The american consumerist ideal will continue to drag us down. -- robdogdotcom

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Subject: The american consumerist ideal will continue to drag us down.

Author:
Rob Dog Bastard

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Date Posted: 07:27:39 06/05/04 Sat
In reply to: Jeff 's message, "Re: http://money.cnn.com/2004/06/04/news/economy/jobless_may/index.htm" on 05:07:54 06/05/04 Sat

I like what you're saying, Jeff. Except I do believe that the economy has thte potential to get bad, very bad, when the Chinese do decide to pick up the slack that we leave in the economic ebb and flow. Also, with the EU growing there is a nother major threat to our "top-dog" economic status.

The problem is that we Americans demand far too much. If you look at the average standard of living in the UNited States, it is absurd. When cellular phones are sold in packages of four so Mom, Dad, and the two kids can have one of their own then I get scared. When kids spend their entire paycheck on Jennifer Lopez imitation jumpsuits then I get scared. When cities crumble from within because the people who work their want to live in brand-new stucco and 2x4 abominations in the suburbs then I get very scared.

I feel that credit debt, and requiring too many products that are produced outside our borders will make it difficult to maintain the healthy economic conditions we typically enjoy. Americans are not saving money, and they are not investing in themselves or their commuities. Much o our money bleeds out of the system. The way things sit currently the money bleeds back in, but recent events have shown that the world is willing to be much less cooperative in trading with the US inthe future and eventually we will not be able to count on our consumer spending dollars coming back from foreign lands.

Still, in our supposedly "recessed" economic state we are doing well in comparison to the rest of the world. Our unemployment rate is at 5.6% right now. Very nice, sustainable level (Germany as a point of contrast is hovering over the 10% mark these days). Almost as importantly, wages are going up. WHen the jobs started coming back many of them were hospitality and food industry jobs - very low paying positions. Now, however we are seeing good solid hiring at all levels and people are pulling livable wages again.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
would we be better in a barter-driven society?	schilda	12:55:20 06/05/04 Sat
Re: would we be better in a barter-driven society? -- Jeff, 05:27:32 06/07/04 Mon Society will always trend towards self-destruction. -- Rob Dog Bastard, 20:23:11 06/07/04 Mon