Is this the future of America? City of Scranton lowers wage for all city workers to minimum wage

[janklow]

Many people have little to no savings these days, it's not that easy to just get up and move.

these days? Americans have not been the most responsible when it comes to savings before now

 

[kingblaze84]

Many people have little to no savings these days, it's not that easy to just get up and move.

these days? Americans have not been the most responsible when it comes to savings before now

How can most Americans save when the cost of living here is so high? Rich people get stimulus money while the wrorking class gets austerity? Sound fair to u?

 

[kingblaze84]

@plutarch if I wasn't on my phone I'd leave some links but the government over here is just doing what Conservative governments usually do when elected; cut things for the working and middle classes.

I mean over here we're in a double dip recession and the government has raised VAT, raised the cost of going to university from 3k to 9k a year, cut school sports programmes (while they were bidding for the world cup mind you), cut the funding for social security and they have not implemented any widespread rules/penalties to get the banks to loan to small business or people which is what they were supposed to do with the bailout money.

And the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, still thinks austerity is the way to go. The idiot even tried to put a tax on pasties.

wooow, that's crazy. And my ignorant ass was thinking that it's just bad in America.

Capitalism seems to be failing us, we need a mixture of socialism and capitalism in my opinion, cuz it seems govt has no answers to our fiscal problems. A good start would be for governments worldwide to legalize medical marijuana to create jobs, and create more affordable housing, which would create even more jobs. With more affordable housing, people would be able to spend money on goods, instead of half their salary on housing and credit card debt. More jobs equals mor revenue that can be taxed and used to pay down debt and keep up current salaries to fight inflation. I wish America would have a leader who could think outside the box, Democrats and Republicans here think in circles and are not visionaries. Not since FDR at least.......

 

[janklow]

How can most Americans save when the cost of living here is so high? Rich people get stimulus money while the wrorking class gets austerity? Sound fair to u?

again, i am not talking about right now. Americans spending freely and not saving is not something that just happened.

Capitalism seems to be failing us, we need a mixture of socialism and capitalism in my opinion-

-and that's what we have, so...

 

[kingblaze84]

How can most Americans save when the cost of living here is so high? Rich people get stimulus money while the wrorking class gets austerity? Sound fair to u?

again, i am not talking about right now. Americans spending freely and not saving is not something that just happened.

Capitalism seems to be failing us, we need a mixture of socialism and capitalism in my opinion-

-and that's what we have, so...

On both points you're right but my point really is that the govts of the world seem to have big time socialism for the wealthy and rich, and crumbs for everyone else. That's a big problem when the poor and middle class often can't save enough to begin with, and the rich can already. The American version of capitalism is deeply unfair when you consider quantative easing just helps the banks pad their books without really addressing the fundamental problem of this country today, affordable housing. Until the monopoly money is used to build more affordable housing, and until govt makes a greater effort to create more jobs by loosening up some our laws, this problem won't change for cities nationwide.

 

[heyslick]

IMO

When people learn HOW to manage there monies & not spend beyond there means,then maybe the picture will change for the better? Keeping things simple isn't all that complicated,but of course some people are always gonna want to ignore that reality and live in la la land & then complain about what they haven't got & how the system is trying to break them.

Being in debt, in and of itself is bad enough - but to just keep on keeping on with the same mindset is SO STUPID & legalizing marijuana WILL NEVER address this problem -- IMO if educated people et al can't manage there funds, HOW the fuck are they gonna do it all stoned. Just what this nation needs another generation of pot heads - FUCK!! How about we have a leader that instills some REAL hope in people instead of one who wants to transform America into HIS vision of what America should be - DAMN egotistical ideologue!! practically everything he does turns to shit or goes bankrupt & he has NO regrets - WOW!

 

[Say What]

The problem is we need stuff. The dream is to own a home but working normal jobs it cant be afforded. We need to break some things down to wants and needs.

 

[jono]

American economics is turned on its head already.

Being frugal and responsible with money isn't taught or encouraged in this culture. Too many people are encouraged to get loans for things and to get credit cards and very few people understand what interest rates and all that shit is and how its manipulated or enforced.

Until we can get some solid economics education and training people will always fall into the traps.

I saw on TV where a union boss said that people should stop spending money, he was called an economic terrorist by FOX News. I saw where people where closing their accounts en masse at banks and the tellers started having people arrested.

