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

[kingblaze84]

I wonder if the rich will cave in and help out if martial law was to occur.

How come mister spread the wealth around won't address this issue -- those who are not rich, and worked hard for what they have...are they expected to share? What about the dead beats who WON'T WORK or take advantage of those who do work? Y is this supposed POTUS creating such a divide within America - so many folks help others in ways that this President refuses to see or acknowledge.

IMO sometimes it's the little things in life that can make a difference for those who are less fortunate. I'm a firm believer in this old saying - looks are deceiving - what really counts is the 'heart' within the individual - I've seen pretty faces who are really cold hearted after you get to know them - in this day and time people with INTEGRTITY are far and few between. BTW the truly rich will do whatever they want regardless of that ridiculous scenario of yours - LOL!

I'm fully aware that there are freeloaders out there. At the same time, there's also selfish, hoarders. To those who are, why not give back to the community? I'm sure someone gave that person a break for him to get to where he is now. Also, everything is circular, you have to give money to make money. We ought to be collective and joint in our efforts.

Sad thing is, we'll never know a person's true intentions.

I just don't follow this consist pattern of some who think others haven't succeeded on their own merits - seriously I get the impression you feel that those who have done well DIDN'T DO SO individually - apparently you have never been in Business for yourself? when you start a business you have to invest/spend money to make money - you believe in something entirely different - social engineering e.g. you said: you have to give money to make money - NO! sorry that makes NO SENSE whatsoever.

You're seriously telling me that successful people did it all by themselves? Come on now, they are a success because of the relationships they've created and maintained. Someone bought their idea, partnered with them, etc. Think big picture. Someone gave them an opportunity.

Exactly, good post. Obama was actually right when he said small businesses didn't do it by themselves. It's time the rich give back to society, considering so many businesses and bankers got huge bailouts while everyone else was left to fend for themselves. The Bush tax cuts must end and the middle class and working class deserve some kind of bailout, if not that, than just more responsible govt policies that will grow the economy.

NO! I never said that or implied that. I'm not gonna argue with you about collective salvation. This country wasn't build on the premise you and this President are trying to cram down folks throats. This country gives people OPPORTUNTIES to SUCCEED & in the pursuit of happiness - there's no guarantees in life other than taxes (50% pay NO fed. taxes) and death. Btw how 'bout some people WON"T get the FUCK UP & stop demanding/sniveling that others should help them succeed. The President and the VP have spoken & both of them are so good at putting their feet in there mouths - they need to STFUP! aka foot and mouth disease - LOL! Oh btw you are also good at misspeaking about what was actually said.

I understand this country has given many people chances to succeed, that's one of the great things about this nation. But I'm not even talking about collective salvation, I'm talking about the same tax rate for the rich that Clinton had under his presidency, 36%. We had a great economy under Clinton's term and an even better economy in the 1950s when the tax rate for the rich was near 60% or higher. Under a Republican president, Eisenhower. People are trying to get up and work hard for the most part, but the economy isn't what it used to be. People are working harder than ever, but with less pay and benefits so how dare you say people should stop demanding anything? The bankers and rich are the ones demanding bailouts, and actually are getting them

 

[kingblaze84]

I get you, and I agree overall but this would not sit well with Americans. Deep down, most Americans want a small form of socialism when it comes to benefits after working, so in my opinion the REAL way to solve the social security crisis would be to make social security a different currency from the dollar, so that way, it would be a safe and risk free form of aid, kind of like food stamps. Economically, I think this would work out, as long as politicians learn to save more money than spend. Too many endless wars and its human costs have bankrupted this nation almost to the point where America's future is guaranteed to be a disaster. Make social security a currency similar to food stamps, and I bet you this whole "social security crisis" will disappear.

if you're talking about an issue of funding social security, i don't see how the format in which you pay it out is going to mean much. that said, did you just say it's dependent on politicians learning to save and not spend? never mind, then.

