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Nickdfresh

11-01-2009, 10:03 AM

9 signs that America is in decline

The US is muddling through a weak, jobless recovery and confronts problems that could make prosperity feel elusive for a long time.
[Related content: financial crisis, economy, recession, jobs, education]
By Rick Newman, U.S. News & World Report

The sky isn't falling, exactly. America isn't on a fast track to irrelevance. Even in a state of total neglect, we could probably shamble along as a disheveled superpower for a few more decades.
Keep up with the U.S. dollar exchange rate

Keep up with the U.S. dollar exchange rate
But all empires end, and the warning signs of American decline seem to be blinking more consistently. In the latest annual "prosperity index" published by the Legatum Institute, a research company in London, the United States ranks as the world's ninth-most-prosperous country. That's five notches lower than last year, when America ranked No. 4.

The drop might seem inconsequential, especially in the midst of a grueling recession -- except that most of the world has endured the same recession, and other countries are bouncing back faster.

China and India have recovered smartly from the recession, for example. Brazil seems to be barreling ahead. Australia is growing faster than expected, prompting worry among government officials who fear they may have overstimulated the economy. The United States, meanwhile, is muddling through a weak, jobless recovery, and we have a lot of problems that could make prosperity feel elusive for a long time.

Real household income in America has flat-lined, for instance, which means many middle-class families are barely keeping up with inflation. The exploding federal deficit hamstrings the government's ability to help. Health care is too expensive, America's manufacturing base is eroding and two open-ended foreign wars are draining the national treasury. This is not a recipe for building national wealth. There are still millions of diligent, innovative Americans who could help the nation dig out of its hole. But overall, the American population is falling behind, by a variety of measures. Here are some of them:

1. Jobs. The International Monetary Fund (.pdf file) predicts that the U.S. unemployment rate will be 10.1% for all of 2010. That's lower than in a majority of the euro zone nations, but it's higher than in Canada and a lot worse than most Scandinavian countries and the newly industrialized Asian nations the IMF looked at. Overall, the U.S. unemployment rate is about average for advanced economies and likely to stay that way. It could be worse, but middling job creation isn't a sign of global leadership.

2. Economic growth. The IMF also predicts that the U.S. economy will grow 1.9% in 2010. That's a tad better than the average for all advanced economies, but at least 10 developed nations will grow faster. Woo-hoo. Three cheers for mediocrity.

3. Poverty. The nation's poverty rate, about 17%, is third worst among the advanced nations tracked by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In that sample, only Turkey and Mexico are worse.

4. Education. American 15-year-olds score below the average for advanced nations on math and science literacy. But don't worry: Our nation's future leaders remain ahead of their peers in Mexico, Turkey and Greece.

5. Competitiveness. In the latest global competitiveness report from the World Economic Forum, the United States fell from No. 1 to No. 2. Sure, let's console ourselves that the No. 1 country, Switzerland, is a tiny outlier nation and that getting bumped from the top spot doesn't really mean anything. Add an asterisk, and we're still No. 1.

6. Prosperity. The most prosperous nations, according to the Legatum report, are Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. These fairly homogenous European countries are the teachers' pets of global rankings, often appearing near the top because of right-sized economies and a relatively small underclass.

For a huge economy like America's, a No. 9 ranking is still respectable. And part of the drop from last year's No. 4 spot is a change in methodology that puts more emphasis on the health and safety of citizens. Still, in the index's subrankings, the United States isn't even in the top 10 for economic fundamentals, safety and security, or governance. We should do better.

7. Health. In the Legatum study, the United States ranks 27th for the health of its citizens. Life expectancy in America is below the average for 30 advanced countries measured by the OECD, and the obesity rate in America is the worst among those 30 countries, by far. And, of course, we spend far more on health care per person than anybody else -- but get no bang for the extra buck.

8. Well-being. In the United Nations' Human Development Index, which attempts to measure the overall well-being of citizens throughout the world, the United States ranks 13th, one notch lower than in the prior set of rankings. Norway, Australia, Iceland and Canada are at the top.

