Are Americans Living in the Past?

[ADigitalArtist]

Which is a specific example of an individual's failure based on evidence, the CEO choices and the results of, not a generalization. Thanks for proving my point

The employees were pretty unlucky to have an idiot boss.

 

[Valjean]

Which is a specific example of an individual's failure based on evidence, the CEO choices and the results of, not a generalization. Thanks for proving my point

One failed due to a bad choice, "hundreds" unemployed for no fault of their own.
Bad luck?

 

[Shad]

One failure due to a bad choice, "hundreds" unemployed for no fault of their own.
Bad luck?

Unemployed does not equate poverty. The CEO is unemployed but I doubt he is in poverty due to his unemployed status. Toss in the fact that people can be unemployed due to being fired (not related to the CEO case)

However you did prove my point. When using specific cases you can claim specific people can have issues with zero choice in the matter. Whereas a generalization it fails as there are people in poverty due to their own mistakes.

 

[Shad]

The employees were pretty unlucky to have an idiot boss.

Yes, which is a specific example not a generalization. This is my point.

 

[BSM1]

How obtuse are you? Do you belong to some sort of Objectivist cult? Do you really think environmental factors can always be overcome with sufficient determination? That's some serious indoctrination.

Well Hell yes, don't you? If not, why even bother to get up in the morning?

 

[Revoltingest]

But this is still not by any stretch of the imagination luck. This is you making choices.

I like Louis Pasteur's idea....
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
There are random elements thrown at us.
Some are easy...some difficult....& some terminal.
But making good choices tends to separate the successful from the feckless.

 

[metis]

Are Americans living in the past when they think of America as a land of economic opportunity?

Yes, although we're still ahead of the rest at this point.

 

[Stevicus]

Which is a specific example of an individual's failure based on evidence, the CEO choices and the results of, not a generalization. Thanks for proving my point

Well, it would also be the result of a choice made by whoever hired that CEO. One might also question the philosophical and political positions of those who make such choices and (tying it back in to the OP) whether such philosophies are indicative of Americans living in the past.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, although we're still ahead of the rest at this point.

But are we?

U.S. lags behind peer countries in mobility

 

[YmirGF]

Would this be a good paraphrase of what you're saying, Paul? "It is important for young people these days to downgrade their goals and expectations to fit the realities of today's economy, despite that their parents "faced" much better economies upon their own graduation in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Above all else, they should keep a rosy, unrealistic view of their own opportunities, because realism might demoralize and defeat them."

That might be a nuanced way of interpreting what I thought was fairly clear to begin with, @Sunstone I suppose if one wished to become a bitter, twisted and paranoid feeling that they are so special that the entire world is aligned to thwart their every move, then maybe what you are saying might be beneficial.

Call me silly but, "maintain realistic goals and to check one's attitude continually" precludes the possibility of "Above all else, they should keep a rosy, unrealistic view of their own opportunities, because realism might demoralize and defeat them." Giving people the idea that the system is rigged against them is very poor advice and defeating in an of itself.

 

[Sunstone]

Giving people the idea that the system is rigged against them is very poor advice and defeating in an of itself.

Please go tell that to the revolutionary generation of 1776, Paul, or more recently, the generation that grew up during the Great Depression and implemented most or all of the social safety net in the US.

 

[Shad]

Well, it would also be the result of a choice made by whoever hired that CEO. One might also question the philosophical and political positions of those who make such choices and (tying it back in to the OP) whether such philosophies are indicative of Americans living in the past.

For the CEO and his economics I would say yes and no. He lives in the past by holding to such a system (yes) while ignoring when those systems failed in the past (no). I am sure some of the older generation are prone to thoughts which can be seen as living in the past.

 

[metis]

But are we?

U.S. lags behind peer countries in mobility

Yes, I'm aware of that, but we are still benefiting from the residual wealth. However, even that will have a decreasing benefit unless we get our act together. Meanwhile, Joe & Mary Middle-Class will have to gradually get used to a further decrease in buying power because we simply cannot compete that well internationally because of the wage differential and the overall worldwide commitment to free trade. In the 1980's, France tried to isolate itself from free trade negotiations but that didn't work out well for them at all, and I believe Brexit will have the same result for the UK.