A good start would be to begin bringing work back to this country from Mexico and China....The recent bump in energy costs world-wide should be a signal to companies that transportation costs will again rise and cut into the savings afforded by manufacturing offshore.

Congress needs to lower the Corporate Income tax rate to a reasonable level with a tie to bringing exported work back to the USA.

If you think unemployment here is bad its way worse in China right now. Factories are closing down all over.

If we can't buy things, it affects those that make the things.

One important thing is to NOT get into heavy debt trying to buy things. If we held off buying things for a few months,(Like TVs and other things we can honestly do without (for a little while, at least) ), we'd see some changes, imo.

As far as the stimulus stuff, if the government gives out money and doesn't specify exactly where it should go, then why should they be surprised when the money goes to things they didn't expect?

Reminds me of the Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Ray gives a check to his brother (who has almost no money at the time) and he goes on a vacation, and ray is ticked off...

Yeah, they make it look cute by showing pictures of "wall street executives" eating at McDonalds, but BELIEVE me, they aren't hurtin' as much as ya think...

The govt cannot 'manufactor" prosperity. Many people mistakingly believe FDR ended the last really big depression with his New Deal and the govt jobs it created---------.--economists and realistic historians note that it was WW2 which really ended the Great Depression.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: The govt cannot 'manufactor" prosperity. Many people mistakingly believe FDR ended the last really big depression with his New Deal and the govt jobs it created---------.--economists and realistic historians note that it was WW2 which really ended the Great Depression.

and - a more important aspect is HOW WW2 ended the Great Depression.

and, are you advocating WW3?

quote Originally posted by maryjane: The govt cannot 'manufactor" prosperity. Many people mistakingly believe FDR ended the last really big depression with his New Deal and the govt jobs it created---------.--economists and realistic historians note that it was WW2 which really ended the Great Depression.

Actually it had more to do with the heavily Socialistic programs the Government ran like buying houses and property that was devalued and directly taking control of the prices that companies were allowed to sell things for. Let me make that very clear the Government told companies what prices to set for goods and services during that time. The unemployment rate was reduced by the Government drafting mass amounts of the men of this country and training them skills in new technology so they would be able to take new jobs as they were created. Yeah WW2 helped to unify the country and gave a reason for increased manufacturing but it was the rather harsh plans enacted by the Government that got this country out of the Great Depression. Not just FDR's New Deal but the other more socialistic programs that people really don't talk to much about.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: A good start would be to begin bringing work back to this country from Mexico and China....The recent bump in energy costs world-wide should be a signal to companies that transportation costs will again rise and cut into the savings afforded by manufacturing offshore.

Not going to happen. Wait until Obama and company passes the climate change stuff, including carbon trading. You'll be able to stand on the sea shore and wave bye bye to the jobs that will be flying over your head, going overseas. That and all the pro-labor stuff Obama is pushing.

quote Congress needs to lower the Corporate Income tax rate to a reasonable level with a tie to bringing exported work back to the USA.

There's almost no way that will happen, not with liberals running the show, who campaigned on the concept of "economic justice." Corporate taxes are seen as taxing "the rich", and any good liberal knows the rich are evil, you cannot cut their taxes and have economic justice, and corporate taxes only hurt companies.

Cut tax rates by half across the board for all people who pay taxes, eliminate entitlement programs and all other redundant/unnecessary/unconstitutional expenditures from the federal budget, pass a national "right to work law" (which will help bust corrupt unions and let wages be subject to market forces), relax unreasonable EPA restrictions (such as CAFE standards). That will be a good start. Then, we will witness unprecedented economic growth, including the return of our manufacturing base.

