What Are You Doing Right Now? (181 Viewers)

[Enron]

your view is skewed imo first of all africa is one huge continent, hardly monolithic but the 'parts' you might have referred to are on a fast pace towards modernity just ask the chinese; india is a country that recorded one of the best progress rates over the last 30 years. The 'real' poor as you put it, are getting more and more scarce.

I would disagree. Look a Brazil and Mexico for example. The middle classes are gaining "more wealth" and the rich are definitely benefiting from the economic booms, but the poor are largely staying that way. There's really little to no upward movement in the developing world.

 

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[Hust]

I would disagree. Look a Brazil and Mexico for example. The middle classes are gaining "more wealth" and the rich are definitely benefiting from the economic booms, but the poor are largely staying that way. There's really little to no upward movement in the developing world.

Has there ever been anywhere?

 

[Enron]

Talking about NSA and data overreach on metadata. Getting interesting about privacy overreach.

Nothing like supporting a party that won't win.
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Support your own politics Cam, don't be a sheep. Register Indie and make 'em work for your vote.

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Has there ever been anywhere?

There was in the US, especially in the wake of WWII. But what I'm getting at, is that based on GDP, import/exports and other monetary factors people will act like things are changing. But really the same people that always had the wealth and power are just getting more of it. And people make that out to be some sort of epic change, when in reality it's not. It's the same thing it always was.

 

[Seven]

I would disagree. Look a Brazil and Mexico for example. The middle classes are gaining "more wealth" and the rich are definitely benefiting from the economic booms, but the poor are largely staying that way. There's really little to no upward movement in the developing world.

You're making the mistake of equating little social mobility to a status quo of the poorest. While trickle down economics are largely bullshit, trickle down technology most definitely is not. Let's say I earn 1,000 dollars a month. A 1,500 dollar smartphone is obviously out of my reach. But if 10 years later I still earn 1,000 dollars only now that smartphone costs 50 dollars my situation has obviously improved (even if I am still considered poor).

 

[DAiDEViL]

Well, Isn't it great that there are different People who have different Opinions?
Thats something Positive atleast.

 

[Seven]

There was in the US, especially in the wake of WWII. But what I'm getting at, is that based on GDP, import/exports and other monetary factors people will act like things are changing. But really the same people that always had the wealth and power are just getting more of it. And people make that out to be some sort of epic change, when in reality it's not. It's the same thing it always was.

Yes, but X's argument is not that this is changing. He is saying that now you don't need to be rich to eat strawberries. The change is the price, not the consumer.

 

[Hust]

Support your own politics Cam, don't be a sheep. Register Indie and make 'em work for your vote.

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There was in the US, especially in the wake of WWII. But what I'm getting at, is that based on GDP, import/exports and other monetary factors people will act like things are changing. But really the same people that always had the wealth and power are just getting more of it. And people make that out to be some sort of epic change, when in reality it's not. It's the same thing it always was.

I pretty much consider myself neither dem or repub as both disgust me anymore BUT I do feel much further from the left than I do the right.

LOL apparently people in the stands are staging a walkout with Jeb Bush.

 

[Enron]

I pretty much consider myself neither dem or repub as both disgust me anymore BUT I do feel much further from the left than I do the right.

LOL apparently people in the stands are staging a walkout with Jeb Bush.

That's perfectly fine to see things that way and be an Independent.

What? Jeb is their only shot!

Still can't believe Bobby Jindell thinks he has a chance.

 

[Hust]

That's perfectly fine to see things that way and be an Independent.

What? Jeb is their only shot!

Still can't believe Bobby Jindell thinks he has a chance.

you of all people know people going to CPAC aren't moderates though. Jeb is too much in the middle for them

 

[DAiDEViL]

I pretty much consider myself neither dem or repub as both disgust me anymore BUT I do feel much further from the left than I do the right.

LOL apparently people in the stands are staging a walkout with Jeb Bush.

Funny how right and left differ in the USA and Germany.

For example:

The US Democrats are pretty much what the CDU, means the
Conservatives, are in Germany (Merkels Party)

The Republicans on the other hand are so far out right,
i could only compare them with our
Nazi Party NPD.

 

[Enron]

You're making the mistake of equating little social mobility to a status quo of the poorest. While trickle down economics are largely bullshit, trickle down technology most definitely is not. Let's say I earn 1,000 dollars a month. A 1,500 dollar smartphone is obviously out of my reach. But if 10 years later I still earn 1,000 dollars only now that smartphone costs 50 dollars my situation has obviously improved (even if I am still considered poor).

Lowering price isn't a victory over poverty if people can't eat, don't receive healthcare or education. I work with famers who can read and write or feed their family without substantial government subsidies, but have cell phones. Sure, reduction in prices is nice, but it's only part of the puzzle and it hardly eliminates poverty.

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you of all people know people going to CPAC aren't moderates though. Jeb is too much in the middle for them

I know, CPAC is a circus though. I hope they put out a good blooper reel this year.

 

[Hust]

I know, CPAC is a circus though. I hope they put out a good blooper reel this year.

You can tell simply by the crowd reaction when someone mentions a "hot topic". And depending where the speaker falls on the spectrum will change their cheers to booes

 

[Enron]

Funny how right and left differ in the USA and Germany.

