Hmmm let me see you say "Unfortunately, America's greatest strength, personal and economic freedom that allows anyone to start a business and become wealthy in one generation, is also the source of much of our national challenge. The freedom we enjoy and that allows many to become wealthy creates deep resentment and envy among those who don't understand or fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this great nation. " last time I checked their are so many regulations,fees,taxes,envirmental fees,workers comp,and bs fees that it is very hard for the mom and pop buisness to survive!! the days of someone following their dream is pretty much over.
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truckers strike 2008
- Thread starter Tractorat
- Start Date
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Gary,
And as I have said on more than one occasion, those who are underachievers, leading lives of disappointment and frustration sometimes seek to blame others for their own limited achievement.
There is no reason in America to do that. Opportunities abound. If an employee is unhappy with his working conditions he should demonstrate his superior knowledge and skill and start his own successful business.
The global economy has caused and will continue to cause some readjustment in America. Energy prices are rising and it is a fact of world competition. No lying politician can fix that. Higher fuel prices will raise costs of everything moved by truck... . food, clothing, appliances, everything.
For two generations the labor unions allowed high school graduates, even drop outs, with limited education and skills to take home high wages. The labor unions continued to make more and more outrageous demands on their employers until they largely killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. Big American corporations faced with enormous labor and healthcare costs they could no longer afford while facing increasingly stiff world competition have taken and will continue to take drastic measures to survive.
It is a competitive world. The strong will survive.
I am proud and grateful to be an American citizen. I blame no one for my own disappointments. In fact, I feel quite satisfied with my own modest accomplishments and my own ventures into the private sector economy.
I retired from the Navy with 28 1/2 years service at age 45. Graduated from college at age 49. Worked in the private sector for several years until just prior to my 55th birthday. I began buying rental property just after we settled where we live now. Bought them with very little money and mortgages. Managed them carefully and successfully for 15 years while paying off all the mortgages. I sold the houses last year carrying the note myself. Now I have a military pension, social security welfare check, and a monthly income from sale of the houses that will continue for 15 years. My wife who is younger than I has an excellent job with benefits.
Life is good. I love my country, appreciate the opportunities it offers, am satisfied with my own modest achievements, and blame no one for the fact that I became neither rich or famous.
Anyone can achieve success and financial comfort in America.
And as I have said on more than one occasion, those who are underachievers, leading lives of disappointment and frustration sometimes seek to blame others for their own limited achievement.
There is no reason in America to do that. Opportunities abound. If an employee is unhappy with his working conditions he should demonstrate his superior knowledge and skill and start his own successful business.
The global economy has caused and will continue to cause some readjustment in America. Energy prices are rising and it is a fact of world competition. No lying politician can fix that. Higher fuel prices will raise costs of everything moved by truck... . food, clothing, appliances, everything.
For two generations the labor unions allowed high school graduates, even drop outs, with limited education and skills to take home high wages. The labor unions continued to make more and more outrageous demands on their employers until they largely killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. Big American corporations faced with enormous labor and healthcare costs they could no longer afford while facing increasingly stiff world competition have taken and will continue to take drastic measures to survive.
It is a competitive world. The strong will survive.
I am proud and grateful to be an American citizen. I blame no one for my own disappointments. In fact, I feel quite satisfied with my own modest accomplishments and my own ventures into the private sector economy.
I retired from the Navy with 28 1/2 years service at age 45. Graduated from college at age 49. Worked in the private sector for several years until just prior to my 55th birthday. I began buying rental property just after we settled where we live now. Bought them with very little money and mortgages. Managed them carefully and successfully for 15 years while paying off all the mortgages. I sold the houses last year carrying the note myself. Now I have a military pension, social security welfare check, and a monthly income from sale of the houses that will continue for 15 years. My wife who is younger than I has an excellent job with benefits.
Life is good. I love my country, appreciate the opportunities it offers, am satisfied with my own modest achievements, and blame no one for the fact that I became neither rich or famous.
Anyone can achieve success and financial comfort in America.
Catoiler,
Sorry, you are mistaken. The promise of America is opportunity not results and that promise is still just as strong and viable as it ever was.
It is true that the blow-dried empty suits in Congress have created a huge economic and regulatory burden for business to overcome but they have not killed opportunity ... ... . yet. Maybe the current majority party in Congress with either of the three phony politicians running for president will be able to kill opportunity but they haven't succeeded yet.
As I wrote in a previous post above I bought a few rental houses with very little cash and let my tenants pay off the mortgages in less than 15 years. Last year I sold all of them for, to me, a substantial sum of money and carried the note myself. I will receive a payment every month for 15 years that a family could easily live on. Any dummy could do the same.