Well yeah it's easy to be cynical about politicians learning to save and not spend too much, but that's the real reason I don't want to see social security cut back. I'd rather see Medicare and Medicaid along with military spending cut back, these hurt the deficit more than anything else, that along with the Bush tax cuts. Better yet, cut wasteful spending like the wars, end completely the Bush tax cuts and limit drastically military spending, and we wouldn't have to make cuts to social security for at least another twenty plus years. Plus as I've said before, we need to have social security become some kind of currency away from the dollar. If that's socialist, so be it. I don't see why nations like Libya under Gaddafi and North Korea can have housing and health care GUARANTEED but America, SUPPOSEDLY the richest nation on Earth, can't have guaranteed social security.

WTF?

SERIOUSLY - this coming from a supposedly educated man? I'm disappointed. I've been to Korea and seen some of the most nasty stuff I don't ever wanna see again - look at the current events going on in those aforementioned countries & you have the nerve to make that kind of comment - & personally I think your still ungrateful for what this country truly affords it's citizens - also you aren't alone in that UNGRATEFULNESS - lots of whining Americans haven't got a clue.

North Korea and Libya obviously have problems but so do we here in America. I can talk about the many problems we have here in America, do you really want me to go there?? I don't think you do lol.....but if you do, I can eaisly go there!!! It doesn't make me ungrateful to live here though, overall I do like living in America, although I also want to move out the country in about twenty years if I' lucky. Why?? High cost of living and the dying dollar, something I hear people talk about ALL THE TIME as a paralegal for a foreclosure law firm. It doesn't make someone a whiner to note our issues here in this country, you complain about the state of America more than me, probably more than anybody else in this forum.

Do yourself and ME a big favor - name some countries or cities run predominantly by black leadership that's been successful. Name some countries within the continent of African that does for there countrymen that this country does for its citizens - come on man you love to critize the white man for all the bad they'll done - name some names - IE black leadership has done good for its people w/o massive corruption --- please,thanks.

You had to bring race into it again lol, but you do realize the reason America and so many Western nations around the world have better economic systems compared to other nations is due to theft of resources, economic hitmen, colonialism, and bloodshed right? America has a long history of each, so you just made yourself look like an idiot by comparing America to Black nations around the world, but Africa is still rebounding from years of theft, murder, and plundering at the hands of you White folks. Here are some numbers if you really want to see.....

Unemployment in sub-Saharan Africa is at 17% as of 2011, high but much better than in the past and still comparable to other parts of the world
http://www.gallup.com/poll/153884/global-unemployment-2011.aspx

Economic growth in Africa is rising at a rapid pace, faster than most if not all regions on Earth
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Whats_driving_Africas_growth_2601

What’s driving Africa’s growth

The rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing region. Global executives and investors must pay heed.

Africa’s economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with a new commercial vibrancy. Real GDP rose by 4.9 percent a year from 2000 through 2008, more than twice its pace in the 1980s and ’90s. Telecommunications, banking, and retailing are flourishing. Construction is booming. Private-investment inflows are surging.

To be sure, many of Africa’s 50-plus individual economies face serious challenges, including poverty, disease, and high infant mortality. Yet Africa’s collective GDP, at $1.6 trillion in 2008, is now roughly equal to Brazil’s or Russia’s, and the continent is among the world’s most rapidly growing economic regions. This acceleration is a sign of hard-earned progress and promise.

While Africa’s increased economic momentum is widely recognized, its sources and likely staying power are less understood. Soaring prices for oil, minerals, and other commodities have helped lift GDP since 2000. Forthcoming research from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) shows that resources accounted for only about a third of the newfound growth.1 The rest resulted from internal structural changes that have spurred the broader domestic economy. Wars, natural disasters, or poor government policies could halt or even reverse these gains in any individual country. But in the long term, internal and external trends indicate that Africa’s economic prospects are strong.

----Africa still has a ways to go economically but you can't measure a country's success by money. Low cost of living, something many nations in the Caribbean and Africa have, can be a measure of happiness. Family and sense of community are also factors of happiness, and considering the United States has much worse rates of violence and crime compared to most nations in the Caribbean and Africa, among other social ills, you can't pretend America has moral authority over ANY part of the world. Read some world magazines and stop being ignorant.

