Is the American Dream dead?

[kres24GT]

Not very long ago a large majority of Americans wanted to work hard and enjoy success. People who achieved this were usually respected. Today the politicians have convinced us that we can't achieve or do much without them. Yet on ever level of government they make it harder and harder for us to achieve the dream.

State and local governments have a never ending list of licenses and permits to be able to sell anything. Old ladies making cupcakes are harassed by government agencies. If I want to get my haircut, who do I need to go to someone who is licensed? Do I really need the government to protect me from getting a bad hair cut?

Both Aurthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, the co-founder of Home Depot have both said they would not be able to have created their empire with today's government restrictions. What they would probably be less likely to admit, is that these restrictions prevent new competition and help keep them one of the powers. Politicians like to say they are protecting us from business with their consumer protection laws, but really they make it harder for us to start our own businesses. The cost of compliances with these rules is more than only the largest companies can comply with. In fact man of these laws that are supposed to stick it to greedy businesses are actually written by the businesses themselves to limit competition.

And the people don't seem to care. Most have been so brainwashed by the government to be dependent on them and to hate those who are more than successful than you, they have no intention of starting their own business anyway. Many who do want to start their own company find the taxes and regulations to much to deal with so they never do it. Others have to sell out to the big boys because the they can't even keep up with the never ending BS coming from government.

A lot of people scream and cry about big business, yet many are the same ones who love the laws that keep them on top.

As we continue to demand more government dependence, what will become of the American Dream?

[sbroadley1025]

sure, these laws might help keep mediation, but i think you're right in saying that it keeps the little man from achieving what he could have decades ago.

maybe that means people will start migrating to western europe instead of america; it might become the british/french/spanish dream.

i think that that might be comical if not incredibly dissapointing.

[Bill]

Self employed people and small businesses have a long history of ignoring the laws.

It's called the "graymarket", as opposed to the blackmarket.

I used to hire people "under the table" all the time, to deal with short term labor needs- it's crazy to have to pay a quarter of unemployment insurance for a worker you only want for two weeks.

Of course, there's a risk - if your employees turn you in, you are fubar and get fined and investigated.

Then you got your workers who prefer to work under the table - right up untill they get hurt or get fired.

The suburbanites are the ones you should be trying to convince - they're the ones who want everything regulated and surveiled.

[psikeyhackr]

The American Dream has been a delusional carrot on a stick for decades.

It's 38 years after the moon landing. 30 years before the moon landing engineers without computers could design the planes used in WWII to fly and dogfight at 400 mph. We are supposed to believe that economists with PhDs from Harvard and the University of Chicago can't figure out planned obsolescence is going on in automobiles? :disbelief:

http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2006/06/29/grossman/

http://www.totse.com/en/politics/economic_documents/economicwargam179613.html

http://discussions.pbs.org/viewtopic.pbs?t=28529

psikey

[kres24GT]

Self employed people and small businesses have a long history of ignoring the laws.

It's called the "graymarket", as opposed to the blackmarket.

I used to hire people "under the table" all the time, to deal with short term labor needs- it's crazy to have to pay a quarter of unemployment insurance for a worker you only want for two weeks.

Of course, there's a risk - if your employees turn you in, you are fubar and get fined and investigated.

Then you got your workers who prefer to work under the table - right up untill they get hurt or get fired.

The suburbanites are the ones you should be trying to convince - they're the ones who want everything regulated and surveiled.


For businesses that are content at their current size, this kind of thing works, for those looking to grow and expand, it's a lot harder.

[Bill]

For businesses that are content at their current size, this kind of thing works, for those looking to grow and expand, it's a lot harder.

Worry not - the supremes will have us back to the 1800s right quick.

[kres24GT]

Worry not - the supremes will have us back to the 1800s right quick.


I wish. Politicians don't appoint justices that will enforce the constitution, jsut ones that will interpret the way they want.

[Bill]

Before long the end of the oil age will have all the unemployed and unemployable working in the sugar beet fields and coal pits, and your fondest hopes will have come true.

It will happen before you die - and if the newest data about Ghawar and the US coal peak turn out to be true, before I die.

You'd better hope you have the vital skills that will keep you out of the beet fields.

[kres24GT]

Before long the end of the oil age will have all the unemployed and unemployable working in the sugar beet fields and coal pits, and your fondest hopes will have come true.

It will happen before you die - and if the newest data about Ghawar and the US coal peak turn out to be true, before I die.

You'd better hope you have the vital skills that will keep you out of the beet fields.


A return to freedom would be great, but it won't happen. People are to used to entitlements now. Why work hard for a little when you can squeeze out some kids and live off Uncle Sucker?