We are a nation of candy asses

[TwixVoy]

I have given many reasons why our economy has gone to hell and why the middle class will be in a death spiral for the next several years.

One of the biggest reasons I see - we are a nation of candy asses. Not everyone mind you, but the majority.

We let mega corporations continue to screw us. We let OUR TAX MONEY go to mega banks while we watched as our "representatives" in congress let our auto manufacturers (which actually provided middle class JOBS) crash and burn.

And what did you hear most americans say? "Those union workers make $20 an hour!!!!" "That is way too much money!!!" "They have good health care!!!!! HOW OUTRAGEOUS!!!" We are SO happy to cut our own throats for the top 1%. How DARE those workers demand good health care and middle class wages.

All those fools who want to watch American Idol and pretend everything will work its self out are going to be in for a huge surprise. Half this country consists of people who may as well be a frog sitting in slowly heating water. By the time they finally wake up and realize they have NOTHING (it will be a slow process) and China is the new worlds super power it will be far too late to reverse course.

And when they go out and try to blame a democrat, or a minority, or anyone else they need only look in a mirror. It is where they will see the one responsible.

Can you imagine if the founders of this country took this kind of crap with out a word? These people are so easy to manipulate and roll over, and they are too afraid to stand up for themselves because they are in massive debt living paycheck to paycheck. Right where the top 1% wants them to be. They are essentially slaves.

[jgraz]

1. In the future, we'll be known as The Lamest Generation

It's sad.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Sadly true

And unfortunately, future dictators will be studying this period intently for clues on how to mollify and distract whole populations for profit and power.

It's really pathetic.

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Twix Voy! Nice to see you.

K & R

[seabeyond]

3. i love the term candy ass. havent heard in forever. and i agree. nt

[alterfurz]

32. one of my dad's favorite pejoratives: "candy-ass pissant"

He never actually called me that but may have thought it a few times.

[seabeyond]

33. lol, my dad too. quit being a candy ass. lol. brought back memories. nt

[MichiganVote]

4. Even 'candy asses' is optimistic in my view. Dumb asses works tho'.

[ZombieHorde]

5. If God did not want us to eat each other, he would not have made our asses out of candy. nt

[orpupilofnature57]

7. NWO , I've got mine 10/13/09

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1215983/

[Barack_America]

8. Our founding fathers would have declared the debt invalid.

And refused to pay.

Our government is subsidizing these fuckers with our tax dollars, after all. The corporations in turn own our representatives. They don't represent us. If that's not taxation without representation, what is?

I think we see eye-to-eye with many of the teabaggers up to this point. The difference is what to do with our nation's wealth. The teabaggers would give it right back to the corporations, which is insane.

[Nikki Stone1]

9. Hey Twix Voy, can you answer this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6659546&mesg_id=6659546

[TwixVoy]

15. We experienced situations like this one on that thread

We experienced situations like the one on that thread at Target. It used to never be a problem, but became worse and worse from the end of 2007 on. (I wrote about it on more than one occasion back then here on DU)

It used to be that our DCs (distribution centers) were loaded full of excess product. After 2007 though we had company wide shortages on items that were even barely "hot" all the time. Reasons were

1. The company cut back on inventory drastically for fear we would order too much product and be unable to unload it on the consumer.

2. Once we realized an item was actually selling we had to get it in to the country from (most of the time) Asia. Many people don't realize how long it takes to import mass amounts of product from abroad on short notice and fill the stores with it nation wide. Once our buyers actually put in the order we could be waiting 2-3 months at a minimum before it even started to hit the stores. (for example, early in 2009 almost EVERY store in the company was out of at least 50% of the current TV line up simply because they started to sell just slightly faster than expected... it took over 3 months before all the stores were fully replenished again)

Basically the supply chain has been all screwed up ever since 2007 simply because consumer demand is so different than it used to be. Take December 2008. The company ordered WAY too much product for the Toys department. (it was actually LESS than we ordered every typical 4th quarter, but sales were down THAT MUCH that it was still overwhelming us) The DCs were shipping it to the stores like mad to the point our stock rooms were SO FULL we could not even walk through 80% of the stock room. The company intranet was full of messages indicating other stores were in the same situation. Basically the company was in a panic and told all the stores to immediately activate clearance prices on most of it (PRIOR to Christmas which is unheard of during the Christmas season). The product still wouldn't move even at 30-50% off during the middle of the Christmas season.

Honestly I would continue to expect retail shortages as a fact of life from now on. Retailers simply can NOT risk over stocking product and then having to take huge losses on it having to clearance it out when it doesn't sell like it would have in previous years. That goes from a bottle of $2 aspirin to a $2000 TV. The time of anything that is even slightly in demand being readily available is over I am afraid.... One of the last things I remember reading at Target that has burned a place in my mind was a memo from HQ saying that they have long term (as in the next decade) plans to cut back like this because they expect consumers to be able to purchase less and less over the coming decade. I remember a line in the memo even referred to this as preparation for the "the new American consumer that can only afford to buy a few items at most".