That's how America works now I guess. Its completely wrong to tell people that consumers hold the power in a consumer culture and that the people hold the power over government but both schools of thought are frowned upon by the media and politicians alike.

 

[janklow]

On both points you're right but my point really is that the govts of the world seem to have big time socialism for the wealthy and rich, and crumbs for everyone else.

well, i would argue it's not so much socialism for the wealthy and rich as much as socialism for whoever the person doling it out feels most like looking out for, but there's problems either way, yeah

That's a big problem when the poor and middle class often can't save enough to begin with, and the rich can already.

i won't dispute that it's easier for the rich to save, especially in times like now when the economy is not doing well. however, the poor and middle class aren't going to save enough when times are good either. the sad fact is there's blame to go around on that issue (whereas when it comes to the current economy, i don't think we're going to blame the poor and/or middle class).

 

[Ip man]

Cook, Coke, Crack...

 

[kingblaze84]

The problem is we need stuff. The dream is to own a home but working normal jobs it cant be afforded. We need to break some things down to wants and needs.

Well that's part of the problem right there, American society these days has the needs almost as expensive as the wants these days. Many people are spending more than half their paychecks on rent and the mortgage, which is bad cuz the cost of utilities and healthcare is high now too. For many people, healthcare costs won't go down even after the law, so it's gonna be a wild time for many in the next few months and years

 

[kingblaze84]

IMO

When people learn HOW to manage there monies & not spend beyond there means,then maybe the picture will change for the better? Keeping things simple isn't all that complicated,but of course some people are always gonna want to ignore that reality and live in la la land & then complain about what they haven't got & how the system is trying to break them.

Being in debt, in and of itself is bad enough - but to just keep on keeping on with the same mindset is SO STUPID & legalizing marijuana WILL NEVER address this problem -- IMO if educated people et al can't manage there funds, HOW the fuck are they gonna do it all stoned. Just what this nation needs another generation of pot heads - FUCK!! How about we have a leader that instills some REAL hope in people instead of one who wants to transform America into HIS vision of what America should be - DAMN egotistical ideologue!! practically everything he does turns to shit or goes bankrupt & he has NO regrets - WOW!

Legalizing marijuana is a bad idea for you to raise revenue, ok cool.....what's your idea to grow the economy? If you even dare to say extend tax cuts for the rich.....

 

[heyslick]

IMO

When people learn HOW to manage there monies & not spend beyond there means,then maybe the picture will change for the better? Keeping things simple isn't all that complicated,but of course some people are always gonna want to ignore that reality and live in la la land & then complain about what they haven't got & how the system is trying to break them.

Being in debt, in and of itself is bad enough - but to just keep on keeping on with the same mindset is SO STUPID & legalizing marijuana WILL NEVER address this problem -- IMO if educated people et al can't manage there funds, HOW the fuck are they gonna do it all stoned. Just what this nation needs another generation of pot heads - FUCK!! How about we have a leader that instills some REAL hope in people instead of one who wants to transform America into HIS vision of what America should be - DAMN egotistical ideologue!! practically everything he does turns to shit or goes bankrupt & he has NO regrets - WOW!

Legalizing marijuana is a bad idea for you to raise revenue, ok cool.....what's your idea to grow the economy? If you even dare to say extend tax cuts for the rich.....

Like I said above - instill some REAL hope in people - MORE than 50% of the country has LOST its direction because they never know what THIS administration is gonna do next - the job creators and those who have already created jobs are burdened with new and troublesome regulations and fines for not insuring there employess - this President has destroyed the aspirations of many and disillusioned others from wanting to help themselves - fuck any tax cuts for the really wealthy - this man HAS GOT TO GO...period. BTW get ready for all the new taxes and its gonna hurt those middle class folks - President Obama has really got so many fooled & he claimed otherwise for so damn long.

 

[heyslick]

Watch this, then tell me about hope and change - btw federal taxes are going up for folks who make less than 250/200 thousand --- don't forget about those who don't pay any federal taxes whatsoever.

 

[Jabu_Rule]

@heyslick, i guess your broke ass is safe

 

[heyslick]

@heyslick, i guess your broke ass is safe

As long as I watch out for idiot drivers my broke ass will always be safe - btw money can't buy true happiness & this man of meager means is content with his position in life - don't be jealous now. IMO if you/one doesn't have there health then really what good will money do for you?