My son-in-law started out with an old pickup and a toolbox building commercial buildings 30 years ago. Fifteen years ago he was very small but has grown rapidly since then. Now he is a hugely successful builder of banks, office buildings, retail stores, medical/dental office clinics, motels, strip shopping centers, etc. He continually hires more job superintendents and project manages but can't keep up with demand. My daughter told me a few days ago they earned a net income, not gross revenue, of $1,000,000 last year.
My next door neighbor worked in numerous jobs and industries until he was about 50. He bought a truck and started hauling agricultural commodities around 1992. For the last ten years he has run a small fleet of 4 or 5 trucks. He is not "rich" but earns a very good living and employs three or four other drivers who support their families. As you know, trucking is a heavily regulated industry. He hasn't let it stop him from becoming successful.
I told the story of my truck detailer in an earlier post on this thread.
When I owned the rent houses I used several different carpet cleaning services. One is worth describing. When I was a new landlord I called a local real estate brokerage and asked the woman property manager on staff who she used for carpet cleaning. She gave me the name of a young man and I called him. At the time he as in his early 20s and very enthusiastic, energetic, and provided great service with one truck. Fifteen or so years later he is the biggest in town. He owns at least a dozen, possibly two dozen fully equipped carpet cleaning and water extraction trucks painted up in bright colors with fancy wheels and advertising logo emblazoned on the sides of the trucks. He employes dozens of young guys who do the work. I see his units all over town and he advertises on radio and television. His is a regulated industry and he is very successful.
I could sit here and write similar stories all afternoon. Success is all around us. Every American, even new immigrants, can achieve it. It requires only a good idea, a little effort, a little willingness to take risk, and determination.
One thing about success is certain. If you work for hourly wages paid by someone else you will never achieve success... ..... survival yes, but not success and satisfaction.
Don't let anyone tell you this is a bad country or we need phony politicians who have never owned or run a business to give us "change. " America promises equal opportunity for everyone... ..... not equal results... ... . equal opportunity to achieve.
Harvey
Actually, the supply and demand equation is a pair of movable curves. IOW for any given FIXED supply capacity, the price will rise and fall corresponding to the demand. What they REALLY should have said is that DEMAND, relative to a previous data point is HIGHER than it was, and the supply has not changed, therefore the price increased based on what the market would bear. If the supply of refined fuels is increased as a result of increased demand, then the demand curve shifts and reduces the price curve.
#adThat's NOT to say that artificialities (speculators, etc. ) don't mess up the equation.
It is the supply of crude oil which meets but does not exceed world demand that is the problem and the reason fuel at the pump is more expensive than it was a year ago. It is not due to actions of futures traders, it is because consumption (demand) by China and India are increasing as we write about it.
If OPEC and other suppliers increased supply quantity above the current level, which they could choose to do, supply would possibly exceed demand, thereby reducing price. Suppliers are not going to do that because it is not in their best interests. If they increased supply and price/bbl. declined, the oil producing nations would be selling their oil at a lower price per barrel.
When the trucker's CB channel spoke about supply not being a problem the speaker was probably speaking about diesel fuel, not crude oil. Diesel fuel is expensive because the raw commodity it is produced from, crude oil, is expensive. Diesel fuel supplies are adequate to meet demand. There are no long lines at fuel stops around the country waiting for fuel and there are no times of the day or days when diesel is not available.
Undoubtedly true - but well OFF the earlier point in regards to the downward spiral of standard of living in this country - 2 entirely different issues!
BECAUSE, "opportunity" or not, the deepening drain on our economy affects the MIDDLE class and POOR alike, as their incomes increasingly fail to meet THEIR "demand" in regards to taking care of their families - their "standard of living" - and precious FEW of those have any realistic opportunities to immediately improve their lot, as job opportunities dwindle along with income, as well as their standard of living.
Only the relatively RICH - some of whom GOT that way by exploitation of the poorer classes by manipulation of the very basic essentials the poor needed and rely upon for their continued maintenance, are well isolated from the economic conditions that engulf the middle and poorer classes, both at the family level, and also at the smaller business level, as operating and manufacturing costs spiral out of control and become unprofitable.
$5-$10 a gallon of fuel is MEANINGLESS to an individual whose bank account runs into the 10's or 100's of millions!
NOR are the USA-based richer classes necessarily bound by the economic conditions of any single country, since MANY of them have exquisite homes and businesses in several other countries, to which they can easily move to as situations change.
This "Land of opportunity", unlike Europe where the early settlers came from, was established and founded upon the creation and maintenance of a strong MIDDLE class, as well as freedom of advancement. That goal has steadily eroded, even more-so in recent years, as we slowly again stratify into basically a 2-level society.