For example:

The US Democrats are pretty much what the CDU, means the
Conservatives, are in Germany (Merkels Party)

The Republicans on the other hand are so far out right,
i could only compare them with our
Nazi Party NPD.

I agree, there are some Hitler Youth mother fuckers on the right.

 

[Seven]

Lowering price isn't a victory over poverty if people can't eat, don't receive healthcare or education. I work with famers who can read and write or feed their family without substantial government subsidies, but have cell phones. Sure, reduction in prices is nice, but it's only part of the puzzle and it hardly eliminates poverty.

True. But it changes what poverty means. Also, the number of people who can't eat has been drastically reduced. And if the price of healthcare becomes practically nothing, it will be universal sooner rather than later.

With healthcare you raise an interesting point. We all know that universal healthcare is not possible with the technology we have now (In a sense we need to effectively cure aging to be able to make healthcare affordable). And even if it was, we wouldn't invest it in the poor. The only way we will ever be able to afford universal healthcare is to make it dirt cheap.

 

[Hust]

John Bolton smashing Hiliary right now.

Brutal

 

[Enron]

True. But it changes what poverty means. Also, the number of people who can't eat has been drastically reduced. And if the price of healthcare becomes practically nothing, it will be universal sooner rather than later.

With healthcare you raise an interesting point. We all know that universal healthcare is not possible with the technology we have now (In a sense we need to effectively cure aging to be able to make healthcare affordable). And even if it was, we wouldn't invest it in the poor. The only way we will ever be able to afford universal healthcare is to make it dirt cheap.

To your first point, people being able to eat is great all, but you really must consider the quality of the food. Here in Mexico, there's a program to feed the poor called "La lucha contra hambre" (the fight against hunger). But unfortunately the food is largely processed, corn products. And that's not good either. I can walk down to the tienda 2 minutes from my house and Coke is cheaper than water. So while lowering of price is good, it doesn't necessarily improve health or quality of life.

Healthcare is an interesting topic. I think people spend too much time on the reactionary part. You know, combating illness, clearing out arteries after decades of poor choice, that sort of thing. Instead of concentrating on prevention. I think if countries were able to make available healthier food choices and promote good lifestyle decisions, especially among to poor, you would see a big change health care costs. Or maybe I'm just a little optimistic.

 

[Ocelot]

Funny how right and left differ in the USA and Germany.

For example:

The US Democrats are pretty much what the CDU, means the
Conservatives, are in Germany (Merkels Party)

The Republicans on the other hand are so far out right,
i could only compare them with our
Nazi Party NPD.

Nah, the NPD goes towards a different side. There's no real equivalent to the Republicans in Germany, if anything it'd be a mixture of FDP & CSU, with some NPD mixed into it.

 

[Seven]

To your first point, people being able to eat is great all, but you really must consider the quality of the food. Here in Mexico, there's a program to feed the poor called "La lucha contra hambre" (the fight against hunger). But unfortunately the food is largely processed, corn products. And that's not good either. I can walk down to the tienda 2 minutes from my house and Coke is cheaper than water. So while lowering of price is good, it doesn't necessarily improve health or quality of life.

Healthcare is an interesting topic. I think people spend too much time on the reactionary part. You know, combating illness, clearing out arteries after decades of poor choice, that sort of thing. Instead of concentrating on prevention. I think if countries were able to make available healthier food choices and promote good lifestyle decisions, especially among to poor, you would see a big change health care costs. Or maybe I'm just a little optimistic.

1. You're definitely right about that. However, it is the first step away from the most basic hunger. If you have nothing to eat a Snickers for example is brilliant, because it contains loads of calories. It won't give you a balanced diet, but I bet you could survive pretty damn long on just Snickers.

2. Yes, prevention is definitely key. But I think even the pharmaceutical industry is focusing on this now. Modifying genes for example can be a form of preventative medicine.

 

[Ocelot]

You're making the mistake of equating little social mobility to a status quo of the poorest. While trickle down economics are largely bullshit, trickle down technology most definitely is not. Let's say I earn 1,000 dollars a month. A 1,500 dollar smartphone is obviously out of my reach. But if 10 years later I still earn 1,000 dollars only now that smartphone costs 50 dollars my situation has obviously improved (even if I am still considered poor).

True.

But that doesn't mean that this rule is universally applicable, and that changes are necessarily positive to all groups in society due to an improving technology. And even if there's at leasts some sort of progress for almost everyone, for some groups (e.g. the already referenced of the majority of people in sub-Saharan Africa, that it barely makes any difference. One could argue that as our potential ability to fight hunger & poverty rises, the fact that there are often no improvements noticeable is even more appaling.

As a general trend for the past few decades however, there's been the trend of societies as a whole moving forward and attaining more wealth, but inequality within societies getting agrevated. Which, for some groups results in basically no improvement.

Even in wealthy countries (Western Europe for example), while living standards have improved most certainly due to technological and medical advances and the respective goods & services getting cheaper, the cost of the basic life necessities (Food, shelter, clothes) has virtually not changed for the past 20 years.

 

[DAiDEViL]

There's no real equivalent to the Republicans in Germany, if anything it'd be a mixture of FDP & CSU, with some NPD mixed into it.

So what you say is that he Republicans are like the AFD right?