 

[Jabu_Rule]

Being jealous of you position of meagerness would be a strange sort of jealousy. Like I'm jealous cause you broke. Strange concept. But the point was, why are you worrying about others not being able to eat off they 200,000 after increased taxes when it's not even going to affect you and your social security benefits and medicare that you're on currently.

 

[heyslick]

Being jealous of you position of meagerness would be a strange sort of jealousy. Like I'm jealous cause you broke. Strange concept. But the point was, why are you worrying about others not being able to eat off they 200,000 after increased taxes when it's not even going to affect you and your social security benefits and medicare that you're on currently.

There you go AGAIN! again & again IE thinkin' you got me pegged - LMAO what next? you gonna claim we white people all act and look alike - NOW I'm really LMAO! I'm an Lean/ Mean? fat burning machine. - NOW don't be jealous of what you can't buy & I was born with.

 

[kingblaze84]

IMO

When people learn HOW to manage there monies & not spend beyond there means,then maybe the picture will change for the better? Keeping things simple isn't all that complicated,but of course some people are always gonna want to ignore that reality and live in la la land & then complain about what they haven't got & how the system is trying to break them.

Being in debt, in and of itself is bad enough - but to just keep on keeping on with the same mindset is SO STUPID & legalizing marijuana WILL NEVER address this problem -- IMO if educated people et al can't manage there funds, HOW the fuck are they gonna do it all stoned. Just what this nation needs another generation of pot heads - FUCK!! How about we have a leader that instills some REAL hope in people instead of one who wants to transform America into HIS vision of what America should be - DAMN egotistical ideologue!! practically everything he does turns to shit or goes bankrupt & he has NO regrets - WOW!

Legalizing marijuana is a bad idea for you to raise revenue, ok cool.....what's your idea to grow the economy? If you even dare to say extend tax cuts for the rich.....

Iuno bout that fam..... you're not worried that if Mary Jane becomes legal corporations will go out of their way to pollute Mary Jane and fill her mind with all sorts of chemicals and shit that will probably make you need her ? You're not worried that shit will be like a cancer growing and tearing you apart ??

Simple economics, people will gravitate toward the companies with the purest weed, or at least I would hope so. If tobacco companies start selling weed, people will find out which companies are tainting weed or not. So this is nothing to worry about, as companies that sell tainted weed will be ostracized. And if anything, make street weed still popular. Marijuana in Colorado and California dispensaries now, when their not being raided by the federal govt, sell some of the best weed in the world. This is all something that should be happening now

 

[kingblaze84]

IMO

When people learn HOW to manage there monies & not spend beyond there means,then maybe the picture will change for the better? Keeping things simple isn't all that complicated,but of course some people are always gonna want to ignore that reality and live in la la land & then complain about what they haven't got & how the system is trying to break them.

Being in debt, in and of itself is bad enough - but to just keep on keeping on with the same mindset is SO STUPID & legalizing marijuana WILL NEVER address this problem -- IMO if educated people et al can't manage there funds, HOW the fuck are they gonna do it all stoned. Just what this nation needs another generation of pot heads - FUCK!! How about we have a leader that instills some REAL hope in people instead of one who wants to transform America into HIS vision of what America should be - DAMN egotistical ideologue!! practically everything he does turns to shit or goes bankrupt & he has NO regrets - WOW!

Legalizing marijuana is a bad idea for you to raise revenue, ok cool.....what's your idea to grow the economy? If you even dare to say extend tax cuts for the rich.....

Like I said above - instill some REAL hope in people - MORE than 50% of the country has LOST its direction because they never know what THIS administration is gonna do next - the job creators and those who have already created jobs are burdened with new and troublesome regulations and fines for not insuring there employess - this President has destroyed the aspirations of many and disillusioned others from wanting to help themselves - fuck any tax cuts for the really wealthy - this man HAS GOT TO GO...period. BTW get ready for all the new taxes and its gonna hurt those middle class folks - President Obama has really got so many fooled & he claimed otherwise for so damn long.

Obama is a failed president in several ways true, but it's not because of taxes. These "burdensome" regulations have still seen an increase in jobs over the last 12 plus months, and while job growth is slow, it's still an improvement from 2008 when we were losing 300k a month. And have you forgotten about the high job growth under Bill Clinton's 39% tax on the rich? How do you explain that??