The American Dream no longer exists.

[HopeinHorizon]

What good is a right if you can't exercise it?

That is like telling blacks (after the civil war) that they have the right to vote, but not many of them could read and were still unable to exercise this new "right"...

Or telling a Quadraplegic they have the right to walk... now come on...

A right is only a right if you can exercise it in my opinion... and when Federal minimum wage is 5.15/hr and houses in some areas are selling for 300k+ for simple 2 bedroom 1 bath homes... that is no right...

[robivi3]

Jen, we can start with a myriad of gun controls that allow the Government to know exactly how well armed each honest citizen is. That alone would have thrown the founders into a tizzy of huge proportions.

Under certain laws inacted in the last twenty years your property can be siezed even if you are not guilty of a crime. Under Kelo vs. New London your home can be taken against your will because EMMINENT DOMAIN now means that Wal-Mart in cohoots with your local council can TAKE YOUR LAND, the good folks in that New London Suburb were left with no choice because Pfizer wants to build there. To say that we have not lost any freedoms is blatantly ridiculous. I can fill up at least 18 pages here if i attempt to begin the list.

Get caught carrying a Zanex pill in a plastic bag withgout you prescription, I guarrantee that one Police Department here will sieze your cash on hand, your car and any valuables in it. Get caught here with excess cash, see what gets siezed, you will not I promise you get any of it back ever, though you are innocent. I have many friends in THAT PD. It is called "Suspicion of criminal activity" and it is legal though you may walk on water and pay your tithes and not even burn blockbuster movies! To say that we have not lost any freedoms is just blatantly beyond ridiculous. The Patriot Act alone chewed away many of those. For heavens sake the Amish in Pennsylvania were denied the freedom by the Supreme Court to place a Yellow caution tag on their buggies instead of red. The State was willing at one point to allow it but the Court said and I quote not verbatim "public safety overrides individual rights". A Gentleman on his way to a vehicle auction in Texas was stopped in Jefferson Parrish Louisiana several years back. His rig and his 18,000.00 were impounded, though innocent of no crime and charged with nothing he was held for 24 hours and he never got his rig or items back. That is common under "suspicion of criminal activity".

Freedom of speech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????? Are you kidding, have you checked the hate crimes laws? And please do not counter with anyone who says certain things should go to jail... freedom taken from one is taken from all. Freedom of speech is relative, I am as free to speak in Cuba as i am here. I just have realize that in both places the consequences are different. There are rules here against many kinds of speech. Pastors have been arrested for endorsing candidates and have lost their tax ememptions. My little (at the time) son was threatened by staff and we were called to conference in a Public School because he took a Bible for that "bring any book" private reading time. Where the hell was his freedom? He was a small child and was damned well assaulted by those in authority. It took my Attorney calling the School Board to make the elitist left wing Nazi witches to somehow become so compliant and apologetic in a day!

Go on to any Public School Campus and tell me how much freedom of expression your children have if they go against the grain, yet you pay the damned taxes. I'm not going to add any more right now but i can quote alot of new laws that would take me along time to write. I read supreme court decisions as they are posted online. I keep up with the ACLJ, the Liberty Foundation and the Center for private property rights. Please don't even make a pretense at tewlling me that a significant amount of government watching and control has been placed over us in the last 15 years. Put $34000.00 (I did recently) in the bank tomorrow with no explanation and see how much freedom you have. You have to let the government know that it is traceable to a legal source and from where you got it. You can justuify that and say that it is not a loss of freedom?????????????????????????????????????????? What the hell right do they have to presume guilt on my part and to force me to tell them where it came from?????????????

The freedom to keep your PRIVATE PROPERTY except under what the founders called emminent domain. The use of land for public right of ways was the intention and it began with the building of the Potomac Canal in the 1780's which was purposed to help open up certain new territories for commerce was never meant to include PRIVATE COMPANIES. That is a cornerstone of America. That is a cornerstone of Lenins policies also, the siezure of property from the middle class whom he, like our intrusive Government regarded as his greatest road block. Every Florida person who attended Public or Private schoool in Florida in the 1960's and 70's can tell that, we all had to take Americanism vs. Communism. We ALL learned the cornerstones of communist doctrine. And now i have lived to see it born here.

Sandra Day O'Conner referred to that Ruling as the "end of freedom in America". Sandra Day O'Conner says that we are losing freedoms rapidly and you say we aren't? Darn, I ain't listen to Sandy anymore, she just don't know nothin'!

[debtisbad]

damn truth!

[SinkingFast]

Go on to any Public School Campus and tell me how much freedom of expression your children have if they go against the grain, yet you pay the damned taxes.

We ran into all kinds of new stuff with Public Schools here. These aren't inner city schools with huge gang problems and hidden weapons coming to school mind you.