9. Happiness. The United States ranks 11th in the OECD's measure of "life satisfaction"-- behind Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and other usual suspects. That's not bad, but the United States is one of only four countries where life satisfaction is going down, not up. The other downer nations are Portugal, Hungary, Canada and Japan. Plus, the research behind these rankings predates the recession, so it's likely that Americans are a lot less satisfied these days.

The overall portrait of America isn't exclusively gloomy, and in some areas we still seem to have an important edge. The Legatum prosperity index, for example, ranks America first for entrepreneurship and innovation.

And in a GfK Roper survey of how nations rate as global "brands," America rocketed from No. 7 in 2008 to No. 1 in 2009, largely because the world cheered the election of Barack Obama as president. But a brand-name leader can't just strong-arm his nation back to greatness. He needs a lot of help from educated, healthy and employed citizens determined to spread the wealth.

9 signs that America is in decline - MSN Money (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/9-signs-that-america-is-in-decline.aspx?page=all)

BITEYOASS

11-01-2009, 10:50 AM

This country would be a lot better if these free-trade whores in business and government didn't give our fuckin jobs away! :devils::mad0233:

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 11:11 AM

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 11:12 AM

Nabakov

11-01-2009, 11:17 AM

Science!

Nabakov

11-01-2009, 11:33 AM

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 11:49 AM

What are you babbling on about ??

Nickdfresh

11-01-2009, 12:22 PM

What are both of you retards "babbling about?"

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 12:37 PM

I'm not babbling, Dickforbreath...

Nitro Express

11-01-2009, 03:56 PM

Ok. We all know we've been had so now it's time to think out of the box on how to get our country back. Everyone talks about the US Dollar hyperinflating. I must point out the so called US Dollar is a Federal Reserve currency which is a private bank. The US Treasury prints and mints the money but it's issued by a Private Bank which means the Federal Reserve will fail due to putting too much money in circulation.

Not only is the Federal Reserve doing this but every central bank on the planet. If the US Dollar goes, so does the Yen, Euro, and British Pound Sterling. Which one will fail first? Probably the British Pound.

The bankers know this and this is why they are pushing for a global currency with will be fiat currency with monopoly type controls. It's not just a US problem but the problem of bankers who's days are numbered trying to grab real political control worldwide for themselves.

As far as the US goes, we need to tell these corporations and banks grabbing power to take a hike. What can YOU do? Buy local. Support your local businesses. Get active in your community. If we all clean up our own backyards and enough of us do this, we will be great again. The money is doomed to failure, something else will replace it. People will always trade something maybe the world will go back on a gold/silver standard again. The main thing to realize is the current banking system is failing and it's trying to intimidate and bribe itself into real political power because they know they are failing. All they can do is start more wars to empower themselves. They want Obama to get into Pakistahn and Iran and keep the world in caos and then they bring the order.

Nickdfresh

11-01-2009, 04:14 PM

I'm not babbling, Dickforbreath...

No. You're posting gay Youtubes for mouthbreather idiots. When you're done with your anti-Obama cartoons, let everyone know, sponge-bath-happy-ending....

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 06:59 PM

Nitro Express

11-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Nitro Express

11-01-2009, 07:08 PM

Basically Alex Jones is saying what Eisenhower basically said and what Kennedy tried to stop. We have a military industrial/corporate/ banking complex taking things over. If we don't nip it on the butt we have fascism. Which brings me to Obama. Obama, why haven't you undone or started the process of undoing what Bush did? How come you are continuing the Bush agenda which is all about military/corporate/banking over the citizens of the US and other parts of the world.

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 07:10 PM

As far as the US goes, we need to tell these corporations and banks grabbing power to take a hike.

Tell 'em, boy! That will do the trick!

What can YOU do?

I'm not really sure. Be a Christian and support the local community is a start...

Buy local.

I try to, and I support that. But even the best people I know buy Chinese because they think they are getting a better deal...

Support your local businesses.

But what if a local business becomes so successful that it turns into a major corporation ??

