I nor Cat represent any kind of anomaly within the landscape of America. There are plenty of people in this country who manage to function quite effectively. The issue only truly arises if you find yourself over fifty with a profession that lacks marketability, or if you are retired or otherwise unable to work. However, if you are in your twenties, thirties, or even forties and possess a genuine drive to work, it is entirely possible to live a decent life in the States.

I landed this job over a decade ago, working for a local entrepreneur who started out with nothing more than a beat-up Ford Pinto and a briefcase, only to build a net worth in the tens of millions today. He isn’t some corporate shark; he’s just a man who knows his craft. He doesn't even bother with an MBA. However, he imparted a few hard truths to me regarding business and upward mobility. First, complaining is a zero-sum game that yields no profit. Second, even here in the States, there is plenty of room to build a real fortune if you have the stomach for it.