Where the HELL is "AMERICA" headed?

[DR STRANGELOVE]

Copied and pasted from another board....


It appears to me that this country is going to HELL, fast.

I can't believe how many jobs have been lost in West Michigan since 2000. Over 50,000 high paying jobs from Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, Lifesavers, Bosch, Elextrolux, etc.... have been terminated since I have moved to Michigan.

I can name over 100 companies that have pulled out and moved to either Canada or Mexico. These were very good jobs that will never be replaced, NEVER.

Dell, Gateway, etc... are all exporting their jobs to East India.

Today Levi Strauss closed their last plants in the US.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3909407/

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwes...i.s.closing.ap/

Now, another company near me (Electrolux) is firing 2,700 very well paid workers tommorrow and all the jobs are going to Mexico where the company said wages will be $1.00 (ONE) dollar per hour. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story....23&nav=0RcdK3uL

Is this happening throughout the US?

Why are you young people NOT complaining to your Congressman or Senators?

How do you young guys get jobs? What type of $$$ are you making?

What the HELL will be left of the US in 10-20 years?

Why is no one doing anything about this?

I retired and trade stocks, so I don't really have any vested interest.

Here are a few other links I found.
http://www.kcrg.com/article.aspx?ar...3535&cat_id=123

http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story....70&nav=0RcdK4Kw

Lou Dobbs of CNN is running a Series this week about "The Exporting of Jobs from America" http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/

Where are people going to get good paying jobs in the US?

Why doesn't anyone seem to care?

 

[TORONTO-VIGILANTE]

WHY ASK WHY.....???

:shrug:

 

[Spock]

All Canadians in this thread so far .. . .


. .. . mebbe others are more interested in this than the people living in US . .. :nono: :shrug:

 

[freelancc]

:canada1














:lol:

 

[Simply In The Red]

I understand where you are coming from but it is a problem that noone wants to face until their own job is on the line. I knew for a while that the last Levi Strauss plant was going to close down. I played golf with a guy whose job for Levi was getting rid of the equipment once they closed a location down. Everyone knew who he was and once he showed up at your plant, your days were numbered. I see this story going on every day but noone steps up to fight. Maybe I will be visiting Canada someday, but a little sooner than I thought.

 

[IntenseOperator]

It's called "service jobs", "service sector jobs"


manufacturing jobs declining

service industry jobs increasing

You can look at this a million different ways, good/bad

 

[TonyTT]

It's also called "world wide economy" anymore. In our area you can still apply for a job at the chemical plant (British Petrol), or the auto manufac (HONDA) or Grobe (German). The area just lost out on a big S Korean auto manufacturing plant...going to 'Bama.

TT

 

[djv]

It's Called in your face America. It's call greed and the nice deals these companies get by moveing. And yes the deals are there from the government. It's called worry more about the stock holders and getting bonus by doing so. No 50/50 anymore. Whats that. A Balance where stock holders are happy enough and workers still have jobs. We lose more jobs in a month then were making right now. We have soldeirs coming back from Iraq. Who saved us from Saddam who was coming to get us. Ya right.
And there jobs are gone when they get home. Ya we sure have Americans taking care of Americans. Still best place to me. But your right whats up 10,20 years from now. And where are the young folks that will not be able to get chit for jobs. They better start speeking up. This is what happens every time you dont have a balance in your government. And we dont.
At now the new deal for Mexico is coming.

 

[ocelot]

And unfortunately those who have lost their jobs don't have time to get politically active as they are just trying to survive. It is probably an insoluble problem. Of course we would all like for everyone in the world to have American/Canadian standards of living but it is likely that such a higher standard of living is only possible because of the exploitation of 3rd world populations which keep their standards low thus we get lower cost goods. Also, what will the pollution picture be like when all those people in India and China are driving around in SUVs, not to mention fuel prices?

Ultimately, I believe there is one underlying cause (population explosion) and only 1 underlying solution: Population control. It eventually WILL have to be regulated and it will come sooner than we all think.

The earth is a dirt clod circling the sun with a limited amount of resources that will run out eventually. We humans convert the dirt into TVs and gadgets but we do not create new matter. The process is accelerating faster and faster by the minute. Of course, none of it will matter anyway when the next Great Meteor powders us.

