The United States of America has gone into a very dark place politically and as a result the country is a disaster. There are political extremists with religious agendas that assault the rights of women and remove compassion from the country. I don't like America in the social place it is now. It is dark and controlling and has a blood lust.
If there are significant majorities they will attempt to end all entitlement programs. That simply can't stand. The Democrats aren't talking about Medicare and SSI enough. It is a real problem should the republicans come into enough power to railroad the nation in a direction that will ultimately lead to homelessness, unhealthy people again and children without the promise of the future their parents hope for them.
Bush and his right wing Republicans brought this shadow over the country. Young men like Jaylen know no different. He has not experienced an America of hope and promise, but, that of death, disaster and war.
I remember when Bush won the 2004 election, a segment of the USA was devastated at the promise of more war and more of the Republican agenda. We went to work and the Democrats took 2006. But, the day the election was decided I remember this dread that fell over me. The country had been at war for three years and I knew the war would never end under a Republican. I remember thinking about the youngest generation of our country and how their growing up years would be marred by war and consistent threat of uncertainty and death which was an uncertainty on their safety. I worried they would be affected by all that. I still worry.
The "Occupy" movement was the best thing that happened to our young adults. They have a feeling of belonging to each other in a unique way. That is important, because, the future is not set. They can change their circumstances and balance their fears with real life solutions in a majority that will make it so. "Occupy" put hope back in my heart and it gave me a different vision of the future. They are going to be okay and better than okay, they are going to be strong and determined. I look forward to their leadership and the displacement of those that would treat the populous of the USA as consumers and not human beings.
Local economies folks.
November 13, 2014
By Barry Ritholtz
It seems that welfare queens (click here) are back in the news these days. The old stereotype was an inner-city unwed mother -- that’s dog-whistle-speak for black -- having multiple babies to get ever bigger welfare checks (throw in a new Cadillac and the myth is complete). Regardless, welfare reform of the 1990s ended that narrative.
If there are significant majorities they will attempt to end all entitlement programs. That simply can't stand. The Democrats aren't talking about Medicare and SSI enough. It is a real problem should the republicans come into enough power to railroad the nation in a direction that will ultimately lead to homelessness, unhealthy people again and children without the promise of the future their parents hope for them.
Bush and his right wing Republicans brought this shadow over the country. Young men like Jaylen know no different. He has not experienced an America of hope and promise, but, that of death, disaster and war.
I remember when Bush won the 2004 election, a segment of the USA was devastated at the promise of more war and more of the Republican agenda. We went to work and the Democrats took 2006. But, the day the election was decided I remember this dread that fell over me. The country had been at war for three years and I knew the war would never end under a Republican. I remember thinking about the youngest generation of our country and how their growing up years would be marred by war and consistent threat of uncertainty and death which was an uncertainty on their safety. I worried they would be affected by all that. I still worry.
The "Occupy" movement was the best thing that happened to our young adults. They have a feeling of belonging to each other in a unique way. That is important, because, the future is not set. They can change their circumstances and balance their fears with real life solutions in a majority that will make it so. "Occupy" put hope back in my heart and it gave me a different vision of the future. They are going to be okay and better than okay, they are going to be strong and determined. I look forward to their leadership and the displacement of those that would treat the populous of the USA as consumers and not human beings.
Local economies folks.
November 13, 2014
By Barry Ritholtz
It seems that welfare queens (click here) are back in the news these days. The old stereotype was an inner-city unwed mother -- that’s dog-whistle-speak for black -- having multiple babies to get ever bigger welfare checks (throw in a new Cadillac and the myth is complete). Regardless, welfare reform of the 1990s ended that narrative.
No, the new welfare queens are even bigger, richer and less deserving of taxpayer support. The two biggest welfare queens in America today are Wal-Mart and McDonald's....
No wonder they are losing profits. No one backs their treatment of their employees. Pretending to be Chipotle still isn't actually being Chipotle.
During an investor call with Wall Street analysts in January, Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran said average wages are at $9 an hour, and that a move to $10 would have an effect, "but not too significant." That wage range already is higher than $7.25, the current, hourly federal minimum wage.
Monty Moran
May 21, 2014
By Heesun We
....Particularly for younger consumers, (click here) including millennials, purchasing decisions are about more than cheap prices. Shoppers are buying based on a company's values, which can include domestic manufacturing, environmentalism and ethically sourced raw materials, ranging from cocoa to cotton fibers....
The Millennials were completely left out of the wealth quotient in the USA. They did everything right, they were even perfect in many ways, yet they weren't good enough to reach for the gold ring. They were assigned to the service worker jobs they had in college and weren't going anywhere.
They have high standards for their quality of life and they aren't going to be left out of quality of life or all that the USA promises. They shop wisely and choose their future paths. They are great people. They have moral standards, not necessarily church doctrine, although Francis comes really close. The church is getting there.