SO, I'll ask AGAIN, where ARE the "Standard of living" statistics, based upon a decent range of realistic categories, that currently show that this country is "#1" in the world?
You ridicule mine, show me YOURS!
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Undoubtedly true - but well OFF the earlier point in regards to the downward spiral of standard of living in this country - 2 entirely different issues!
BECAUSE, "opportunity" or not, the deepening drain on our economy affects the MIDDLE class and POOR alike, as their incomes increasingly fail to meet THEIR "demand" in regards to taking care of their families - their "standard of living" - and precious FEW of those have any realistic opportunities to immediately improve their lot, as job opportunities dwindle along with income, as well as their standard of living.
Only the relatively RICH - some of whom GOT that way by exploitation of the poorer classes by manipulation of the very basic essentials the poor needed and rely upon for their continued maintenance, are well isolated from the economic conditions that engulf the middle and poorer classes, both at the family level, and also at the smaller business level, as operating and manufacturing costs spiral out of control and become unprofitable.
$5-$10 a gallon of fuel is MEANINGLESS to an individual whose bank account runs into the 10's or 100's of millions!
NOR are the USA-based richer classes necessarily bound by the economic conditions of any single country, since MANY of them have exquisite homes and businesses in several other countries, to which they can easily move to as situations change.
This "Land of opportunity", unlike Europe where the early settlers came from, was established and founded upon the creation and maintenance of a strong MIDDLE class, as well as freedom of advancement. That goal has steadily eroded, even more-so in recent years, as we slowly again stratify into basically a 2-level society.
SO, I'll ask AGAIN, where ARE the "Standard of living" statistics, based upon a decent range of realistic categories, that currently show that this country is "#1" in the world?
You ridicule mine, show me YOURS!
Gary,
Do you make all that claptrap BS up as you go along?
What "deepening drain on our economy? Are you talking about the cost of energy? We in America have led a sheltered life for a very long time. The rest of the world starting as close as our brothers in Canada have been paying far more for fuel for many years. Our pain is inflicted on us by our citizens who vote for the fools in congress who prevent us from developing and using our own sources of fuel to power automobiles and trucks and saddle us with burdensome self-defeating regulation, and by the same group who prevent us from building clean, safe, and efficient nuclear power plants. We are our own enemy.
It's hard to make any sense of all that nonsense you write with all the bold print and capital letters, and cartoon characters like junior high school girls use. It is confusing.
"their incomes fail to meet their demand?" What are you talking about?
Americans have become accustomed to living beyond their means by funding their luxury purchases on credit cards and easily borrowed money. When I was on the road and forced to eat in fast food restaurants I saw everyday young mothers with two or three children in their new mini-vans feeding their children and often their husbands as well buying bags of junk food paying with a credit card. That is a clear recipe for financial disaster.
People who live like that will simply have to increase their income by moving to other industries or other regions of the country where job opportunities are stronger or by cutting back on their lifestyles. I spent a year as a financial counselor twelve years ago. I was astonished by the financial condition of my clients. Most Americans save zero and buy every toy they see on credit. They may have to slim down their discretionary budgets and concentrate on the basics like mortgages, rent, food, utilities, transportation, clothing, etc. This is not a crisis that threatens our existence.
"Operating and manufacturing costs spiral out of control?" What is that about? The only thing that has caused operating costs of major companies to increase besides modest increases in energy costs is the cost of labor created by greedy labor unions. Labor unions are headed toward extinction whether they like it or not.
Where in the world did you get the goofy idea that "This "Land of opportunity", unlike Europe where the early settlers came from, was established and founded upon the creation and maintenance of a strong MIDDLE class, as well as freedom of advancement"?
You should try reading the constitution and tell me where you find this clause. This great nation was founded on the principles of political, regligious, and economic freedom. Every man was free to work as hard as he chose, to work in whatever field of endeavor he chose, and to keep the rewards of his work. Somehow over the last 50 years many Americans have come to believe that their employer is a social services office responsible for paying high wages that exceed the inflation rate of the cost of living, pay for his or her health care, provide a comfortable retirement program, and guarantee employment regardless of outside economic forces. That is not the promise of the US Constitution. Get over it.
Yes, I suppose it is possible that the middle class (based on income) will decline in America over the next 50 years. If that happens it will be due to the inability of Americans to adjust to the new global realities of competition by China and India and to compete successfully in the global marketplace.
Americans were not born entitled to a middle-class lifestyle. The opportunity was created by great industrialists like Henry Ford who created mass production in assembly line format and great capitalists who funded the railroads, shipping, and other industries. They offered jobs to less educated and lower skilled persons at good wages. These people worked hard and earned income which allowed them to live a middle-class lifestyle.