In summary, I think I will try to Live for the Moment - Responsibly.

Cheers

 

[dawgball]

This is a serious issue for Americans to face. While I don't think America is going to Hell in a Handbasket anytime soon, we are seeing a fair amount of hard working citizens losing their jobs. The company I worked for before I started my own company was an aluminum die caster very dedicated to the American worker (especially the people of the small town they were started in). Since opening a mom and pop shop in the 60s, this business has grown to be the largest aluminum die caster in the world. The problem is that their major customers: GM, Ford, Delphi, etc. are moving all of their assembly plants to other countries. We obviously could not afford to produce in America then ship to S Korea, so we had to open up a plant there. We also have plants in Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and in the US, but there have been zero new hires in the US. Management is dedicated to their philosophy of never laying people off, though. When people retire or are fired for good reason, they are simply not replaced. I would say more than half of their floor personnel are now temporary laborers. What do you think that has done to the quality?

This company has proven that it is dedicated to its current workers, though. When recessions have hit in the past a skilled laborer may be mowing the lawn (letting the external services go), but he/she still had a job and received no pay cuts. The owner is also strictly against unions. I feel that if the workers unionized, he would feel it is a slap in the face and move all of the jobs elsewhere. There really is no need in unionizing there, though.

What are the young Americans doing about it? I don't think my generation (late 20s, early 30s) has had their time in power, yet. I hope that we do a better job standing up for America and Americans. This does not only mean standing up against issues like this. The Torts systems, frivilous lawsuits, family values, etc. are all in trouble. Politics in this country have become a joke. Would you really want George Bush, Bill Clinton, or Al Gore to run your company or eating at your family table? You might make money, but your values would be in check. These jokers that are running for the Democratic nomination are a complete mockery of our system. There has to be better representation of the Democratic Party! I understand how Bush got there, it's part of the family politics, but that's just the way it works.

Until America's brightest and best start running for public offices, we are going to continue to spiral downward.

With this all said, I wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world. I was able to start a business out of a basement and be successful doing so. There aren't many countries in the world that I would have the freedoms to do that in that I have here. I have considered moving my operations to other countries, but the only one that is being considered is the Land Down Under and that's too far from my family. (Canada's just too damn cold -- Torrets Cold as taoist elegantly put it!)

Last but not least: Don't take everything you read for face value. I think we'll be just fine in the end.

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Its a right wing conspiracy.

The inevitable: Within 16 years the # of people that will pay no taxes and receive benefits will far outweigh those that pay taxes and fund programs.
Also same will account for well over 60% of population being liberal, giving them total control of elections.
About same time period, due to above, Hilliary will be elected Pres and Dean Vice Pres.
Over half of Mexico will have migrated to U.S.

Seeing that Mexico is quite a scenic spot with nice climate ect and it is only half populated now as most are in U.S.--the right will then migrate to Mexico--take over the place as the military will migrate also(plus most U.S.companies are already located there,no need to restucture)--put the remaining Mexican population to work building wall on border (similiar to great wall of china) to keep the now 100% liberal U.S. from reverse migration once they find out all this propagana they heard for years is a pipe dream and they can't give away money they now don't have.

Canada has huge increase in construction jobs as they continue 10 year plan to build direct underground transient system to "The New Mexico"

 

[Master Capper]

What I dont understand is that today they annouced that the unemplyment rate went down but the creation of new jobs declined, does this seem strange to anyone else?

 

[ocelot]

That can only mean that the number of jobs lost declined. Fewer new jobs were created but even fewer old jobs were lost so unemployment went down? Anyway, that's all I can figure.

 

[djv]

It's afeal good statement. They stopped counting the 2/3 million folks that ran out of unemplyoment. So there numbers dont show anymore. Right now and ofcourse my friends from the right will never admitt this. The rich are getting richer and the poor numbers are increasing. The richest nation on earth we are told. And I belive that. And your telling me we cant even handle a minium wage of 6.50 or 7.00 per hour. Now I know many will say hey theres only 8 or 10 million folks getting payed less then that. Might be dead on right. And it cost all the rest of us to help those making less then 6 bucks. Billions and Billions. Just what DTB is very against helping anyone that is down at that level. Heres away to help them DTB payed them above the poverty level. Cost you and me les to support them.
As for taxes DTB a national sales tax ends all the BS. But you will never see one republican ever vote for that.

