Comments for Mallisonwhat's Blog http://mallisonwhat.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:07:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-374 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:07:11 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-374 Eric and Joe,
You both follow politics more than I do. I have a hypothetical questions about the Occupy Wall Street movement that maybe you two could weigh in on. Let’s say the movement’s ideals are realized and they are the government. If that were to happen would there be no one percent of wealthy Americans? Would the income inequalities disappear and everyone make roughly the same despite his or her profession? I’m focusing on this because I believe people that are phenomenal or the best in their profession/discipline should be compensated well because they make a difference. And people should be motivated to be the best in their field and have the goal to be successful. That is my only real problem with the movement. I do not think they answer that question at all because they only concentrate on the unfairness of the one percent and not the societal impact from ideas and innovation created by people wanting success.
The rising cost of education and less people getting degrees because of that is a problem. I think they could find a way that everyone has some type of healthcare. I’d like to see a near future where our country is not at war. I’m sure that 30 percent of Americans struggle to pay bills. I agree that things can be done better, but I don’t think a revolution is needed.
One last thing countries like Finland and a lot of European countries that have these great systems for their people are much smaller population wise then America. They probably have more capital per person than we do.
Thanks for commenting on my blog. It’s been a good experience on what to write in a future, and it has made me think more about the topic I wrote about. Tim and I talk this over sometimes,
Cheers,
Matt

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by Eric http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-373 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:20:07 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-373 You’re right Matt, people should have the right to dream. But this debate isn’t about being pessimistic. It’s about being practical. America does lead in many areas – but we’re also falling behind in many places. By raising concerns – like inequality, declining rates of college graduation etc. we hope to fix these problems so that kids – all kids – can dream again. But something has changed – the trends in this nation on these issues and in many other areas have been heading in a negative direction for a long time. I want these trends to reverse direction – that’s practical – not pessimistic.

But as long as the response to the trend of growing inequality is to maintain the status quo – then America’s strengths will diminish. Why have these negative trends developed – and why do some nations perform better at getting kids out of poverty than America does? It takes courage to question the status quo. The Occupy Wall Street crowd is showing courage by asking some of these questions – and in fact – they’re demonstrating the courage to dream of a America that will one day have a trend toward greater social mobility. That’s a pretty cool dream.

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-372 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:33:19 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-372 Joe,
As far as your point about movies, I was trying to say that America influences the world. That’s all, and that is not a far stretched statement by any means.
I think the idea of an American Dream is vital to us. People need to be able to have dreams and aspirations with hopes to succeed in whatever they decide to do. To be pessimistic and say no one succeeds anymore, and it’s not worth trying to reach your goals is the dangerous idea in my opinion.
-Matt

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by Joe http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-371 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:32:44 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-371 Matt the reason why American music and movies, ie popular culture, have cultural sway has nothing at all to do with quality. That’s entirely to do with money…production companies, advertising, etc. Many places have movies that are a heck of a lot better than any nonsense that comes out of Hollywood.

The concept of American Dream not only has little relevance now but it’s become a reactionary idea. It just causes resentment and isolation towards poorer people first, then working class…right up the economic ladder. It blinds people to inequality, inefficency, and perverted incentives under the banner of some people are rich because they just work harder and have more ambition..that’s very destructive

]]> Comment on  Who needs winter temperatures anyway? by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/21/who-needs-winter-temperatures-anyway/#comment-370 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:15:48 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/?p=868#comment-370 Thanks Brigitte,
I think last year was more typical than this year. I’ll have some fiction for our March meeting for sure, but I’m not putting fiction on my blog. I hope to revise my fiction well and sumbit it for publication. I think if you post fiction on a blog, it just sort of sits there, and you can’t send it out. I’ll catch up reading your entries soon, you’re writing a lot.
-Matt

]]> Comment on  Who needs winter temperatures anyway? by Brigitte http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/21/who-needs-winter-temperatures-anyway/#comment-369 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:42:51 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/?p=868#comment-369 Matt — This is only my second winter here (my first was last year) and oh, what a year it was. I seriously thought last year was a typical NY winter and was dreading this year — snow is nice but last year I was like ENOUGH ALREADY. This year has been perfect; North Carolina has snow and NY doesn’t! Glad you’ve been able to skate as I know that’s one of your favorite pastimes. Maybe we’ll hear a new short story? Anyway, good post and here’s to enjoying another day of glorious sunshine. (I heard tomorrow is going to hit 60!). :)

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-368 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:45:47 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-368 America leads the world in Entertainment with Hollywood and Music! I’m not trying to be a smart alec, but the world still looks to American for cultural value. We still very much influence the world, and most look up to the United States and not Finland. People need an incentive to succeed, and things to look up to. If I have a full career as a librarian, have a family, and few other things that is a success in a way. But it’s not a story that will drive a younger generation to success. They need to look up to the stars.
I agree that there are a lot of things wrong with our country, but there are also so many good things about it too.

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by Eric http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-367 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:12:50 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-367 Hey Matt,

People do certainly succeed in America – but I don’t think that’s the point. Why are so many others not succeeding is the more important question.

Even before the recession there has been a trend toward greater inequality in the US. If we equate the American Dream with greatest social mobility – then it’s not really deserving of the exclusive right to call it American anymore. The facts are in on that one. Should we fight to reverse America’s trend toward greater and greater inequality? Other nations are clearly doing a much better job than the US in terms of social mobility. Why then is our trend in the wrong direction? Toward less social mobility? That’s why I wrote that it’s no longer the American Dream – it’s the Finnish Dream.

These changes take huge efforts. An analogy might be helpful. Child labor didn’t end because the economy improved – it ended because people fought against it – capitalism was very happy with the cheap labor. Capitalism is very happy with many unfair practices – and it’s a powerful force that can only be tamed by an even greater force – and that’s people power.

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-365 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:27:59 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-365 Hey Eric,
I just got around to reading your link. It touches on debt for education which is another problem in this country that should be addressed. I think there has to be a better way to raise awareness though than camping out and risking one’s health and well-being.
-Matt

]]> Comment on Occupy Wall Street, good intentions, but goes against the American Dream by mallisonwhat http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-364 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:21:53 +0000 http://mallisonwhat.com/2012/02/15/occupy-wall-street-good-intentions-but-goes-against-the-american-dream/#comment-364 Thanks for reading Eric. I will counter your response that people still succeed in America, so the American Dream is alive and well. I think a lot of the other concerns are recession based and will ease once the economy recovers.

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