3 misconceptions about the US that need to die

mookiemookie · 11-05-11, 07:39 AM

Quote:

At a conference in Philadelphia earlier this month, a Wharton professor noted that one of the country's biggest economic problems is a tsunami of misinformation. You can't have a rational debate when facts are so easily supplanted by overreaching statements, broad generalizations, and misconceptions. And if you can't have a rational debate, how does anything important get done? As author William Feather once advised, "Beware of the person who can't be bothered by details." There seems to be no shortage of those people lately.

I was surprised by some of this.

http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...ed-to-die.aspx

CaptainMattJ. · 11-05-11, 01:30 PM

ive never heard these before.

the whole thing about most of the MONEY we spend is on chinese goods is backwards. What people complain about is how an extreme majority of most of the non-food items are made in China, or taiwan, or somewhere around the world, and its of a degraded quality at the same price. not that we "spend most money on chinese goods".

We spend the majority of our cash on basic living essentials. Food, utilities, home, car, gas, insurance, various medical or other bills. But the rest of what we buy in non-essential goods that, as people have noticed, are largely made in china. Especially plastic and smaller stuff, such as plastic containers or pens, pencils ect. And people are sick of the poor quality of the items compared to the price. It also means that manufacturing has significantly dropped in America, along with its employees and value in terms of trading.

i dont think ive heard "most oil comes from Iraq" or "China holds most of our debt" before. i dont think its a very popular misconception.

Platapus · 11-05-11, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainMattJ.

i dont think ive heard "most oil comes from Iraq" or "China holds most of our debt" before. i dont think its a very popular misconception.

I don't know about that. Reading forums on the Internets Tubes and listening to some politician's yappings, I think that in some circles these are popular misconceptions.

I agree that "oil from Iraq" is not a popular one, but the expansion that we get our oil from countries that don't like/hate us is common in some circles.

Tchocky · 11-05-11, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

the expansion that we get our oil from countries that don't like/hate us is common in some circles.

Well you do get half of it from youselves

Platapus · 11-05-11, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Well you do get half of it from youselves

You are right! We have to do something about that. We need to invade and force ourselves to sell ourselves our own oil at a price that is good for us.

Brilliant!

mookiemookie · 11-05-11, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

You are right! We have to do something about that. We need to invade and force ourselves to sell ourselves our own oil at a price that is good for us.

Brilliant!

The USA should invade the USA and win the hearts and minds of the population by building roads, bridges and putting locals to work.

Bubblehead1980 · 11-05-11, 03:57 PM

very interesting and some of it did surprise me.However, some of it is alarming, China holding that much debt is scary as well as how much oil we import from anywhere.

Buddahaid · 11-05-11, 04:09 PM

I know about the oil use. That's why we only need to conserve 10% to be free of foreign oil. Drive cars that have 10% better gas mileage would really help.

Platapus · 11-05-11, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

very interesting and some of it did surprise me.However, some of it is alarming, China holding that much debt is scary as well as how much oil we import from anywhere.

Why is China holding that debt any different than any other country holding that debt?

JU_88 · 11-05-11, 06:30 PM

The only thing i find alarming is just how much debt the US has.
The US gov borrows 42c of each dollar it spends!

TarJak · 11-05-11, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

I know about the oil use. That's why we only need to conserve 10% to be free of foreign oil. Drive cars that have 10% better gas mileage would really help.

Hey you could buy them from China.

1480 · 11-05-11, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JU_88

The only thing i find alarming is just how much debt the US has.
The US gov borrows 42c of each dollar it spends!

nikimcbee · 11-05-11, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1480

It's called obamunism siily goose.

nikimcbee · 11-05-11, 10:51 PM

South Chicago is bestest chigago.

Torplexed · 11-05-11, 11:11 PM

Chicagonomics?

11-05-11, 01:30 PM	#2
CaptainMattJ. The Old Man Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,364 Downloads: 55 Uploads: 0	ive never heard these before. the whole thing about most of the MONEY we spend is on chinese goods is backwards. What people complain about is how an extreme majority of most of the non-food items are made in China, or taiwan, or somewhere around the world, and its of a degraded quality at the same price. not that we "spend most money on chinese goods". We spend the majority of our cash on basic living essentials. Food, utilities, home, car, gas, insurance, various medical or other bills. But the rest of what we buy in non-essential goods that, as people have noticed, are largely made in china. Especially plastic and smaller stuff, such as plastic containers or pens, pencils ect. And people are sick of the poor quality of the items compared to the price. It also means that manufacturing has significantly dropped in America, along with its employees and value in terms of trading. i dont think ive heard "most oil comes from Iraq" or "China holds most of our debt" before. i dont think its a very popular misconception. __________________ A popular Government without popular information nor the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives - James Madison

11-05-11, 04:09 PM	#8
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	I know about the oil use. That's why we only need to conserve 10% to be free of foreign oil. Drive cars that have 10% better gas mileage would really help. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

11-05-11, 10:51 PM	#14
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	South Chicago is bestest chigago. __________________

11-05-11, 03:57 PM	#7
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,100 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	very interesting and some of it did surprise me.However, some of it is alarming, China holding that much debt is scary as well as how much oil we import from anywhere.

11-05-11, 06:30 PM	#10
JU_88 Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 3,803 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	The only thing i find alarming is just how much debt the US has. The US gov borrows 42c of each dollar it spends!

11-05-11, 11:11 PM	#15
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Chicagonomics?