On Social Equality, Social Justice, Hard Work, and Monetary Reform
Person One
We don't need social equality, or social justice in this country, people just need to rely on God, themselves, or in hard times, family or charity. The Government needs to quit trying to be our parents or guardian; too many looters and takers in this world, not enough earners.
Person Two
Just keep in mind that the economic system was not designed to guarantee enough jobs for everyone.
With 20% unemployment in Michigan, and about 180,000 being kicked off unemployment payments at the end of the next month, there are simply not enough jobs.
It doesn't matter how much people want jobs, because the jobs are just not there. The one entity capable of creating jobs (the federal government) isn't being pushed by enough people to do it.
Person Three
Self-reliant, hard working people aren't as easy to control. The economy and job market are purposely poor so big brother will be "forced" to give handouts and the people will let them take more control.
Person Two
It doesn't matter how many hard working people there are, there are not enough jobs.
The "economic system" wasn't designed, rather it "evolved" over the years to "function" given the growing resource base.
Since it wasn't designed, it does not guarantee that there will be enough jobs, or (perhaps more importantly) enough money, for everyone.
Those who benefit from the current economic system are likely to promote it and to try to convince those who aren't benefiting that this is because those others aren't "good enough", "smart enough", or "hard working enough" to find a job; and that if they just "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps" that they could get a (nonexistent) job.
In the American experience, the story of the Great Depression should provide a sufficient counter example for those who think that is just a superior work ethic that is necessary to make a living. There simply was not enough money to go around, and so there was no possible way for everyone to earn the money. In fact, the Federal Reserve intentionally did nothing to help the situation, and may have made the situation worse.
This should beg the following question: Who controls the money supply?
Money
Most money is created as "bank credit" when loans or mortgages are created. This "bank credit" functions just like "high-powered" Federal Reserve money (including both printed dollars and electronic money).
Why isn't there enough money right now?
First, banks (which are privately owned profit seeking entities) are not approving loans at the same rate as they were in the past. At the same time, those who are paying on their mortgages are whittling down their principal, and the money supply is shrinking as a result. Paying down principal means that the mortgage paper, which is an asset to the bank, is worth less than before.
Second, when people get behind on payments and then either give the houses to the bank, or are foreclosed, the banks (eventually) end up "writing down" the losses, which means that they have less assets (perhaps even less than their liabilities plus equity), meaning that they have less ability (and desire) to help create new mortgages. This shrinks the money supply in a similar way to everyone paying down the principal on their mortgages.
Third, more of those who do have adequate incomes are "saving up" or hoarding their cash. This money is unavailable to be earned by anyone else. The "money supply" shrinks again, or, more precisely, the "velocity of money" slows. Said another way, the total about of spending decreases.
The end result has been that it is impossible for this economic system to provide enough jobs to employ everyone. It is not a question of the willingness of people to work, or even a question of the quality of people as workers, it is simply an economic system that is not capable of providing jobs for everyone.
Politics
For those who identify with a "team" or "political party", those on the so-called-left might look at Dennis Kucinich's position on the Federal Reserve and job creation; whereas, those on the so-called-right might look at Ron Paul's position on the Federal Reserve and job creation. Interestingly, both of these US Congressmen ran for President in 2008; and both, when asked, who would make a good running mate, mentioned the other.
There are any number of "right-wing" books and videos that talk about the flaws of the monetary system; and there are also a number of "left-wing" books and videos that explain the same concepts.
The differences between the parties lie in the "solutions". The "right" typically proposes a return to a commodity-backed (gold/silver) money standard, because, they argue, it a gold-standard used to work. The "left" argues that people-created credit money is the answer. Unfortunately, the "left" and "right" have, thus far, failed to even recognize that they agree on the problem; with the exception of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, and a very small minority of people who are paying attention to this issue.
A side-note: Most people paying attention to monetary reform aren't also paying attention to peak oil; and vice versa. Peak oil fundamentally constrains energy availability, which impacts the cost of energy, as well as energy's ability to be put to use within an economy. This vital bit of information can be used to help discover which monetary reform efforts might be effective, versus which are dead on arrival.
Returning to the earlier point: those who benefit (are benefiting) from the current economic arrangement are not only supporting it, but are evangelizing it, and saying that if there are any flaws, these are the flaws of individuals, and not of the system.
Awareness
The next downturn in the recession, the second "dip", which seems ever more likely, will help make people more aware of the inherent flaws of the system, and that it isn't individuals that are the problem.