Every student who drives to school or participates in an extra curricular activity, notice I did not say SPORTS, is subject to random drug testing. Hubby, son, and I have taken pre-employment drug tests. I don't really care for the idea of that, but I understand it.

Our 16 year old daughter has now been drug tested at school because she drives a car to school. Our very modest CHILD was forced to pee in a cup in front of a total stranger.

The Vice Principal in Charge of Discipline at their school gets copies of Police Reports daily thru the week and every Monday morning from the weekend. He scans the reports for names of Student Athletes. If a student is involved in a DUI accident, get's caught shop lifting at the Mall, or whatever, they had better be in that Vice Principal's Office in the morning to "Self Report". If the Vice Principal finds your name before you "Self Report" your punishment will be much more severe than if you tell on yourself.

Excuse me??!! But where's the Student's Right to Privacy, off campus, after school hours??!!

[robivi3]

Sinking, that is the loss of a basic freedom. Guilt is presumed already. I cannot believe that someon can say that we have sacrificed none of our freedoms. that's why i can't be Mayor, you complained, I'd have contacted my Police Chief and looked into any possibility of filing charges against anyone who puts a young girl through that. I am in public transit, I am also subject to random testing, presumed guilt, I carry no passengers except maybe whoever is working with me. Let us be honest, Public School has simply become a Federal Indoctrination Center. The ommissions in any history book today will confirm that. Even in february, GW Carver gets less mention than Shaq in most textbooks!!!!! Carver found a crop that would replenish all the nutrients raped from the soil by Cotton growing and then invented a thousand uses for that crop and then convinced WHITE southern farmers to plant it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the man was a genius, up there with Edison, Gates, Ford and a host of other world changers and yet he is absent from my kids textbooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Please do not get the idea that i am a gun toting right wing extremist survivalist anti government Timothy Mcveigh thinking person. I am a pragmatist, like i said, I love FDR, he was there when history needed him. Had Lincoln not held us together and FDR not prepped the men and given them hope we would never have defeated fascism in the 40's. History can't always go the way we think it should have. "Right" in the given moment isn't always best for the future. Government can be a force for good, but in general big government is an evil. People forget that the Continental Railroad was basically financed by the Fed, through land giveaways. The task was so monumental that no private company could make it work financially, so the Fed loaned money, gave away land, towns sprang up and the Ralroad made bucks. Government enhancing interstate commerce, it is supposed to do that. Government does have a purpose.

Folks, my apologies for my typo's. I type directly into the message area and not through Word plus i usually have the dog on my lap and she is sniffing the keyboard the same way a liitle child would smack it with their fingers.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

I don't see how you do it, FOMO.

My hat is off to you, FOMO, for living on your own with so little resources.

Thats the thing sinking. I don't 'do it'. Something always comes up and I am broke. My fixed bills are hardly over 500$ a month. My roommates work at restaurants so I don't have to pay for food if I choose not to. And utilities are included in my rent. But otherwise its always something that eats me alive. My car breaks down? I am my own mechanic. Even then, parts can easily run everything I make in a month and more. Doing my clutch recently took my entire income tax refund. I was going to buy a computer with it. So now I use my roommates computer, still. Besides a vehicle I have virtually nothing to my name, and theres very little that can change that. And I'm not the type that is so pathetic to go start buying scratch off tickets.

[robivi3]

Actually Cred Little Havana was pretty nice, no bars, no 8 ft. fences. Now it has become pequena vietnam, the older Cubans died and their offspring moved to nice areas or other parts of the country. That area is a hellhole now. What made them different was yes, they loved Miami because the weather was close to home but as they prospered they moved out.

That area went into rapid decline just afew years after Reagans visit but I think La Izquina de tejas with his photo is still there, Reagan was loved by Cubans in that day, believe me he could have walked Little Havana a with no Secret Service. There are very few Cubans there now. And remember that there is a distinct difference in upbringing between the pre and post Mariel. In the most basic sense, pre Mariel, hard working, pro America. Post Mariel, every decision involves a committee. I see the two mentalities where I work, the "pre" are hard working, knowledgeable, usually came to us from Pan Am or Eastern, alot with heavy Marine (yachts) experience. The "post" have an utterly different entitlement mentality.

I have to admit, I have always loved reagan as a sidenote. I have his speeches on my computer. He was the reason i registered to vote. He made patriotism good again, funded our defenses and in general called a spade a spade. And yes, I remember the whole pancoast affair and everything else. I mean think about what some of your own friends have done or when they've gone off the deep end, it doesn't mean that you are in agreement with them. I think Reagan was a good, good man.

[robivi3]

Actually, that's pretty far south!