[Mojorabbit]

47. It is why I have an extra of most things we

use regularly in stock in my house. If nothing else with the prices rising each time I go to the store, in the end having the extra saves me money.

[bermudat]

10. Tru dat!

[Thickasabrick]

11. K&R nt

[RKP5637]

12. Today, US = United Stupidity!

In my years I watched this county change so much. Education used to be an inspiration to better oneself. Today, not a small number seem proud of ignorance and rowdy behavior. And we have a brainwashed nation that tolerates the status quo of a corporate nation with little regard for the individual. Frankly, Americans today, many, have become serfs of the land and lemmings. I never cease to be amazed people not only watch the misinformation on Fox News, for example, but have become parrots not even remotely checking facts. I often ponder if there is much of a future for the US unless people wake up! Time is running out!

[debbierlus]

13. You make a great point. People resent peers doing well while they are struggling

Instead of saying 'damn right, decent wages and good health care should be an EXPECTATION for a hard day's work, people decry those who receive good compensation because they don't have it!

It is surreal to watch the average citizen tear down unions. They actually advocate FOR the corporations, all out of spite for their peers. Their pettiness and envy bring the entire working class down, and empower the very people who oppress them. The politicians and corporate state encourage the divisiveness among the proles.

Play us off each other while they steal everything and live far away in their ivory towers. So sad.

[RKP5637]

14. Unions broke the shackles of employees to corporations and shaped making the country great!

I'm amazed at how few today seem to realize what benefits they do have in the work-a-day world were brought to them by unions. Nitwits today just take things for granted living off the backs of sweat and hard work by others. Many today seem to have a fatalistic attitude, striking down the institutions that gave them what they have left today.

[orpupilofnature57]

18. Until the 70's your absolutely correct ,after they helped Corporations

justify Greed.

[RKP5637]

19. Good Point! I was thinking of the earlier years! n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

21. Absolutley , did you see this yesterday?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=367&topic_id=22984&mesg_id=22984

[RKP5637]

26. No I hadn't seen it, thanks! ...

One of my concerns is today many have this false concept (to me) of what patriotism means. Sometimes I wonder if things like this could repeat... it seems many get all riled up about things today and attack the wrong people/groups. The level of manipulation today with slick marketing techniques is amazing and alarming. Instead of a country working together to better our lot in life we have a country tearing apart each other.

If the unions had not existed during the Industrial Revolution period I think we well might have had no middle class... Runaway capitalism and the wealth of the country cornered by a few percentage points is not a good recipe for the 21st century.

[orpupilofnature57]

46. The Media manipulation picks up more and more ,and it's not conducive..

with a happy 21st century ,I agree the enemy is Greed.

[orpupilofnature57]

17. Sad but true.

[Greyhound]

42. Like a bucket of crabs. You don't need a lid, the crabs will keep pulling each other down

from the rim so that none escape.

Something to think about?

[nookiemonster]

16. Sigh....unfortunately...

I have to recommend your post. Candy asses indeed. Some just keep drinking the koolaid, and I worry alot about us.

It's sad.

:(

[Barack_America]

20. McCaskill might like to hear about that.

Last I checked she was still opposing the public option.

[earth mom]

22. Unions have been trashed by the media for so long that people parrot the b.s.

Not only that but eveyone has been fed the other bullshit line that ONLY educated people with college degrees deserve decent pay.


FYI USA: EVERYONE deserves to make decent pay-with or without a college degree!!!

Even the people who fought for American Workers 100 years or so ago knew that!!!

[RKP5637]

27. And we need a range of jobs...

I agree, this notion that everyone "must" have a college degree to have a good job is ridiculous. We keep giving away jobs to other countries. Also jobs requiring a degree are also being outsourced. The US really needs to rethink its economic model. Runaway capitalism and the exiting of jobs from this country will not result in much of a country in the 21st century. The financial model we are trying to make work in this country belongs back in the 20th century.

[earth mom]

28. The powers that be are trying to pull us all back to the 19th century.

Poor wages, poor conditions, and no rights. :grr:

[TlalocW]

23. I'm not a candy-ass

I'm a jabroni.

TlalocW

[whyverne]

24. I stopped going to the local meetings. The last time I went

a majority wanted to rescind the teacher's right to strike.

Yes, this was a Democratic meeting. Teachers make too much money, you see.

Nothing about the banksters, just the teacher down the road.

[RagAss]

25. Willing victims of social rape.

[troubledamerican]

29. 12/12/00. I waited at the Seattle Fed Bldg. No protesters showed up. Where was everybody?

[lostnfound]

30. "Establishing fixed habits of reaction to authority"

"the first function of schooling is adjustive, establishing fixed habits of reaction to authority". This prepares the young to accept whatever management dictates when they are grown.

Our "founding fathers" were not systematically deterred from real or dangerous experiences for the first 12 years of their rational lives. It makes us fearful and unaccustomed to challenging authority. How handy it would have been for King George if they had been.

