Let’s start off this post on some thoughts of the mainstream. There really is not “one” mainstream, instead they are more like tributaries feeding into one massive deluge. Of course, there are the Lumpi-Trumpies (Lazy Minded/Proudly Ignorant) who get so … Continue reading Internalized Capitalism
The longer I live the more convinced I have become that the American style capitalist economy is unsustainable for much longer. Eventually, our version of capitalism must merge with socialist type system in order to survive. I know that is … Continue reading The Markets Are Not A Real Barometer Of Prosperity
This is the end of this seven post series of looking at America from my personal perspective. It has been quite a story. This final episode will be speculating where we might be long after I am gone from this … Continue reading Into The Looking Glass – 2035 And Beyond Part 2
I’m going to put on my fiscal conservative hat here and try to convince you that class-war is a losing proposition. That in my mind means Bernie Sanders has it fundamentally wrong. That is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “Capitalism Is NOT The Problem…”
I get much of my inspiration about life in the US from the New York Times. They seem to have the best reporting and columnists in the country. That’s why I pay the big bucks ($4/month) for their daily feed. … Continue reading Nobody Makes Capitalism Look Worse…
The two major things that drive the US economy are personal consumption and military spending. With this post, I will try to convince you that is a basic problem for us as a country. It thwarts happiness and is a wasteful way to live a life. But the biggest problem is that for too many of us it is the ONLY thing driving our lives. More money, more stuff. Ironically this is true throughout the economic ladder from the richest of us to the poorest. We think that if we can just get a few more dollars to buy more … Continue reading The Fallacy of Consumer Driven Capitalism
This post is about the question “Is America’s form of capitalism being pushed aside?” Is the world moving beyond the American definition? Some might say the Capitalism as it exists in America is “The rich get richer, and nothing else matters… “What happens when a society reinvests the gains from industrialization into things like healthcare, education, and so forth? Well, it’s economy changes — radically. You see, the American economy is still 75% consumption — McMansions, SUVs, designer jeans, and so forth. The problem is that 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. They can’t afford those things anymore. But if America had invested in … Continue reading America’s Form Of Capitalism…
I ran across the title of this post in an article by Fraser Nelson of The Daily Telegraph which is a popular British newspaper. It basically talks about how the Brits are now leaning to the left despite the relative win of the rad-cons in the recent election. This leftward trend is evidently being pushed by the young voters in the country. I kinda think the Brits are smarter than us when it comes to government and I hope our young people are doing the same. The basic definition of capitalism is that it is an economic system based on … Continue reading Capitalism Is Proving Unpopular Among Those With No Capital..
I came across this post from about three years ago that seems to apply to my recent posts on tiny houses and simplicity. Take a look… I think it applies more today than it did even three years ago… Click on the image below to go there. Continue reading Simplicity…
But, first, let’s look at an unusual way of running a business, by having your employees own the company. One popular craft brewery has made a name for itself in part by going that route, with strong results so far…. One of things that we think is a big societal issue is this widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. And we realized that we had an opportunity to support people owning something that was increasing in value. Shared equity has been an incredibly powerful engine for us…. The better I do, the better we do, and I personally … Continue reading Shared Equity vs Pure Capitalism…
Is it a bad thing that I want to consume less this year than I did last year? This is a question I have been contemplating lately. Although I am not making out a specific list for 2016 I have decided to shed myself of much of the stuff I own and to not spend so much this year. It sounds like a noble goal but that very idea seems to have the world in a panic right now. As I am writing this post, which is actually a couple of weeks before it is likely posted, stock markets are … Continue reading Spending Less…
Pope Francis recently spoke out about “unbridled capitalism”. A good example of that is the unregulated sales of guns in this country. Even my small town of 2,000 now has a gun shop where anyone can buy just about any weapon they choose. Capitalism is the best economic system in the world but when it is unfettered from any moral requirements it is perhaps among the worst… Continue reading Even In Small Town America…
I have been accused by some who have come to this site primarily in the antagonist mode to be anti-capitalism. I hope that is not the general persona that I put forth. It is true that I don’t think that unfettered capitalism is a good thing. If left to its own capitalism would morph into a survival of the fittest mode or something even worse. But I don’t think those beliefs make me against capitalism. I thoroughly recognize that capitalism is the primary driver that has made the U.S. and much of the industrialized world what it is today. Without … Continue reading Capitalism – A Dirty Word…
Des Moines IA – Brandeis Department Store Department stores are the epitome of a capitalist society. They started springing up in the early 1900s and soon became an important “go to” place in every large American city and even in … Continue reading Department Stores…
I think everyone knows that our number one business in the U.S. is selling weapons systems and other means of destruction throughout the world. I suspect that almost every country in the world has at least a few of our $50 million military airplanes and some of our $1 million bombs to go with them. The $50 million is of course for a second-hand airplane, if you want a newer one be prepared to fork over three times that cost. With a $600 billion annual budget for such things our military probably scrap these guys on a regular basis so there … Continue reading The Number Two Business in the U.S….
Can you imagine a democracy that was the result of the people living the country rising up and not from an invasion by the U.S.? What happened to the Bush Doctrine? I thought we were the democracy builders for the world? What are those Egyptians trying to do put our military out of business? Glenn Beck and his crowd were right up front cheering the invasion of Iraq to “free” the people but it seems when its done the old fashioned way he is against it. Unfortunately when you let people form their own democracy it sometimes doesn’t come out as … Continue reading Democracy, The Old Fashioned Way
With China presently holding more than $1 trillion of our debt the above cartoon is probably more reality than any of us would like to believe. Someday they may just call in all our IOUs. I read an article recently about how the Chinese are now convinced that they have the purest form of capitalism and have very little to learn from the U.S. anymore. This is kind of like a chicken/egg type thing but it is no wonder our government is drowning it debt. I read someplace where the average citizen now has over $5,000 in credit card debt! That … Continue reading China, Can I make a suggestion??
Jesus intends for us to serve others rather than for us to expect others to serve us. I think that many people in the United States have that message reversed. They dream of having enough money to have people constantly waiting on them and to fill their every need. After all, that is the American dream isn’t it? Well, it may be the American dream but it should not be an “Kingdom of God” citizens’ dream. Let’s look at some of the red letters in this area. Matt 20:25-28 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over … Continue reading To Serve or to Be Served?? … That is the Question
RJ's Corner 