[SinkingFast]

My family lived it too----you will always have people who loaf around a bit and collect the money without working so hard---I see them in my office and everywhere I have worked. That is why those who work harder in a truly free economic system and take chances and build businesses do end up doing well for the most part WITHOUT the government subsidizing or setting up "programs" they warrant as necessary. Where does it end? Who decides who gets saved and who isn't saved? Chrysler gets a subsidy...what about the other car manufacturers? What about all the companies that aren't given a free hand out to stay alive? That is what a free market does....some are not supposed to----maybe they were mismanaged, obsolete, etc.
You do not need a Government program to feel useful and feed your family. That is what the churches were for...your neighbors....the government was not supposed to take money from everyone and dictate charity----or whatever else they dreamed up and spend your money how they deemed fit---not how you deemed fit. Most people do work very hard for what they earn and should be able to decide for themselves if they want to help Sally or John---are they truly in need or just looking for a handout--? What about all the other countries? I like to decide if I am actually helping someone who is helping themselves or just taking from the Government programs because it is there and they can.

Chrysler didn't get a subsidy. Chrysler got a LOAN from the Federal Government. Lee Iacoca paid off the note earlier than the term agreement. It made the news. Iacoca handing over the check to pay off the balance.

Wanna talk government subsidies of industry??!! Ever fly on a commercial airline??!! That's Gov't $$ at work right there. The only thing that keeps those birds in the air is Gov't subsidy $$ and hauling freight for the USPS and other package delivery carriers. Without that underwriting, US Airlines' tickets would be cost prohibitive or the Airlines would go outa business.

You are right about not needing the Gov't to wipe our noses and our butts for us. Gov't is too big and messes in our business way too much, IMHO.

[debtisbad]

Friends,

I just got back from my 1st day working at Target part time. I met so many people just like us. One guy used to work at Microsoft but lost his job. Now he serves coffee at the Starbucks at the entrance to the store. Another guy has 2 bachelors degrees and said he cannot find a decent job to save his life. Also said he has no health insurance and 3 kids. Met many others as well. We are all working for 7.00 per hour. Most of us have degrees. The people also work very hard. I would never have imagined how hard and dedicated these employees are. The guy working at the Starbucks counter said he could not pay any of his bills. Now, I know you are wondering why someone would tell me this the first day they meet me, but they were so frustrated and I think just wanted someone to listen. There must be a ton of people in this boat, and I am thinking BK rates are not going to go down. If anything, my guess is they are going up. This is just my opinion. No flames please, I am damn tired!

[robivi3]

I don't want GM going down, find an Iacoca, save the Company. GM is part of all of us. It is that simple. Save GM.

[tresjolie]

Chrysler didn't get a subsidy. Chrysler got a LOAN from the Federal Government. Lee Iacoca paid off the note earlier than the term agreement. It made the news. Iacoca handing over the check to pay off the balance.

Wanna talk government subsidies of industry??!! Ever fly on a commercial airline??!! That's Gov't $$ at work right there. The only thing that keeps those birds in the air is Gov't subsidy $$ and hauling freight for the USPS and other package delivery carriers. Without that underwriting, US Airlines' tickets would be cost prohibitive or the Airlines would go outa business.

You are right about not needing the Gov't to wipe our noses and our butts for us. Gov't is too big and messes in our business way too much, IMHO.

Thanks SinkingFast! My mistake about Chrysler.
And you are so right about the subsidies for the airlines/etc.

I also have enjoyed this topic and the various exchanges. It's nice to see that people are thinking and observing what is going on and what our country was truly about when it was formed---it is extremely important that we are vigilant and non complacent....that is when we are in real trouble.

[fellowpoorman]

Ah! The American dream, what is it? A house of my own? yeah right! Wish I could but not gonna happen. My American dream is the freedom to keep the the money I work for, to eat like a human being, to have some kind of shelter and a car that runs more than 2 weeks without a breakdown, to sit in a comfortable chair on a rainy day and relax, to look at other people in this world and say " i love you" " hope all is well and literally give the shirt off my back, its not about materialism and $$ , It's a test of survival, "You've got to give to live!(sammy)

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Ah! The American dream, what is it? A house of my own? yeah right! Wish I could but not gonna happen. My American dream is the freedom to keep the the money I work for, to eat like a human being, to have some kind of shelter and a car that runs more than 2 weeks without a breakdown, to sit in a comfortable chair on a rainy day and relax, to look at other people in this world and say " i love you" " hope all is well and literally give the shirt off my back, its not about materialism and $$ , It's a test of survival, "You've got to give to live!(sammy)

Thats just the thing. We're not living anymore. Only surviving. Instead of working to live, we're living to work.

[Peevee]

The company I work for filed chapter 11 banrkruptcy back in March. I work for the Dana corporation they filed on the American operations. They have plants in Mexico, Canada and some other countries. We have now more temporary positions than full time workers. The temporary workers get decent wages but no benefits. I guess the future will be temporary jobs.
This year is a election year get out and vote. Some of these politicians need a taste of the real world send them to the unemployment line.