Tell them to take a hike ??

Get active in your community. If we all clean up our own backyards and enough of us do this, we will be great again.

Not if the federal government has the power to do with us as it pleases...

And dude, I'm generally on your side, but i'm just pointing out a few things...

:elvis:

Nickdfresh

11-01-2009, 07:21 PM

Well, since you breathe out of your rectum...

That's would be farting. Skip the biology portion of nurse school?

How are the nearly five hours of documentary gay, because Alex Jones is involved ??

No, just retarded and fraught with self-serving bullshit...

Did he sneakily fit it all together to fit an agenda that couldn't possibly have any truth to it ??

Does every clip presented represent some sort of lie ??

It represents poorly researched and ridiculous assertions made by a populist, pandering fuckwit riding the current wave for profit and catering to a ready audience of truck drivers, uneducated meph inhaling insomniacs and security guards on the nightshift...

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 07:33 PM

No way did you view the clips...

FORD

11-01-2009, 07:58 PM

Well, since you breathe out of your rectum...

How are the nearly five hours of documentary gay, because Alex Jones is involved ??

Did he sneakily fit it all together to fit an agenda that couldn't possibly have any truth to it ??

Does every clip presented represent some sort of lie ??

Actually, the first hour of Fall of the Republic isn't bad. He lays out a lot of the same facts that PBS' Frontline did a couple weeks ago, as far as the whole Rubin/Summers/Timmy the Keebler Elf vs Brooksley Born thing. And since the teabagger crowd thinks PBS is a "communist plot", it's a good thing that they're getting that info from somebody.

Problem is that the second hour is all hysterical "OBAMA IS EVEN WORSE THAN BUSH (because he's Black and us Texass Libertarians are scared shitless of ni**ers with power)" horseshit, that's when I had to give up on watching it.

ELVIS

11-01-2009, 08:02 PM

He never presented anything like that regarding Oblackma...

FORD

11-01-2009, 08:10 PM

For those who missed the PBS Frontline episode, here it is......

hideyoursheep

11-01-2009, 08:35 PM

WEED IS THE ANSWER!!!

Push to Legalize Marijuana Gains Ground in California

Published: October 27, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO — These are heady times for advocates of legalized marijuana in California — and only in small part because of the newly relaxed approach of the federal government toward medical marijuana.

State lawmakers are holding a hearing on Wednesday on the effects of a bill that would legalize, tax and regulate the drug — in what would be the first such law in the United States. Tax officials estimate the legislation could bring the struggling state about $1.4 billion a year, and though the bill’s fate in the Legislature is uncertain, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has indicated he would be open to a “robust debate” on the issue.

California voters are also taking up legalization. Three separate initiatives are being circulated for signatures to appear on the ballot next year, all of which would permit adults to possess marijuana for personal use and allow local governments to tax it. Even opponents of legalization suggest that an initiative is likely to qualify for a statewide vote.

“All of us in the movement have had the feeling that we’ve been running into the wind for years,” said James P. Gray, a retired judge in Orange County who has been outspoken in support of legalization. “Now we sense we are running with the wind.”

Proponents of the leading ballot initiative have collected nearly 300,000 signatures since late September, supporters say, easily on pace to qualify for the November 2010 general election. Richard Lee, a longtime marijuana activist who is behind the measure, says he has raised nearly $1 million to hire professionals to assist volunteers in gathering the signatures.

“Voters are ripping the petitions out of our hands,” Mr. Lee said.

That said, the bids to legalize marijuana are opposed by law enforcement groups across the state and, if successful, would undoubtedly set up a legal showdown with the federal government, which classifies marijuana as an illegal drug.

California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, in 1996, but court after court — including the United States Supreme Court — has ruled that the federal government can continue to enforce its ban. Only this month, with the Department of Justice announcement that it would not prosecute users and providers of medical marijuana who obey state law, has that threat subsided.