The real role of a government should be that of a police force that protects individuals from foreign enemies (military), domestic enemies and civil injury (police and courts). Other than that, it should be very passive (with a few exceptions).
.............................................................................
Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority. -From John Galt's radio address

quote Originally posted by fogglethorpe: Cut tax rates by half across the board for all people who pay taxes, eliminate entitlement programs and all other redundant/unnecessary/unconstitutional expenditures from the federal budget, pass a national "right to work law" (which will help bust corrupt unions and let wages be subject to market forces), relax unreasonable EPA restrictions (such as CAFE standards). That will be a good start. Then, we will witness unprecedented economic growth, including the return of our manufacturing base. The real role of a government should be that of a police force that protects individuals from foreign enemies (military), domestic enemies and civil injury (police and courts). Other than that, it should be very passive (with a few exceptions). ............................................................................. Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority. -From John Galt's radio address

That was one helluva of a post. Concise, accurate, and to the point.

Jim

Froggle thorps sig:
Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority.

What are these hockshops?

quote Originally posted by fogglethorpe: Cut tax rates by half across the board for all people who pay taxes, eliminate entitlement programs and all other redundant/unnecessary/unconstitutional expenditures from the federal budget, pass a national "right to work law" (which will help bust corrupt unions and let wages be subject to market forces), relax unreasonable EPA restrictions (such as CAFE standards). That will be a good start. Then, we will witness unprecedented economic growth, including the return of our manufacturing base. The real role of a government should be that of a police force that protects individuals from foreign enemies (military), domestic enemies and civil injury (police and courts). Other than that, it should be very passive (with a few exceptions). ............................................................................. Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority. -From John Galt's radio address

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+1 I Agree !!!

quote Originally posted by Phranc: If you think unemployment here is bad its way worse in China right now. Factories are closing down all over.

That is only because it is Chinese new year and most factories close for three weeks so the migrant workers can go home to visit their families.
Seriously though, China is in big trouble with massive layoffs and big time inflation.
You think the idiots in charge here have no clue how to fix our mess, the idiots in charge there have even less of a clue.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: A good start would be to ..........

We don't have time for that. "We have to act bold and swiftly", President Obama. (Before we can digest his plan for change.)

quote Originally posted by cliffw: We don't have time for that. "We have to act bold and swiftly", President Obama. (Before we can digest his plan for change.)

Yep

This is a huge problem that has been a long time in coming, and the solutions are not apparent, nor will they be easy. Because so much of our economic system's success is based on consumer confidence in our ability to earn a living, I feel that it will take a long time for that confidence to return.

I have to blame the media for a good portion of this - bad news sells, and there is very little that is reported by the media that inspires confidence. Years ago, when I was young, the news portion of the networks was not viewed as an income source as it is now. There were no "news only" shows, the evening news lasted a half an hour, and when Walter Cronkite or Huntley -Brinckley told you something, you had confidence that there was no "spin" on the story to influence the audiences views. Not so today, nor for the past several years.

Thomas Jefferson maintained that for a Democracy to work, the voters had to be educated and thoughtful, hence early restrictions on voter eligibility (if you didn't own land, you could not vote - in those times most of the land was owned by the educated elite). Seems as though he may have been on to something.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Thomas Jefferson maintained that for a Democracy to work, the voters had to be educated and thoughtful, hence early restrictions on voter eligibility (if you didn't own land, you could not vote - in those times most of the land was owned by the educated elite). Seems as though he may have been on to something.

As opposed to being told what to think, like now.

quote Originally posted by 2.5: Froggle thorps sig: Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority. What are these hockshops?

Current locations:
East Capitol Street, NE and 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Constitution Avenue and 2nd Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002 (Very ironic address)

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Congress needs to lower the Corporate Income tax rate to a reasonable level with a tie to bringing exported work back to the USA.

