[Suki]

Originally Posted by NelsonN

LOL! If you are a US citizen and can't read, don't blame capitalism! The US has plenty of free education, flawed in my view, but you will definitely learn how to read!

Suki: The free education is it capitalist or not? Lol. The US has some vital key elements of socialism in place for decades already, yes, I agree, seriously flawed, but at least people learn to read. Some of these Nelson are especially with health care and education, if those elements did not exist then I would say it was pure capitalism. The USA tried the 'pure' capitalism and it could not sustain itself. The market crashed in 1929 and they had to re-assess the whole concept of government vs. private industry relationship. If the 'people' did not like it and it wasn't working for them then hey, let all those viejos hoping to cash in on their social security checks and SSI and disability checks and Veteran's benefits checks, and Fire Dept pension checks, and etc. etc. give the money back to the government coffers paid for by millions of workers paying in with their most productive years. That is how it works. It aint free money. It never has been.

The couch potatoes don't even know how to vote and you want them in charge of the country?

Suki: And who do you want Nelson in charge of the country?....a dyslexic president like Bush with lines like "Our Children is learning". I think you don't like Bush at all either! Lol. At this point I think even a couch potato would do a better job than that prez. Lol. At least the couch potato by his or her sheer neutrality would not cause any more disasters and harm than already committed. Ay, Nelson. I think you are in the club of the frustrated out there. And you are not alone at all!

Yeah, I want the couch potatoes in charge of my country, sure. LOL!

You make it sound like everyone strides to be a millionaire. You skew and generalize way, way, way too much!

Suki: Have you been reading Bushisms lately? I don't think people 'stride' ( I think you meant 'strive') to be millionaires. Most people just want what is reasonable. A job with security, and some appreciation for their work. Respect, and a home with the basics and to give a good education to their youth, and take care of their health concerns and have some recreation and to develop their dreams and aspirations in peace and with some choices involved. And that is reasonable. What do I skew and generalize? Tell me what you think I skew and what is generalizing. If you can't tell me what it is that you think I am skewing and generalizing about then how am I then able to explain with greater clarity and depth what I am thinking?


Who do you think I want to be like?

1) A person who makes $400,000 a year, but is $900,000 in debt and can't hardly make ends meet?

or

2) A person making $35,000 a year with $10,000, or less, in debt?


Suki: I assume you want to have NO DEBT. And to have a lot of freedom and enough money to eat and have a roof and maybe accomplish things you want to accomplish. Like most reasonable humans do. Am I right?

Money is not the end game, it is how you live your life that can bring you happiness. I would be one pissed mother if I had a government telling me where I need to work, how much of an education I need, and how and where I will live.

Suki: This government tells you what to do not to serve most working people in the world. But to make themselves richer and more powerful and not serve the people. So, yeah, I think many people in the USA and around the world in general really don't like their governments. Is that new? No.


This is getting to drawn out and it seems that much of your arguments against capitalism are just a hodge podge of arguments you put together from different sources. Whereas I am coming to you from my experiences and what I definitely see as the problem.

Suki: Hodge podge? I like to get my information from clean and varied sources that are well documented and NOT based on sound bites and fast and quick and easy reads of the reader's digest kind. I am not that kind of woman at all. Yes, and I am coming from my experiences and what I see definitely as the PROBLEM. Lol. The only difference is we are not coming from the same 'experiences'? I wonder how many times that has occurred between people on the internet? Millions of times.

I wonder how ahead in the US system you really are. Are you pissed because you haven't been able to create the life you want and are blaming capitalism for it?

Suki: How ahead do you think I should be? Lol. I thought you said that how you live your life is what happiness is all about? And not how much money you make? Or am I wrong? Nelson do you judge people's innate value according to how materially successful they are or not? Capitalism is to blame for my personal unhappiness? Lol. No Nelson, I think my personal life is quite fulfilling and happy. Capitalism and people's personal lives are not all that related in fora discussions. Drug dealers flourish in capitalism does it mean they are unhappy in their personal lives? Ay Nelson. Anyone who questions capitalism who are they? Sour grapes. All they need is to go to Vegas, and gamble and hit the lotto and then they will change their minds? After all, it is the promise of hitting it big that makes it all worth while. All that glitters is not gold. Or so I have heard. You sound like a very, very sincere guy to me Nelson.

I think you will never see that people need to take responsibility, that is what's needed and in my opinion we are farther away from this than you will ever agree.

Suki: On the contrary, in order to be a good member of society TAKING RESPONSIBILITY for it ALL is the first step to significant change that is positive. Living in denial is the worst. Ignoring issues and problems and repressing it all until they fester and explode is AWFUL and the road to hell in my opinion. So, we agree. Taking responsibility is crucial. It always has been. Why would you assume I never thought taking social responsibility is important?

Have you tried talking to today's youth? It's like they are living in a different planet and with an attitude more indifferent than the word can convey. Their attitude is "who cares? I got my friends to hang out with to be paying attention to the news, that doesn't affect me!"

Suki: Have you ever thought that passivity is good for the system to perpetuate itself with. How many passive activities do we engage in this society? Watching television, listening to ipods, surfing websites dedicated to smut and degenerate activities? Etc. Etc. How much power do you think people really feel they have? Or do they feel POWERLESS in general? That is a good question Nelson to ask.

With attitudes like this, which is the prevailing (non)wisdom, those of us with a shred of hope to see changes are in for a very long wait. And this is the danger we all face, while we wait, someone like you may even turn my country into a communist hell hole. Just because people lack a basic understanding of their true power as voting citizens in a free society. This power is something that you lack the potential to see.

Suki: On the contrary having people wake up and take notice and move and get active is what is critical in social progress and change. What is the ability to change if not a certain impetus? Movement and active participation? I am all for active and engaging change. Not passivity. I don't know where I gave you that impression? About communist hell hole. The world is vastly in the Capitalist systems. It is. And it is currently in hellhole status. Iraq and Iran are capitalist nations Nelson. Are they prosperous and free? No? Then obviously capitalism is not one dimensional in the sense of all nations who practice capitalism solve their issues? Why not? The power of the people is what the 'socialists' are all about. Or you never heard that before Nelson? Lol. Ay Nelson, in the end....you believe in people and their people power. So do I. I thought you never thought you and I would agree this much did you?

And if families have it so tough in the US, why is it that in Puerto Rico 4 out of 5 Puerto Ricans own one car, 31% own two cars, 9% own three cars, and 3% percent own four or more cars? And Puerto Rico is poorer than the poorest US state.

Suki: At $3 something a gallon for gas, I wonder how many Puerto Ricans are going to get into further debt than they are already in their guzzlers when Chavez wants to be friends and sell the Ricans gas for $1 buck a gallon but the Gringos say we can't wheel and deal with the Devil in Venezuela LOL!? Making it even harder to get out from under the banks and the credit card people? Who knows? And the ozone layer might be too late to reverse. I wonder how good all those cars are going to feel when half the world has to be treated for skin cancer? Because you own a gas guzzler in an island that is small and overcrowded and you are stuck in a tapon for hours burning precious gas that is expensive, and is not making the future look good either, but no one wants to change their unsustainable ways, until it is too late...and the consequences hit them in the face, right? Human nature waiting for the worst to happen before trying to change? Meanwhile, during rush hour as a bad merengue tune blasts away at you from the titere next to you....I guess you really are superior to all those bicycle-riding, skinny, and backward Cubans in Santiago and Havana, and Dominicans that ride around with oxen and carts in las Alturas de Chabon? Lol. Nelson, I have enjoyed your post. I did.

Suki

I hope you read this and if not....I had fun replying to it. I have to go cook and clean for my family now.