USA, Canada /
Polish stuff vs. American stuff [107]
Ja Przybylem:
time means:
How do you think it became the worlds biggest economy and a superpower?
Read your history.
I asked YOU the question.
It was you who questioned the American work ethic.
Yes, I do question the American work ethic as a whole.
The development of the atomic weapon catapulted the U.S. into a superpower, but prior to that, no, it was not a superpower by any means, but it was expanding as a nation primarily by immigrants who left their nations for better opportunities. The atomic weapon was developed in America, but it was done by German scientists, a Hungarian and an Italian physicist. Foreigners, like these scientists, who were eventually given citizenship, are the primary drivers of innovation and growth in America. Foreign scientists working on the Manhattan Project led to the end of the war. Putting the warhead onto an American bomber and having an American pilot fly it was the easy part. Bottom line after the war though - military might will rule the world at this point.
Post-WWII? Technology and financial innovation fueled economic growth, and these inventions, like the atomic weapon, weren't solely developed by Americans but America was able to harvest it and capitalize on it. An example is a simple credit card which wasn't around decades ago. It's not money, but as soon as I turn 18, I got bombarded with offers so I can charge away and pump up the GDP. My personal net worth is in the red, but I keep making purchases that fuel the economy. Toss in the multiplier effect and you have exponential economic growth from a simple credit card. Can't afford it? Heck, then lease it! Zero interest loans are cool too. These are all extremely simple forms of innovation that fueled growth in the U.S. - imagine what the complex ones were capable of doing. What if...Americans actually saved money? What if...U.S. society was more regulated like other nations, where access to credit and innovative products weren't easy for everyone to get their hands on them? What if...everyone in the U.S. wasn't allowed to leverage everything in their lives? Where would this economic growth be? They can't find the bottom of this economic mess we are in simply because it's a product of financial innovation that 99% of people don't understand, but hey, it's the Republicans fault right?
people don't have time to cook anymore and are increasingly resorting to processed food
I cook regularly, and I know many others that do as well. I know many who also grow a lot of their own vegetables and fruits, including my family.
unless you want to go down to the baker every morning for fresh, preservative free bread - but really, who has time for this?
You'd be surprised, but your average American, no way. They want convenience. They don't like going out of their way.
Bread is bought at the bakery, meat is bought from the butcher, etc. I don't go to Dominicks/Jewel/Piggly/Albertson, etc. to buy everything. I look for quality over convenience, and do expend extra time for it because it's worth it.
We also export semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, video games and software, speakers, aerospace.
Have you walked the development lab at Phizer? At Google? On Wall Street? Gates can't find enough technically skilled Americans so he asks the gov't to grant a greater number of visas so he can employ competent people from abroad. Sure, many of the world's companies have their Articles of Incorporation in the U.S., but who are the brains driving all the neat stuff you buy? It's ignorant to make a claim that 'oh, American firm - Ya! We produced that stuff' when the majority of the brains behind it are foreign born.
Also, the trade deficit has been in the red since the 1960s, so imports dominate.
you take up 25 pesent of world natral resorses and your fat and lazy
Many other nations have a good infrastructure and alternative energy sources in place, but now Obama proposes it and the crowds think he is a genius. High speed train system? Wow, many countries already have that. Get away from a dependency on fuel? Way behind the rest of the world.
My point is this. America is a great country, and I am an American citizen myself, but America was founded by explorers who did not want to go back home for certain reasons. People forget that when new immigrants can be spotted on the street nowadays. So the initial settlers discovered the land, royally screwed over the natural inhabitants (Indians), and began developing the nation with droves of new immigrants coming every year. WWII sent us to the forefront in the world, because if you mess with us know we'll create a mushroom cloud over your head.
So now there are many Americans who are X generations removed from their heritage that (1) don't like immigrants, (2) don't want immigrants and (3) think there nation is the best. Those are the ones that I have an issue with and who I question.