If Bush tried it, he was doing it to pay off his cronies. Maybe if BO suggests it was his idea all along the rest of the country and government will think it's a good idea.
Don't expect tax cuts in his administration, though. He's got big plans for government and it will have to be funded somehow.

quote Originally posted by fogglethorpe: Cut tax rates by half across the board for all people who pay taxes, eliminate entitlement programs and all other redundant/unnecessary/unconstitutional expenditures from the federal budget, pass a national "right to work law" (which will help bust corrupt unions and let wages be subject to market forces), relax unreasonable EPA restrictions (such as CAFE standards). That will be a good start. Then, we will witness unprecedented economic growth, including the return of our manufacturing base.

How interesting that Obama and the Dem Congress seem to be doing the exact opposite to most of that.

quote Originally posted by FieroJam: Actually it had more to do with the heavily Socialistic programs the Government ran like buying houses and property that was devalued and directly taking control of the prices that companies were allowed to sell things for. Let me make that very clear the Government told companies what prices to set for goods and services during that time. The unemployment rate was reduced by the Government drafting mass amounts of the men of this country and training them skills in new technology so they would be able to take new jobs as they were created. Yeah WW2 helped to unify the country and gave a reason for increased manufacturing but it was the rather harsh plans enacted by the Government that got this country out of the Great Depression. Not just FDR's New Deal but the other more socialistic programs that people really don't talk to much about.

Are you referring to public works things like the CCC and REA?

quote Originally posted by fierobear: There's almost no way that will happen, not with liberals running the show, who campaigned on the concept of "economic justice." Corporate taxes are seen as taxing "the rich", and any good liberal knows the rich are evil, you cannot cut their taxes and have economic justice, and corporate taxes only hurt companies.

It blows my mind that so many people advocate high taxes on corporations, yet they don't seem to comprehend that a business gets its revenue from its customers. Increase the cost to a business, and they eventually have no choice but to pass it on. Business taxes are nothing more than an indirect tax on the consumer.

quote Originally posted by GT86: It blows my mind that so many people advocate high taxes on corporations, yet they don't seem to comprehend that a business gets its revenue from its customers. Increase the cost to a business, and they eventually have no choice but to pass it on. Business taxes are nothing more than an indirect tax on the consumer.

Unfortunately, most people will just view that increased consumer cost as a increase in profits for the corporation--just as they do any other time consumer costs go up--instead of what it really is--a passed on tax. Most consumers really expect corporations to eat any increased cost or tax.

maryjane,

Agreed. Businesses don't really pay taxes. Their customers do, in the form of higher prices.

------------------
Redeem your mind from the hockshops of authority. -From John Galt's radio address

Anyone else think the media has anything to do with this?

Yes I believe the media is mostly to blame. It's called sensationalist journalism. It is a tactic used sesationalize things and to scare the citizen in to thinking dooms day is here. The more people heard of a recession the more scared thay became and the less money they spent. There fore businesses fail due to lack of income and it dominoes from there.

Shelby

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: A good start would be to begin bringing work back to this country from Mexico and China....The recent bump in energy costs world-wide should be a signal to companies that transportation costs will again rise and cut into the savings afforded by manufacturing offshore. Congress needs to lower the Corporate Income tax rate to a reasonable level with a tie to bringing exported work back to the USA.

Yeah but then we'd mis out on buying all cheep will-fail-soon-crap. And can you really do without trying to deal with customer serive from a compnay over there.

It's kind of interesting, in a very sad way, that many of the companies that quit buying American made products(think Macy's, Circuit City, and other retailers etc) are now bankrupt or laying off people and closing stores. I bet they're looking around and wondering where all of the money went.

quote Originally posted by carnut122: It's kind of interesting, in a very sad way, that many of the companies that quit buying American made products(think Macy's, Circuit City, and other retailers etc) are now bankrupt or laying off people and closing stores. I bet they're looking around and wondering where all of the money went.

That gives me an image of a guy sitting on a tree limb, and sawing it off at the same time.

Oh, that would be Congress running the saw - wait, here comes Nancy with a chainsaw, let's get this sucker done quick!

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Oh, that would be Congress running the saw - wait, here comes Nancy with a chainsaw, let's get this sucker done quick!