I really do believe in Africa - trust me I do. They have incredible potential, but the problem with these countries (and your seeing it in Europe) is that what they have in strength they lack in resolution or in other words they never have the resilience to back up their progress when things go bad. What makes America so incredible is that after I think 15 or 16 recessions, 2 depressions they've gotten stronger and went right back to economic growth not long after. There is no other country with a track record like that. Now I can't speak on America's grim past and it's unfortunate but lets not give countries like Brazil & Africa the benefit of the doubt yet, let's see how well they do not just in expansion but in contraction as well (if or when it happens).

Yeah I do agree, America does have a strong history of bouncing back from its problems, let's hope that history continues. As far as Brazil and the nations of Africa, we will indeed see if it can bounce back. I'm not very optimistic about America's long term prospects though........

 

[kingblaze84]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-17-19-12-49

Moody's: More Calif. cities at risk of bankruptcy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- One of the nation's top credit rating agencies said Friday that it expects more municipal bankruptcies and defaults in California, the nation's largest issuer of municipal bonds.

Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the growing fiscal distress in many California cities was putting bondholders at risk.

The service announced that it will undertake a wide-ranging review of municipal finances in the nation's most populous state because of what it sees as a growing threat of insolvency.

The report has both investors and government leaders worried.

Three California cities - Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes - have filed for bankruptcy so far this year. They are not likely to be the last, Moody's said.

Moody's reports that some cities are turning bankruptcy as a new strategy to take on budget deficits and avoid obligations to bondholders, an emerging dynamic that could have ripple effects throughout the investment community.

The municipal bond market has long been characterized by low default rates and relatively stable finances, Moody's said, but that outlook is beginning to change as bankruptcy becomes a tool for cash-strapped cities.

--Meanwhile, the federal govt is STILL spending billions a week in Afghanistan. All this while cities go bankrupt here in America, smh what the hell has happened to America?

 

[heyslick]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_BANKRUPTCIES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-17-19-12-49

Moody's: More Calif. cities at risk of bankruptcy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- One of the nation's top credit rating agencies said Friday that it expects more municipal bankruptcies and defaults in California, the nation's largest issuer of municipal bonds.

Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the growing fiscal distress in many California cities was putting bondholders at risk.

The service announced that it will undertake a wide-ranging review of municipal finances in the nation's most populous state because of what it sees as a growing threat of insolvency.

The report has both investors and government leaders worried.

Three California cities - Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes - have filed for bankruptcy so far this year. They are not likely to be the last, Moody's said.

Moody's reports that some cities are turning bankruptcy as a new strategy to take on budget deficits and avoid obligations to bondholders, an emerging dynamic that could have ripple effects throughout the investment community.

The municipal bond market has long been characterized by low default rates and relatively stable finances, Moody's said, but that outlook is beginning to change as bankruptcy becomes a tool for cash-strapped cities.

--Meanwhile, the federal govt is STILL spending billions a week in Afghanistan. All this while cities go bankrupt here in America, smh what the hell has happened to America?

IMO

The biggest reason - community organizers aren't concerned with the big picture. When so-called leaders can go thru literally millions upon millions of American tax payer monies WITHOUT any regrets - something is fundamentally flawed with that kind of mentality - along with destroying the coal industry and supposedly turning the auto industry around - what next? - ? this President is OBESSED with what HE THINKS is good for America He didn't work hard to get where hes at - Americas infrastructure & other unknown entities did it for him and his wife - they aren't smart? LMAO!!

 

[kingblaze84]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_BANKRUPTCIES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-17-19-12-49

Moody's: More Calif. cities at risk of bankruptcy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- One of the nation's top credit rating agencies said Friday that it expects more municipal bankruptcies and defaults in California, the nation's largest issuer of municipal bonds.

Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the growing fiscal distress in many California cities was putting bondholders at risk.