But federal authorities have also made it clear that their tolerance stops at recreational use. In a memorandum on Oct. 19 outlining the medical marijuana guidelines, Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden said marijuana was “a dangerous drug, and the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime,” adding that “no state can authorize violations of federal law.”

Still, Mr. Lee anticipates spending up to $20 million on a campaign to win passage of his ballot measure in California, raising some of it from the hundreds of already legal medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles, which have been recently fighting efforts by Los Angeles city officials to tighten restrictions on their operations.

“It’s a $2 billion industry,” Mr. Lee said of the medical marijuana sales.

Opponents said they are also preparing for a battle next year.

“I fully expect they will qualify,” said John Lovell, a Sacramento lobbyist for several groups of California law enforcement officials that oppose legalization.

Any vote would take place in a state where attitudes toward marijuana border on the schizophrenic. Last year, the state made some 78,500 arrests on felony and misdemeanors related to the drug, up from about 74,000 in 2007, according to the California attorney general.

Seizures of illegal marijuana plants, often grown by Mexican gangs on public lands in forests and parks, hit an all-time high in 2009, and last week, federal authorities announced a series of arrests in the state’s Central Valley, where homes have been converted into “indoor grows.”

At the same time, however, there are also pockets of California where marijuana can seem practically legal already. At least seven California cities have formally declared marijuana a low priority for law enforcement, with ballot measures or legislative actions. In Los Angeles, some 800 to 1,000 dispensaries of medical marijuana are in business, officials say, complete with consultants offering public relations services and “canna-business management.”

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat and author of the legalization bill, said momentum for legalization has built in recent years, especially as the state’s finances have remained sour.

“A lot of people that were initially resistant or even ridiculed it have come aboard,” Mr. Ammiano said.

In Oakland, which passed a tax on medical cannabis sales in July, several people who signed a petition backing Mr. Lee’s initiative said they were motivated in part by the cost of imprisoning drug offenders and the toll of drug-related violence in Mexico.

“Personally I don’t see a way of getting it under control other than legalizing it and taxing it,” said Jim Quinn, 60, a production manager. “We’ve got to get it out of the hands of criminals both domestic and international.”

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/us/28pot.html)

hideyoursheep

11-01-2009, 08:44 PM

If Califoneeya can get this through, and the Federal Government holds true on it's promise of not interfering with state law, it could have a domino effect all across the country.

Weed is the # 1 cash crop in Cali, with grapes at #2..can you imagine the revenue generated by legalization and taxation, much like alcohol during the depression. Not to mention the money saved from no longer needing to chase after smugglers and dealers....they would be obsolete.

Economy fixed.

FORD

11-01-2009, 08:54 PM

Not to mention all the benefits of industrial hemp. Which is a seperate strain of cannabis altogether than the smokeable kind, but got banned at the same time, through corporatist collusion.

hideyoursheep

11-02-2009, 12:51 AM

The only down side I can see is how much fatter Amerians will be once it's no longer a crime to blaze up.

I myself don't indulge, but I don't drink, either...doesn't mean no one else should get their buzz on.

bueno bob

11-02-2009, 08:58 AM

Been saying the solution was to legalize weed for YEARS...

Down side is that the quality is going to be shit, home growing will be discouraged I'm sure, and the price will probably make cigarettes look cheap by comparison...

But yeah, it will solve a lot.

chefcraig

11-02-2009, 09:25 AM

Before there was Alex Jones ... there was William Cooper.

About quiet wars and the NWO.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xrDiLQqAbzI/R3rB040r4QI/AAAAAAAAAk4/RQBJWstecpk/s400/Pale_Horse.jpg (http://nw0.info/files/eBooks%20and%20Audio%20Books/Cooper-Behold_a_Pale_Horse-Number1_Underground_Bestseller-1991.pdf)

I picked that book up when it first came out, because the guys from a local talk show were discussing it, declaring it an insightful and credible read. Let's put it this way, the manner in which they talked about the book was entirely misleading. In the book, Cooper ranged from offering fairly comprehensible, almost lucid and valid theories on shadow governments, to the other extreme, providing nebulously worded beliefs (like a Department of Defense/NASA plan to crash a rocket into Jupiter in order to ignite it's atmosphere some time in the late 90's http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-confused-smileys-327.gif (http://www.easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Laughing-Smileys/)) that sounded more like paranoid, aluminum foil-hatted nonsense. This was unfortunate, because the inclusion of this stuff diminished whatever impact or believability the other chapters contained.