 

[Turfgrass]

I'm sure the Dems will vote for the fair tax though, right?

 

[Cie]

I am a 30 year old International Sales Rep living in the "armpit" of the United States-----New Olreans, Louisiana. These are my answers to some questions asked in what I feel is a ridiculous post:

Why are you young people NOT complaining to your Congressman or Senators?

It seems to me that the people who would complain about lack of a good job are the ones who did not strive for success from the beginning.

Where are people going to get good paying jobs in the US?

Wherever the qualified candidates care to look. Uneducated people always have difficulty finding good jobs, but the educated group of individuals with whom I consort regularly are all doing fine whether they are an attorney, a sales rep, a media planner, a doctor or a chef. Like I said, I live in New Orleans. If we can do it here, you can do it anywhere in this great country.

How do you young guys get jobs? What type of $$$ are you making?

Its all about getting a quality education and following a career plan. I earn an above-average income.

What the HELL will be left of the US in 10-20 years?

More will be left here after 10-20 "bad" years than there is today in any other country in the world.

Cie:weed:

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

If anyone would be against sales tax DJV it would be liberals.
That would be a "fair" tax. You buy big toys you pay more tax.
If you have small expenditures,your taxes are small.
I am all for it. Not only would ever swinging dick pay their share but we would collect 100% without no one sliding and no IRS.

What liberals want is redistribution of wealth. Your sales tax goes against the very heart of their liberal philosophy.

Now on your minimum wage.
Washington has highest minimum wage of all states with $7 an hour and is in top states of unemployement at over 7%.

Federal minimum (correct me if I'm wrong) is $5.50 an hour.
The small business is the backbone of this country.
You take a small business with 10 employees give them a $2 an hour raise and it cost you $40,000 a year more.So what if that exceeds bottom line. You fold and have 10 more unemployed.

It would be great if every person made in U.S. made $50,000 minimum but it's not how things work. People that make these amounts no doubt are worth it to their employers because of what they produce. Flip side you quit school,get up at noon,hang out--you also get what your worth.

Lets take a look at the small business that provide jobs situation.
1st thing you want to do is tell them who to hire (quotas) then if their deadbeats you want to make them jump through hoops to fire them with 6 vultures sitting outside wanting to tell them what a bad beat they got an wanting to file lawsuit.
Do you not think if they have good employees they am not going to do what it takes to keep them if at all possible?

Privite enterprise will take care of it self if left alone---those that work hard get rewarded and those that lay around and make excuses don't.

I told you before and I'll tell you one more time. When you want to continuely dis business's that provide jobs and make it open season on them with litigation expenditures ect. and want to reward those with its not my fault attitude at the cost of those prosper, its a matter of time till they say "no mass" and take their ball and go elsewhere.

 

[ocelot]

Cie Grant,

You are correct that you are living in the armpit of the USA.

A lot of middle class hard-working people have lost and are losing high wage jobs. They have mortgages and families. It is hard to see how it is their fault when their manufacturing plant closes so it can move to Maylasia and pay slaves 1 dollar a day so we can go to Walmart and buy a product at half the price of the same American made good. How can Walmart sell at such cheap prices and still consistently rake in profits? Well, don't pay your fulltime workers ANY medical benefits, buy slave-wage goods from overseas, and contract out services like janitorial work to contractors who hire subcontractors who hire illegal immigrants and pay THEM slave wages. And then all of us run down to the local Walmart to shop and enable that system. And so begins a descending spiral.

As songwriter Randy Newman sang:

"Its money that matters in the USA"

 

[ocelot]

DOGS THAT BARK,

I am all for small business. If you are you should be against the Walmart worldview which destroys local businesses.

What we have now is a world not run by governments taht are elected by citizens but a world run by multi-national corporations.

IF shareholders had any REAL means of exercising a democratic process to to elect the members on these boards we might have a prayer of taking control of our lives and our governments again.

 

[hellah10]

I emailed my congressWOMAN (Marcy Kaptur) of the 9th district...somthing or other...anyways, if she replies...I`ll post her reply