The service announced that it will undertake a wide-ranging review of municipal finances in the nation's most populous state because of what it sees as a growing threat of insolvency.

The report has both investors and government leaders worried.

Three California cities - Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes - have filed for bankruptcy so far this year. They are not likely to be the last, Moody's said.

Moody's reports that some cities are turning bankruptcy as a new strategy to take on budget deficits and avoid obligations to bondholders, an emerging dynamic that could have ripple effects throughout the investment community.

The municipal bond market has long been characterized by low default rates and relatively stable finances, Moody's said, but that outlook is beginning to change as bankruptcy becomes a tool for cash-strapped cities.

--Meanwhile, the federal govt is STILL spending billions a week in Afghanistan. All this while cities go bankrupt here in America, smh what the hell has happened to America?

IMO

The biggest reason - community organizers aren't concerned with the big picture. When so-called leaders can go thru literally millions upon millions of American tax payer monies WITHOUT any regrets - something is fundamentally flawed with that kind of mentality - along with destroying the coal industry and supposedly turning the auto industry around - what next? - ? this President is OBESSED with what HE THINKS is good for America He didn't work hard to get where hes at - Americas infrastructure & other unknown entities did it for him and his wife - they aren't smart? LMAO!!

As much as Obama disgusts me with his endless, wasteful spending in Afghanistan, we gotta keep it real and say Congress overall approves of this wasteful spending as well, Democrats and Republicans. There are dissenters who do hate this dumb fucking war in Congress, but most of Washington DC is made up of bloodthirsty warmongers who have no problem killing and maiming civilians for over ten years if it means private companies can continue making money. Don't just blame Obama, blame Congress as well.

As far as the coal industry, it should still be profitable but there has to be less use of it, for environmental reasons. How much dirty air and cancer rates are you willing to accept?? Unless clean coal becomes more profitable, there should be less usage of coal in the long term, you don't want the environment being more polluted in the long run......as far as the auto industry, would you have just let it go bankrupt? The amount of jobs lost would be astronomical.

 

[janklow]

When so-called leaders can go thru literally millions upon millions of American tax payer monies WITHOUT any regrets ... this President is OBESSED with what HE THINKS is good for America

hey, look, the main complaint applies to every president (and probably every politician, if you take out the president reference there)

 

[heyslick]

When so-called leaders can go thru literally millions upon millions of American tax payer monies WITHOUT any regrets ... this President is OBESSED with what HE THINKS is good for America

hey, look, the main complaint applies to every president (and probably every politician, if you take out the president reference there)

Yes! & NO - President Obama has this knack i.e.,the ability not 'to be' responsible for his actions in any certain terms. IMO there's absolutely NO humility about this pompous/arrogant individual.

 

[90's Golden Era]

There's no such thing as a middle class family. We've been third world country since the 80's.

 

[heyslick]

There's no such thing as a middle class family. We've been third world country since the 80's.

YEAH! & the commander in chief says only his collective salvation principles will save us.

 

[High Revolutionary]

Meh, in my opinion minimum wage should be done away with completely.

Do you say that because many businesses would probably hire more people if the federal minimum wage was eliminated?

Yup, especially small businesses.

I hear you and I kind of agree, but my only worry is that many businesses would take advantage of an elimination of minimum wage and begin paying slave wages. Once a society has too many people being paid slave wages, than social chaos will become the order of the day. ESPECIALLY in a nation with a high cost of living like America. If America had a low cost of living such as most places in the Caribbean, this idea would better work.

Yeah but what's the alternative? Watch more jobs go overseas to countries with far less regulatory policies. Better people are making slave wages then not working at all. Rising inflation also makes "slave wages" somewhat of a subjective term anyway.

 

[Thinking]

heyslick, take your feelings and smear campaign elsewhere. Just sayin.

 

[heyslick]

heyslick, take your feelings and smear campaign elsewhere. Just sayin.

NOPE! just expressing my opinion, how come you don't like seeing the other side of any given issue?