The guy died in a police standoff/shootout, which only only added to his stature among the more disenfranchised and out to lunch conspiracy minded folks wandering around, always ready to support the unsupportable. And take another look at the cover art, if you have any doubts.

Nabakov

11-02-2009, 09:43 AM

Well that imagery should be readily understandable to Christians, I think its appropriate for the subject. I haven't gotten to the Jupiter bit yet. But things such as HAARP have been broken down in good detail by people that can't really fall into the conspiracy crowd. You have top German Nazi era scientists on record speaking on developing flying saucers directly through alien cooperation. I do believe the truth is much stranger than what is being told officially and I think its possible that NASA could be upto things a lot lot crazier. Want crazy ideas, there's co2 made global warming.

chefcraig

11-02-2009, 09:53 AM

Look, I'll agree that there is more out there that we'll never know with regard to shadow governments and UFOs. My point is that Cooper really shot himself in the foot with this work. If he'd have stuck to the bits on government, he would have created a more thought provoking book. Instead, he offered some theories that would have fit perfectly among some of the more remote fringe-dwellers that used to call the Art Bell show. Seen nearly twenty years later, the various predictions made in 1991 (that have still failed to take place) seem sort of silly, primarily because he listed dates by when they should occur.

Perversely, if the book was released today (offering these predictions in the foreseeable future), it would fit perfectly into the cultural zeitgeist, thanks in no small part to the success of Dan Brown. The concept of the Illuminati is not only familiar to rap artists, but to housewives because of the blockbuster status of Brown's last three books. Funny old world, ain't it?

Nabakov

11-02-2009, 10:06 AM

I know he has made himself less believable that way. Still if that's his own research and understanding, then he's the one to say it. If someone's gotten hidden knowledge of something, it doesn't help to not speak of it, it just ensures that people live in a reality that is even further from what may be the truth. 20 years ago the very existence of the Bilderberg group was total myth. No wonder most people still howl with laughter thinking they're oh so smart in "debunking" anything to do with them. I think societies are paying the price for not wanting to know what the CIA and those fraternal groups are upto. Maybe there's a logical explanation behind the craziness of that Jupiter trip. The idea of blasting moon craters with rockets for whatever official reason they gave is pretty bizarre too.

chefcraig

11-02-2009, 10:12 AM

To tell you the truth, when this whole deal with the moon craters came about recently, it immediately got me to thinking about Cooper's "Jupiter" theory. It's too bad that he mentioned the project as going forward with a commitment date (at that time), because it draws some interesting parallels with this "NASA to bomb the moon" (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nasas-mission-to-bomb-the-moon-2009-06) story.

Big Train

11-02-2009, 10:55 AM

America seriously needs new industries it can dominate in (and industries which supply jobs). All our existing pillars of industry have been eclipsed. Consumption habits also need to change drastically. IP laws need to be protected. So many things about the way we run America needs to change.

Taxes need to be relaxed to allow actual activity to happen. Today in California, payroll taxes go up 10% more, because these addicts in the state house just can't get enough. Arnold didn't hear us on the referendum questions, but he is done at this point, so fuck it. I'll try to explain that gently to the employee who needs to go this week.

ELVIS

11-02-2009, 11:58 AM

America seriously needs new industries it can dominate in (and industries which supply jobs).

Why, so the government takes them over, again ??

Consumption habits also need to change drastically.

They are, nobody has money...

So many things about the way we run America needs to change.

We ??

I really think all of this is done by design, and we as Americans have no say in the matter...

FORD

11-02-2009, 04:08 PM

Well, one thing's for sure.... Pedobear only pretends to hate Obama.