If American industry is unable to compete due to poor work ethic and unreasonable demand for high wages those folks will lose their jobs. It is unpleasant to consider the possibility but it was American manufacturing that provided the jobs because America was the major player in the world economy. As poorer nations with masses of hungry but skilled and educated citizens compete Americans will have to compete better or perish.
No goofy socialist manipulation of the US economy or transfer of wealth from some to others can or will solve the problem. No isolationist barriers to trade or high tariffs will either. Calls to boycott Wal-Mart or foreign made goods are only wishful thinking. Americans will simply have to face and adjust to the new economic reality of a global economy and global production of high quality goods.
Gary, get a grip on it. You may not be able to afford to travel or pull your travel trailer any longer but Communist Chinese factory workers have not arrived to take your home yet.
One way to "Strike"
There will never be a "truckers strike", too many independents. What percentage of truckers now belong to a union???
However, the independents acting in concert with each other could have an impact if they took strategic actions...
How? All truckers refuse to enter the port of Long Beach, CA for 1 day a week until the price of Diesel is at least comparable to the price of 87 octane. .
Let the Wall Marts of America subsidize the price of diesel with their billions in profits from importing Chinese goods...
When the shelves of Wall Mart start going bare because their flow of goods has stopped, then you have a "truckers strike".
That is my dos centavos!
Cheers, Bill
There will never be a "truckers strike", too many independents. What percentage of truckers now belong to a union???
However, the independents acting in concert with each other could have an impact if they took strategic actions...
How? All truckers refuse to enter the port of Long Beach, CA for 1 day a week until the price of Diesel is at least comparable to the price of 87 octane. .
Let the Wall Marts of America subsidize the price of diesel with their billions in profits from importing Chinese goods...
When the shelves of Wall Mart start going bare because their flow of goods has stopped, then you have a "truckers strike".
That is my dos centavos!
Cheers, Bill
HBarlow said: "Our pain is inflicted on us by our citizens who vote for the fools in congress who prevent us from developing and using our own sources of fuel to power automobiles and trucks and saddle us with burdensome self-defeating regulation, and by the same group who prevent us from building clean, safe, and efficient nuclear power plants. We are our own enemy. "
I don't think it can be said much better than that.
I don't think it can be said much better than that.
Gary,
You are just an angry and bitter old man who can't afford to do the things he wanted or planned to do in retirement and it is easier to blame your country for your failings than to look in the mirror and point the finger of blame where it belongs.
We face huge challenges and possible readjustments but our nation continues to offer opportunity beyond the dreams of most of us. We enjoy the highest standard of living on the planet... monetary wealth, amazing possessions like large comfortable homes, fast cars, powerful and economical personal trucks, fancy boats, race cars, RVs, access to the world's greatest health care, and freedom to travel wherever and whenever we please. If you cannot partake of the bounties of this great nation maybe you should move to a socialist country where someone will provide for you. In any case, quit blaming our country for your disappointment.
You are just an angry and bitter old man who can't afford to do the things he wanted or planned to do in retirement and it is easier to blame your country for your failings than to look in the mirror and point the finger of blame where it belongs.
We face huge challenges and possible readjustments but our nation continues to offer opportunity beyond the dreams of most of us. We enjoy the highest standard of living on the planet... monetary wealth, amazing possessions like large comfortable homes, fast cars, powerful and economical personal trucks, fancy boats, race cars, RVs, access to the world's greatest health care, and freedom to travel wherever and whenever we please. If you cannot partake of the bounties of this great nation maybe you should move to a socialist country where someone will provide for you. In any case, quit blaming our country for your disappointment.
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You operate under the assumption that the uber-rich capitalist class have something to gain from the economy going stale. That just doesn't add up. If fuel prices continue to cause damage to the global economy, EVERYBODY loses.
I'm not denying that wealth hoarding doesn't exist, or arguing that it's right. In fact my religion (Roman Catholicism) teaches us to use our wealth to the benefit of our less well off brothers and sisters. What it does NOT teach is confiscatory taxation and governmental redistribution of wealth. Such was part of the reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Unfortunately, many of the countries in W. Europe, Canada, et al. that have higher standards of living, do so because of socialist confiscatory taxation and governmental redistribution of wealth.
Speaking of the fall of Western Rome, the similarities between US/W Europe and W. Rome in the later period are uncannily similar: breakdown of morals, uncontrolled borders, the "dole" (welfare), division of the empire (red states v. blue states), financial problems, religious friction, excessive governmental power.
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