We don't need social equality, or social justice in this country, people just need to rely on God, themselves, or in hard times, family or charity. The Government needs to quit trying to be our parents or guardian; too many looters and takers in this world, not enough earners.
Person Two
Just keep in mind that the economic system was not designed to guarantee enough jobs for everyone.
With 20% unemployment in Michigan, and about 180,000 being kicked off unemployment payments at the end of the next month, there are simply not enough jobs.
It doesn't matter how much people want jobs, because the jobs are just not there. The one entity capable of creating jobs (the federal government) isn't being pushed by enough people to do it.
Person Three
Self-reliant, hard working people aren't as easy to control. The economy and job market are purposely poor so big brother will be "forced" to give handouts and the people will let them take more control.
Person Two
It doesn't matter how many hard working people there are, there are not enough jobs.
The "economic system" wasn't designed, rather it "evolved" over the years to "function" given the growing resource base.
Since it wasn't designed, it does not guarantee that there will be enough jobs, or (perhaps more importantly) enough money, for everyone.
Those who benefit from the current economic system are likely to promote it and to try to convince those who aren't benefiting that this is because those others aren't "good enough", "smart enough", or "hard working enough" to find a job; and that if they just "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps" that they could get a (nonexistent) job.
In the American experience, the story of the Great Depression should provide a sufficient counter example for those who think that is just a superior work ethic that is necessary to make a living. There simply was not enough money to go around, and so there was no possible way for everyone to earn the money. In fact, the Federal Reserve intentionally did nothing to help the situation, and may have made the situation worse.
This should beg the following question: Who controls the money supply?
Money
Most money is created as "bank credit" when loans or mortgages are created. This "bank credit" functions just like "high-powered" Federal Reserve money (including both printed dollars and electronic money).
Why isn't there enough money right now?
First, banks (which are privately owned profit seeking entities) are not approving loans at the same rate as they were in the past. At the same time, those who are paying on their mortgages are whittling down their principal, and the money supply is shrinking as a result. Paying down principal means that the mortgage paper, which is an asset to the bank, is worth less than before.
Second, when people get behind on payments and then either give the houses to the bank, or are foreclosed, the banks (eventually) end up "writing down" the losses, which means that they have less assets (perhaps even less than their liabilities plus equity), meaning that they have less ability (and desire) to help create new mortgages. This shrinks the money supply in a similar way to everyone paying down the principal on their mortgages.
Third, more of those who do have adequate incomes are "saving up" or hoarding their cash. This money is unavailable to be earned by anyone else. The "money supply" shrinks again, or, more precisely, the "velocity of money" slows. Said another way, the total about of spending decreases.
The end result has been that it is impossible for this economic system to provide enough jobs to employ everyone. It is not a question of the willingness of people to work, or even a question of the quality of people as workers, it is simply an economic system that is not capable of providing jobs for everyone.
Politics
For those who identify with a "team" or "political party", those on the so-called-left might look at Dennis Kucinich's position on the Federal Reserve and job creation; whereas, those on the so-called-right might look at Ron Paul's position on the Federal Reserve and job creation. Interestingly, both of these US Congressmen ran for President in 2008; and both, when asked, who would make a good running mate, mentioned the other.
There are any number of "right-wing" books and videos that talk about the flaws of the monetary system; and there are also a number of "left-wing" books and videos that explain the same concepts.
The differences between the parties lie in the "solutions". The "right" typically proposes a return to a commodity-backed (gold/silver) money standard, because, they argue, it a gold-standard used to work. The "left" argues that people-created credit money is the answer. Unfortunately, the "left" and "right" have, thus far, failed to even recognize that they agree on the problem; with the exception of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, and a very small minority of people who are paying attention to this issue.
A side-note: Most people paying attention to monetary reform aren't also paying attention to peak oil; and vice versa. Peak oil fundamentally constrains energy availability, which impacts the cost of energy, as well as energy's ability to be put to use within an economy. This vital bit of information can be used to help discover which monetary reform efforts might be effective, versus which are dead on arrival.
Returning to the earlier point: those who benefit (are benefiting) from the current economic arrangement are not only supporting it, but are evangelizing it, and saying that if there are any flaws, these are the flaws of individuals, and not of the system.
Awareness
The next downturn in the recession, the second "dip", which seems ever more likely, will help make people more aware of the inherent flaws of the system, and that it isn't individuals that are the problem.