mav

Whether "world trade" has or has not wrecked our economy, it is a moot point. As bkhelm 18 stated, "This country has gone too far down the road of 'world economy' to turn back now." So, what do we do now? Do we continue to enlarge the nanny state, which will pretty much guarantee that we will not be competitive, or do we create an environment that will allow US business to effectively compete with other countries?

While my viewpoint is pessimistic, I think it is grounded in reality. I am becoming so cynical that I almost believe the problem cannot be solved. There is no political will, nor is there any will on behalf of a lot of americans to do what is necessary to preserve this country. Heck, just reading some of the responses on various threads on TGO make it pretty much evident that things will not be fixed. However, I will hold out what little hope I have left until the next election. If things cannot be turned around (meaning voting out the statists in both parties) during the next election, then the game is over. You ask, "what do you want the government to do?" Here are a few things they can do to stave off impending doom. 1. A balanced budget ammendment ( you can't spend more than you take in) 2. Entitlement reform on social security, medicaid, and medicare 3. Tax reform. We have to broaden the tax base and do away with the class warfare system we currently have. The system should treat all americans as equals. 4. Repeal Obamacare. 5. Insurance and tort reform. 6. End subsidies to industries that cannot survive own their own in a market based economy, e.g. ethanol, airlines, etc... 7. Remove of bunch of regulations that hinder businesses 8. Eliminate collective bargaining (federal employees don't have it), and make all states right to work states 9. Reform and enforce strong immigration policies 10. Reduce the taxes on businesses 11. Do away with the community reinvestment act, and eventually dissolve Fannie and Freddie 12. Get out of the boondoggles, which are Iraq and Afghanistan. What are we actually going to gain and will they ever end? We need to take the advice of John Quincy Adams, who believed in moral support of independence movements, but not armed intervention. He stated that america, "does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy." I could spend hours listing things the governments need, or don't not need, to do. What I listed above is just a few things the governments could do to correct the problem we are currently facing. If implemented, I think we would not only fix our financial mess, but we would also have unprecedented growth.

Yeah, I looked it up. Thanks. I don't think some obscure credit rating agency that the vast majority of people have never heard of carries anyway near the weight or significance as the main three. I have heard a few people talk about that over the last couple of days.

That must be pretty happy. Congrats. Did you trade away your Wilson?

Let me clarify. Downgraded by S&P. By the way, which other agency downgraded our credit rating? The only other main credit agencies are Moody's and Fitch, and they haven't downgraded us.

Guess the deal wasn't as good as what they portrayed it to be. It is the first time our credit rating has been downgraded. S&P downgrades U.S. credit rating for first time - The Washington Post What do you think will come of this? Anything?

It is funny you asked that. I shoot slighty high with my G26.

That is the reason I stated "self-proclaimed" black leader.

I had thought seriously about whether or not to start this thread. I decided to create it not to stir racial prejudices, but to point out the blatant double standard within the media. Personally, I couldn't care less what color the perpetators where. However, if this had been white on black, white on latino, or white on anything but white, then we would have a media circus over the event. You would have had every self-proclaimed black leader filling the airwaves demanding justice. Heck, I bet even Obama would have made a few stupid comments on the matter. The media's lack of reporting on this incident and previous incidents (flash mobs) is appalling. I guess they are too busy smearing patriotic americans voicing their dissapproval of the federal government by calling them terrorists.

That was fantastic.

It seems these flash mobs are becoming more prevalent. I was just reading this morning that we now have massive beatings at a state fair. WTF? Scare at State Fair: witnesses describe mobs, including some claiming racially-charged attacks - TODAY'S TMJ4 Its too bad that this type of crap doesn't occur at a gun owners pinic or something similiar. The problem would be solved very quickly.

Why should we ever go back to that? That makes too much sense.

+1 My frustration agrees with you. However, the downside I can see with this is you will eliminate quite a few conservatives as well. I think a better approach to the you can't vote if you don't own property or pay federal income taxes is a requirement to pass an intelligence test before being allowed to vote. The test I have in mind would be a basic citizenship and basic economic type test. If an individual doesn't have a basic understanding of how their government works, or is supposed to work, and they do not understand basic economic principles, then they have absolutely no business voting. When I see commentators do a "man on the street" segment, I am amazed at the ignorance (in some cases downright stupidity) of a lot of the american public. What I find more amazing is people have no shame in being made to look like a dumba$$. Instead, they laugh off their own ignorance.

Nice knife. How do you like it compared to your XM flipper? The Kershaws are a great price, but I can't over the blade design on the Zings. I wonder why they chose that style.

Even though they don't mean the same thing, I think most people have always used socialist, marxist, and statist interchangeably. I prefer to use statist myself. I think some of them are so extreme in their belief in a highly centralized government controlling everything that they could be labeled as totalitarian. I have heard several commentators over the years describe the current situation as a soft tyranny. I think they are right.

Its better than freezing your butt off.

I would recommend the novels by Vince Flynn. I have read them all, and they are great.

+1 I hadn't seen those interviews with Alex Jones. Thanks for sharing. I agree that Megadeth has eclipsed Metallica. I pretty much gave up on Metallica after Reload, and St. Anger was the nail in the coffin. I know Metallica, or at least Lars, hates fans like me.

What a tool.

Nice one. Congrats. I am hoping I will see somebody at the range one day that has one and will let me shoot it..

I heard about that the other day. It is like rubbing salt in an open wound. I have a question for you guys. When our country collapses due to profligate spending, do you think it will quietly go away and reset, or do you think there will be mass hysteria, rampant crime, etc... (a self implosion on a biblical scale)?

That's just a tad bit extreme isn't it? Even though I do not take any drugs, nor condone the behavior of people who do, I do not think someone deserves to die if they smoke a joint.

What do you guys think about this? This is a bunch of horse ****. The GAO didn't like it. Congress to decide whether Super Congress could impose gun control - Gun Owners Of America Sheesh, it gets worse and worse. Whatever happened to the GOP's promise of making bills available online for at least 3 days before voting on it?

I would also add that a lot of people support their politician, because it is that politician that is helping them stay on the government tit.

I can shoot a 45 fine, but I can shoot a 9 much better. It is what I practice with the most due to ammo costs. I agree shot placement is of the utmost importance. In regards to 1911 vs. whatever, or the 45 vs. 9 argument, I really don't care what other people think. I buy and shoot what I like. In my short time in the firearms community, I have learned two resounding truths. 1. Most people are marksmen. 2. Most people are full of s**t.