I guess that would depend on what you do, because some companies etc in society often do best when the rest of country is suffering economically.

Naw, there are a few. These are trying times as a whole though. Things did get tighter up here in the last couple years i do have to admit. Have a friend that's doing better than ever though. Can't remember what he does. Something to do with electronic security. Says business is still good there in Texas...

I'm bound to be doing worse myself as i went from living on my own in the military to becoming a full time student living under my parent's roof...lol Probabaly doesn't help them out either...

Geezuz I would have to recognize a side before I could pick it, and there are so many different people that see things completely different and it's almost overwhelming to get an idea where one fits. But I never want to be blinded by my own bias, though I have to say what bias I do have, it's hard not to on certain things.

There are also people that see good on both sides and aren't into the radical views of either side that I am most comfortable with.

I should add never too comfortable because I want to stay a bit flexable too.

Of course, those with money want to prevent those that are jobless from robbing them, so why wouldn't someone in electronic security do very well right now.. Grin!!

Living with your parents? Shame on you.. just kidding, many are doing that right now and have no other choice at this time.

All right who did it? Who stretched the hell of this thread? Must be a long link somewhere.

lol, yeah i could seea demand for it...

My school is costing a rediculous amount of money right now. Figure i'm gonna be roughly $250,000 (no b.s.) in debt by the time i'm done. My parents are taking pitty on me i think...

Republicans love stretching things out. Like elections in Minnesota.

Thats another thing that makes me crazy. The high cost of education, it's as if it is by design to keep only a small number of people in those professions driving the salaries up high for those professionals and there by making only fewer people able to afford them. Does that make sense or not? If you are spending that for your education, you of course expect to make lots of money at that profession right? But only people that already make the same kind of money will be able to afford you one day..

That went over my head, Jimmy... Explain?

Yeah, education takes a pretty penny. It's too bad there wasn't some way to make it more affordable. It's not as easy as simply subsidizing it unfortunately. By doing such you would be hurting the very bracket you spend all that time and money getting to which would be self defeating. At least they have student loans so people can get ahead if they want to bad enough.

On the plus side many billionairs made themselves wealthy with minimal education. If you want the BIG bucks you find it through a combination of social networking, hard work, covering your a$$, and being lucky. Gotta "find the need an fill it". That's what they say anyway...

I expect to make a healthy wage but even as a medical doctor it would take me years to pay that kind of debt off and get settled. Good news is most people should be able to afford me through insurance companies and other programs.

That is not even good news now, nor will it be if our health care remains the same. People here even with decent insurance get horridly expensive care and lots of times they still can't afford what it would take to cure them because doctors will always want to make more and more. And what you are saying is that every person on earth should strive to be wealthy so they can afford you? Or hope that some insurance company will recommend you..?

What if I don't want a career in this life? What if I want to spend my life exploring the world in search of whatever that won't make me any money to speak of but will be an experience that will last a life time? What if I am born disabled, and have limited options in life if any. So what you are saying is that every one must strive to be rich to keep you in big bucks? I am not being sarcastic here, Driven, I hope you know that, I am just trying to figure out how money became the be all and end all of life..

No, it is totally not what i am saying. But the key to capitalism is the fact that people have to strive for something...

The healthcare needs to be worked on, you have no argument from here. If we simply used generic brand medication whenever possible, and practiced preventive medicine this would literally cut the medical coverage costs in half. That alone would help to solve our problem. Money can be saved elsewhere by lowering the costs of living for people.





You ask a very interesting question. Money has become almost the very essence of life hasn't it? I have long wondered that. In fact i remember asking my mother that very question when i was like 6...

She merely explained the barter system to me. I could trade you something i have plenty of that you need, for something you have plenty of that i need. I like that system. Money is merely an extension of that system. It's a means to perform a service or trade goods and save from it so you can get something bigger.

There was a time when life was simple. You could go anywhere or do anything. This was about 11 thousand years ago when we were hunter/gatherers. All our free time was essentially spent doing just that, hunting, and gathering. Problem with sustaining that existence, is that it leave no room for technological advancement. No free time = no time studying math and sciences.

It wasn't until someone came up with the idea of growing your own food (agriculture). This freed up some time, allowing people like Socretes, Newton, Galileo, etc. to explore the sciences. This allowed for technological advancements.

To be self sustaining is a full time job. If we don't want it to be we can replace taking care of livestock with providing someone a service, or trading or selling them a product, etc. This is necessary to advance our technology so scientists may study them.

The point is, someone or something has to do the work of feeding us. Anyone who does needs to be compensated for it somehow.

Now, there is one philosophy many have found interesting. I can't remember the guy's name, but he believe machines should do the owrk for us, i people should do whatever they feel like. Problem is machines need maintinance. So im not sure how or if that would work.

As long as there is money, capitalism will flourish.

The system is not flawless, but it is inevitable for at least the time being. So yes, you must strive to perform a service, or make something valueable to society. We all need to contribute so society can strive.

I will try and find the name of that man i mentioned earlier. I'm pretty sure you would be interested in his writings. He has some clever ideas i've been told.