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.

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