I've been in touch with the Federal authorities investigating his pedophile ass, and they sent me this......

http://www.takimag.com/images/gallery/BHORainbowBear2_med.jpg

I would say that Andy must be in love, but Barack would be a little old for him, by about 40 years.

Nabakov

11-02-2009, 05:58 PM

There really is no end to your pedophilia obsession.

FORD

11-02-2009, 07:35 PM

There really is no end to my pedophilia obsession.

Says the admitted baby raper who named his latest alias after a famous Russian pedophile, and claims to be posting from the child prostitution capitol of the world.

Nickdfresh

11-02-2009, 10:02 PM

Nabakov

11-03-2009, 03:06 AM

Says the admitted baby raper who named his latest alias after a famous Russian pedophile, and claims to be posting from the child prostitution capitol of the world.

Humourless moral crusader strikes again.

Get fucked, disgruntled Indian pedo boy....

Nabakov

11-03-2009, 03:08 AM

Says the guy who sucks the orthodox gov'ts cock-line on global climate change...:biggrin:

Ofcourse that makes not much sense in relation to my post.

But which orthodox govt line? Most govts are firmly in favour of climate change regulation.

hideyoursheep

11-03-2009, 05:28 AM

Humourless moral crusader strikes again.

...

I'm sure you could wow them with your pseudo-intelligence and have some deep, meaningful conversations with the 2 kids playing dress-up, but as for me......

<a href="http://4gifs.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://4gifs.com/gallery/d/32149-1/keepout.jpg?" alt="4gifs.com" /></a>

Nickdfresh

11-04-2009, 05:30 PM

Ofcourse that makes not much sense in relation to my post.

But which orthodox govt line? Most govts are firmly in favour of climate change regulation.

Actually, most gov'ts don't. Especially the developing ones...

standin

11-05-2009, 12:45 PM

hambon4lif

11-07-2009, 03:15 PM

Alex Jones gets on my nerves but much of what he has in his videos is combined from various sources. In other words you don't need Alex Jones but he makes a living packaging information and putting it out there. Some of it is actually pretty good.An 'Alex Jones' will always exist in our society, no matter who's in office, and to the people in our society who don't have the ability to see past the media mindfuck, he has a way of getting through to those people, and showing them what they probably wouldn't see otherwise.

I give the benefit of the doubt. I'd like to think that people weigh the right and the left, gather all the information before them, and come to their own conclusion. In other words, I'd like to think that people have a mind of their own. The more I talk to people around me, and the more I read the comments after each and every single of Jones' clips on YouTube, I get hit with the stark reality that I've overestimated alot of folks. To them, he is their voice, and they don't have an opinion on anything because he hasn't told them what their opinion is yet. It's fucking silly with a dash of sad that anyone would take one persons word as gospel, unfortunately that's what's going on. As a result, he has alot of power and influence.

My problem with him is that he's whipped up so much fear and paranoia in the general public that I actually start to wonder what side he's really on. He tends to spend more time hammering away at it than educating anyone on how they're going to survive it, and because of that, these followers are terrified for their very lives. There are so many saying "AMMO, BABY! Buy it cheap and stack it deep!!" that you'd swear the fucking apocalypse is gonna go down this Monday. He has to realize that he has a responsibility to those who hang on his every word to chill them the fuck out...to educate them without scaring the shit out of them. Alex Jones is the alarm clock it takes to wake some folks up....I understand that, but c'mon!! He's just a fucking source, not a voice.

Nickdfresh

11-07-2009, 07:45 PM

Sign 10
<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Jpb1e32KRY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4Jpb1e32KRY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>

It's interesting that GM decided to keep Opel/Vauxhall after saying for months they were selling. Opel makes some nice stuff and I'd like to see them import them as "Saturns," but that isn't going to happen. But GM gets way too much of its small car tech from Opel and it's probably a good thing they kept them...

hideyoursheep

11-08-2009, 09:01 PM

If the Chevy Volt wasn't 40 g's, GM could get themselves out of the woods rather quickly IMO.