[TexasObserver]

31. Don't you work for TARGET? Or didn't you recently work for TARGET?

How does your tough talk about America being a nation of candy asses fit with your personal history of working in management for one of the corporate giants in retail?

Care to explain how that qualifies you for determining the country is a bunch of candy asses?

[Subdivisions]

36. That's not fair, TO. MOST of us MUST work for one corporation or another....

If you'll recall, Twix QUIT HIS JOB because of what he saw going on at Target, but not before many stories from him of what was going on there.

Please, try to be a bit more reasonable and try less to engage in selective memory.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TexasObserver]

44. He's recently of Target and espouses right wing economic views.

His ideas are anything but Democratic in nature.

Buy gold? Don't buy American? Prepare for the collapse? These are not Democratic approaches to life under a Democratically held congress and presidency.

[KittyWampus]

34. Apparently you are the prime Candy Ass because you list how stupid everyone else is but

have no real solutions.

And your throwing in American Idol shows this is largely just your need to show how much better you THINK you are.

Arrogance.

You'd think if you were really that smart you'd have a better grasp of socio-economic factors and realize that most people feel under siege and are doing their best to get by.

[deutsey]

37. That's a good point: what real solutions are there for people under siege?

That's not a rhetorical question: what are they, really?

Yes, we can volunteer for the Dems or other causes (which I've done), get involved in local/state politics, blah, blah, blah, but when you're under siege and see what little ground you and your family have beneath you disintegrating, and all the safeguards that used to be in place to protect you being dismantled (sometimes with the complicity of the Party you support), what can you do?

There are certainly plenty of morans out there stupidly cheering on their own demise, but I know a lot of good people who share our progressive values and they're increasingly in a life-and-death struggle just to make it to the next paycheck.

Seriously, what are some effective actions these people can take to protect their interests? I'm probably burned out, because I honestly can't think of anything beyond the typical stuff that just doesn't seem to be effective anymore.

[TexasObserver]

43. You shouldn't have asked.

His solution is (1) pay off your debts, (2) don't invest in anything in America, (3) buy gold, and (4) have a plan for when society collapses.

Sound like something some birther/tea bagger might advocate? Yeah, I had the same problem with it. These aren't things said by our side.

[sendero]

50. And he's right..

... and ignore his advice at your peril.

Reality is what it is, regardless of what "wing" it sounds.

[TexasObserver]

51. No, he's not.

This meme of "the end is coming" has been mouthed by the ill informed for decades, usually supported by some right wing radio talk show guy, or some loud mouthed, bombastic buffoon on business television.

The sky isn't falling. The economy and society aren't on the verge of collapse. Hoarding gold is stupid. Paying off all one's debts is stupid. That's dumb advice.

[sendero]

52. Yawn..

... go ahead and think "this time it's not different".

It IS different, and despite the professorial prognostications this will NOT be a 12-18 month recession and then business as usual.

As for the advice, well gold may or may not be a good idea. But getting out of debt in a deflationary environment is definitely a good idea and if you are way into debt you are in a bad way no matter how much you don't think so.

[TexasObserver]

55. Paying off debt when cash is tight is insane.

Paying off debt when deficit spending is so large it almost guarantees a period of advancing inflation is insane.

Paying off low interest debt on assets that appreciate is insane.

The "advice" this guy gives only appeals to people who know nothing about economics or finance, as this thread demonstrates repeatedly.

[sendero]

59. "Assets that appreciate"?

That gives a pretty firm view of your delusion.

[conscious evolution]

53. That's good advice

[TexasObserver]

56. No, it's idiotic advice.

That only the uninformed would think is good advice.

[conscious evolution]

57. And the band played on.....

Some day you just might wake up.

[TexasObserver]

58. Some day you might learn enough about economics to understand it.

But I doubt it.

If you knew anything at all about economics, you'd know that his "advice" is nothing but a bunch of rightwing talking points, the kind mouthed by the Glenn Beck birther/tea baggers.

[paparush]

35. An extended period of easy credit and LOTS of entertainment mainlined right into the living room

allowed a large x-section of our country to become lazy and content with a standard of living marketed to them by giant corps.

[Dreamer Tatum]

38. Makes you want to sell all your assets and buy gold, doesn't it?

That'll teach people to mess with unions!

[closeupready]

39. Picking a nit: China will NEVER be a world super power.

For a lot of reasons.

[Subdivisions]

41. Please, name some. n/t

[orpupilofnature57]

45. I notice you didn't get an answer ,I would guess it's because theres no

reason why China couldn't be as powerful as anybody else.

[closeupready]

48. Overpopulation, lack of self-subsistence in food production,

relative lack of natural resources - those three are for starters.

[sendero]

49. Yes...

... and most of those decrying "socialism" will be begging for some socialism.

The level of denial out there is palpable. Economically, this is dead country walking.

[Libertas1776]

54. Mmmmm

candy asses...