We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers

[whell]

This article does a nice job of articulating the tenuous and unsustainable nature of our current economic situation.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...867182108.html

"Now it is certainly true that many states have not typically been home to traditional manufacturing operations. Iowa and Nebraska are farm states, for example. But in those states, there are at least five times more government workers than farmers. West Virginia is the mining capital of the world, yet it has at least three times more government workers than miners. New York is the financial capital of the world—at least for now. That sector employs roughly 670,000 New Yorkers. That's less than half of the state's 1.48 million government employees. "

"Most reasonable steps to restrain public-sector employment costs are smothered by the unions. Study after study has shown that states and cities could shave 20% to 40% off the cost of many services—fire fighting, public transportation, garbage collection, administrative functions, even prison operations—through competitive contracting to private providers. But unions have blocked many of those efforts. Public employees maintain that they are underpaid relative to equally qualified private-sector workers, yet they are deathly afraid of competitive bidding for government services."

What money our government does have, we seem intent on giving it away or flushing it down a hole:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...rs-secret.html

Then in the face of a down economy, we decide to restrict our own ability to grow jobs in the oil industry by lift the moratorium on off-shore drilling and accessing new domestic supplies, but we give away billions to Brazil to fund their off-shore oil exploration business.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...120524166.html

Why are we doing this? Because Brazil oil is "greener"?

http://www.familysecuritymatters.org...pub_detail.asp

Have we lost our minds, lost our way, or some combination of both?

[BlueStreak]

So privatize---then unionize the private enterprises to ensure strong wages and benefits and that workers have a means to protect their interests.---or is that the problem?

"Then in the face of a down economy, we decide to restrict our own ability to grow jobs in the oil industry by lift the moratorium on off-shore drilling and accessing new domestic supplies, but we give away billions to Brazil to fund their off-shore oil exploration business."

This statement makes no sense. I thought your side wanted to access domestic supplies? What was that? "Drill baby drill!"? Or was that before a Democratic president said it, now it's a bad idea?

If the private sector was on the job of creating jobs, maybe cities and states would resort to using tax money to employ the unemployed?

Dave

[noonereal]

"Most reasonable steps to restrain public-sector employment costs are smothered by the unions."

I just find it shocking that you can make yourself believe all the crap you do.

[piece-itpete]

The Leviathian is a leech on the body public.

Pete

[whell]

Originally Posted by noonereal

"Most reasonable steps to restrain public-sector employment costs are smothered by the unions."

I just find it shocking that you can make yourself believe all the crap you do.

You witness what's going on in Wisconsin and other states and still have the balls to write that response? Go noone!

[merrylander]

More than 50% of the land based oil leases are being left unused by Big Oil. Approx 35% of the offshore oil leases are being unused by Big Oil. So what happened to Drill Baby Drill?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by merrylander

More than 50% of the land based oil leases are being left unused by Big Oil. Approx 35% of the offshore oil leases are being unused by Big Oil. So what happened to Drill Baby Drill?

Methinks they're cynically managing inventory to ensure high prices, while trying to blame Obama for it. Win-win for them, lose-lose for use.

[whell]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

So privatize---then unionize the private enterprises to ensure strong wages and benefits and that workers have a means to protect their interests.---or is that the problem?

"Then in the face of a down economy, we decide to restrict our own ability to grow jobs in the oil industry by lift the moratorium on off-shore drilling and accessing new domestic supplies, but we give away billions to Brazil to fund their off-shore oil exploration business."

This statement makes no sense. I thought your side wanted to access domestic supplies? What was that? "Drill baby drill!"? Or was that before a Democratic president said it, now it's a bad idea?

If the private sector was on the job of creating jobs, maybe cities and states would resort to using tax money to employ the unemployed?

Dave

You miss my point - maybe my writing skills are a bit off today. Maybe posing it as a question is better. With the Administration's moratorium on off-shore drilling still in effect, why are we sending billions to Brazil to fund THEIR off shore drilling efforts?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

You miss my point - maybe my writing skills are a bit off today. Maybe posing it as a question is better. With the Administration's moratorium on off-shore drilling still in effect, why are we sending billions to Brazil to fund THEIR off shore drilling efforts?

That I don't know. On its face, it seems indefensibly stupid though. Maybe it's some kind of special Washington code to tell the U.S. oil companies to get their chit together. Then again, maybe not.

[whell]

Originally Posted by merrylander

More than 50% of the land based oil leases are being left unused by Big Oil. Approx 35% of the offshore oil leases are being unused by Big Oil. So what happened to Drill Baby Drill?

Well, right now about 100% of the off shore platforms are not being used due to the moratorium imposed by the administration.