 

[Thinking]

heyslick, take your feelings and smear campaign elsewhere. Just sayin.

NOPE! just expressing my opinion, how come you don't like seeing the other side of any given issue?

I do like seeing the other side, it's just yours have become repetitive and tired. Next couple posts of yours will be the same just in different words. I get it you hate Obama, I get it nigga seriously.

 

[heyslick]

heyslick, take your feelings and smear campaign elsewhere. Just sayin.

NOPE! just expressing my opinion, how come you don't like seeing the other side of any given issue?

I do like seeing the other side, it's just yours have become repetitive and tired. Next couple posts of yours will be the same just in different words. I get it you hate Obama, I get it nigga seriously.

SEE! you don't get it - I don't HATE Mister Obama - I don't like his ideology or his agenda for America -- I like Integrity and that has nothing to do with ones ethnicity. Another issue that really irks me is when some can hide behind their skin color and call others racist just for not agreeing with them.

 

[heyslick]

Thinking - since you're a thinker type - ponder this.

There’s no race card to pull when a candidate is white, so it can only be about policies and political views. And what if a black person objects to the policies of President Obama? He’s sold out. He’s an Oreo — black on the outside but white on the inside — or an Uncle Tom. These types of turncoat blacks are only being used by the white establishment. Racism is the liberal narrative. They don’t have anything else to go on.

Read more:http://godfatherpolitics.com/5715/if-you-disagree-president-obama-you-must-racist/#ixzz245b0FOI6

 

[heyslick]

YO! mister thinker - collective salvation is NOT good for America & it will destroy America (aka) Transform America.

Small, constitutionally sound government protects individual rights and provides the right amount of protection for all citizens. A small government respects private property which is an essential part of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Everything you do with your life, the wealth you gain, the achievements, etc, are all your property. You owe nothing to anyone, but generally your going to be a good citizen, because the others will be good citizens back. This idea that we owe the government is total nonsense. there would be no government without the citizens. There would be no society without individuals first.

 

[janklow]

Yes! & NO - President Obama has this knack i.e.,the ability not 'to be' responsible for his actions in any certain terms. IMO there's absolutely NO humility about this pompous/arrogant individual.

considering that what you're saying can be applied to any president, i am assuming you rate him as more pompous/arrogant than any other president because he's black

 

[kingblaze84]

Meh, in my opinion minimum wage should be done away with completely.

Do you say that because many businesses would probably hire more people if the federal minimum wage was eliminated?

Yup, especially small businesses.

I hear you and I kind of agree, but my only worry is that many businesses would take advantage of an elimination of minimum wage and begin paying slave wages. Once a society has too many people being paid slave wages, than social chaos will become the order of the day. ESPECIALLY in a nation with a high cost of living like America. If America had a low cost of living such as most places in the Caribbean, this idea would better work.

Yeah but what's the alternative? Watch more jobs go overseas to countries with far less regulatory policies. Better people are making slave wages then not working at all. Rising inflation also makes "slave wages" somewhat of a subjective term anyway.

I get what you're saying, the alternative DOES suck. I don't want jobs going overseas but we have to protect a certain standard of living that exists here, you don't want that going away. Look at how weak unions are now, and look at how few benefits most companies offer now. All that is bad enough, do we really want to sink lower? If housing and rent was cheaper though, a lack of a minimum wage would work, like in many 3rd world nations around the globe. But eliminating the minimum wage would be disastrous for the already poor in this nation, since housing in this nation is pretty expensive for the avg person. Homeless shelters are full these days, and rent isn't getting any cheaper. I get what you're saying though, if housing had some kind of price controls, which I want, than I would support your idea full wholeheartedly.

 

[kingblaze84]

There's no such thing as a middle class family. We've been third world country since the 80's.

YEAH! & the commander in chief says only his collective salvation principles will save us.

How would you improve America's economy? You diss Obama non-stop, but you have no alternative ideas.

 

[kingblaze84]

There's no such thing as a middle class family. We've been third world country since the 80's.

Can't prove you wrong here.....