The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
The Forum - On Line Opinion's article discussion area



Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Main Articles General

Sign In      Register

The Forum > General Discussion > The Way It Will Always Be!

The Way It Will Always Be!

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All
I have read many articles across the full media spectrum, both paper and electronic, dealing with people`s questioning and obvious frustration at the daily grind of all consumer price increases.

It can give one a warm glow to see all the well-meaning suggestions offering advice on subjects such as saving money whilst grocery shopping, avoiding wasteage of foodstuffs in the home, saving on electricity costs, reducing increasing phone bills and the like.

This all falls under the heading of survival in a world gone mad with consumerism!

We all individually are to blame because we are NOT prepared to voluntarily "cut our cloth according to the measure". We continue buying this weeks groceries on next weeks paypacket. We continue to butter the pockets of the banks and the money-lending institions by using Credit Cards, invariably attracting obscene interest rates, instead of using a Debit Card thus preventing overspending (if you haven`t got the money in your account, you cannot get credit). We continue to fall for the old "buy today, with no interest for 18 months" ploy, and continue "keeping up with the Jones`s" who themselves are no doubt up to their necks in mortgage repayments on their "first home" mansion that itself would be more befitting a member of Arabic royalty.

Things are not going to change if we are not prepared to change our long instilled habit of buying on Credit. All business will continue to welcome artificial affluence, but the Bailiff will be the only one who will dispense the penalty for overspending!
Posted by Crackcup, Sunday, 31 October 2010 10:51:52 AM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Yep, totally agree. But there inlies the question. how do we achieve change in the way we approach consumerism. I have gone on and on myself about these issues, but i do see the problem. We live in a free country with a free market economy, people are free to do and want what they wish, and isn't it great. Greed as disgusting as it is, is a very powerful driving force that has much to do with the success of the markets.

The only way change will come is through a shift in social attitude. You can not force change as people will reject it. Even a recession won't stop them, they simply tighten their belt for a bit then go back to business as usual. So my questions are;

1. How do we achieve social change toward standard of living and quality of life?

2. What regulatory changes would be possible to encourage a change without them upsetting the population and causing upheaval in the markets?
Posted by nairbe, Sunday, 31 October 2010 1:32:44 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Credit is and always has been the life blood of capitalism.
Without it every thing from home ownership to employment is not possible.
We are however living above our means in the western, maybe whole world.
One day this may come crashing down, but remember even crashes give investors opportunity's.
So the thread is well named.
However the truly unaware, or silly who get into trouble too become investment opportunity's for the wise.
I think at My age the system works, pay cash always, save go without then buy without on going debt.
Posted by Belly, Sunday, 31 October 2010 1:54:02 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
your missing the WAY..the system now works
EASY credit...[then poor people defaulting]
allows..others..{money elites}..to pay the intrest[usury]..on loans

see EVERY penny..in egsistance..
was borrowed..INTO EGSISTANCE

but the INTREST..put upon it
can ONLY COME..VIA..LESSER BEINGS DEFAULTING..their debt

govt has to lend..EVEN its own money
see the bond-rate..ie usa..lends..at 2 percent[from the bankers]
only to give intrest*free..bailouts..to the banks..!

WHY CANT PEOPLE REALISE..THIS
where did the INTREST..come from
sure govt taxes..its people..

BUT MONEY..CAN ONLY COME from
SOMEONE..borrowing it into egsistance

boss-man borrows..the wage check from the bank
workers get credit[debt]..then go bust

the product..is sold...its rubbish
its time we stopped the poor wage slaves..
from having to ever build more consumer-product..on credit..

the sooner they all default

the sooner the insanity of govt...
LENDING..its own money..from bankers

[to bail out bankers]

..ends
Posted by one under god, Sunday, 31 October 2010 1:56:25 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Crackup...you sure crack me up :)

You said:

"We continue buying this weeks groceries on next weeks paypacket."

Actually... there is more to that than meets the eye and it fits very well in many other scenarios.

(Caution..."headings" coming up)

COMMITTING TO PENSIONS WE CANNOT AFFORD for PUBLIC SERVICE UNIONS.
The American people are kind of just a little bit waking up to this scam perpetrated by Socialist power hungry Unions (like SEIU)and their 'NutzenFuhrer' Andy Stern. "If they don't accept the power of persuasion, we will use the persuastion of power"

WE ARE THE PROBLEM. Yep.. exactly, well..not 'me' (smile) because I'm not in a union and I only buy what I can afford.

But essentially, it's not the system which is the problem it's the system inhabitants. Change us..and the problem will be solved.

"Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Mat 15:13
Posted by ALGOREisRICH, Sunday, 31 October 2010 3:01:26 PM
Find out more about this user Visit this user's webpage Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
Does anyone have any figures as to how much someone would have to put away to live on in retirement for 30 plus years ? On say $640F/N over 30 years that's ½ million bucks just for a meager pension. That's an awful lot to put away for an average worker. Public servants don't have to cough up much at all to get very nice superannuation. All a bit lopsided to my eyes. I support the idea of everyone getting the same pension. Super should be an affordable optional . It's simply insane how much our higher ranking public servants are paid in retirement at the expense of workers. Unions, unions where art thou ?
Posted by individual, Sunday, 31 October 2010 4:54:37 PM
Find out more about this user Recommend this comment for deletion Return to top of page Return to Forum Main Page Copy comment URL to clipboard
  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All

About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy