What does American isolationism look like?

[neurosis]

Others might grow up in an environment where "learned helplessness" is sort of the norm, and end up internalizing this without really realizing it.

I look at my mothers side of the family as an example of this. And it's not even necessairly that they were tought to be helpless. They never knew that there were opportunities outside of their bubble. Everyone thought that life was working at Taco Johns until you're 70 and there was never anyone around to tell them different.

One of the reasons I feel like I was so lucky is that I was taken out of that bubble and didn't get stuck in the cycle.

I feel like I need to take communications classes from you.   

[CNCAppsJames]

In life we are ALL dealt a hand of cards. Some hands are better than others... not eeeeeven denying that one bit. 

While we cannot control the hand we are dealt in life. All of us have been dealt a better hand than some, not as good as others. Being born in the USA... that's good for a pair of aces at least... maybe 3 of a kind. What we can control is how we play them. The true hope is that we play them to the best of our ability, or better than our ability. The best of our ability should be the baseline. Where we go from there is up to us. And let's not forget, the deck we are playing from here in the USA is a HUGE deck, for all intents and purposes it is a limitless deck. There are more than 4 aces... it's not a zero sum game despite what you may believe. Because Elon has Z doesn't mean you can't have Z too.

If what you got out of what I said was the "imposed resume", then I apologize. The resume wasn't the point. Had I not included it though it would have been nothing more than a "cool story bro" and lacking in context.

I 100% stand by my statement that life is a series of choices. That's uncomfortable for a lot of people. Too bad. It is what it is.

[Incogneeto]

I 100% stand by my statement that life is a series of choices. That's uncomfortable for a lot of people. Too bad. It is what it is.

Well, You're a Fucking piece of Shit.


Too Early??

[neurosis]

Well, You're a Fucking piece of Shit.


Too Early??

Incog, you're condescending prick.  James can't blame the alchohol for that one.

If you weren't acting like an ass hole I don't think you would know how to act. Every time I get in to a conversation with you, you eventually insult me, so I'm not going to try anymore.  Go fuck yourself.

How is that for "playing a victim"? 

Now that that is out of the way. 

If what you got out of what I said was the "imposed resume", then I apologize. The resume wasn't the point. Had I not included it though it would have been nothing more than a "cool story bro" and lacking in context.

The point I've been trying to make, and that Brian does a much better job of, is that this isn't just black and white. There is nuance to "pull yourself up by the boot straps".  If you took 100 jobs that ranged from engineer down to Wallmart door greeter, and pitted 100 people against each other for those jobs, someone would end up with that door greeter job.

And your story is cool. It's inspirational. You should take that story to the neighborhood my mom raised her kids in and tell them that their life doesn't have to end at taco johns. This thread is more about what are we going to do?  Even those of us who already have good jobs, or are just retiring. How the hell are we expected to afford things that may double in price when "made in america". That's all I meant by that. 

Anyway.. I thought it would be a good thought experiement.  Somehow it always gets fucked up.  lol.

[Newbeeee™]

Well, You're a Fucking piece of Shit.


Too Early??

Belch
LMAO!

[Newbeeee™]

In life we are ALL dealt a hand of cards. Some hands are better than others... not eeeeeven denying that one bit.

While we cannot control the hand we are dealt in life. All of us have been dealt a better hand than some, not as good as others. Being born in the USA... that's good for a pair of aces at least... maybe 3 of a kind. What we can control is how we play them. The true hope is that we play them to the best of our ability, or better than our ability. The best of our ability should be the baseline. Where we go from there is up to us. And let's not forget, the deck we are playing from here in the USA is a HUGE deck, for all intents and purposes it is a limitless deck. There are more than 4 aces... it's not a zero sum game despite what you may believe. Because Elon has Z doesn't mean you can't have Z too.

If what you got out of what I said was the "imposed resume", then I apologize. The resume wasn't the point. Had I not included it though it would have been nothing more than a "cool story bro" and lacking in context.

I 100% stand by my statement that life is a series of choices. That's uncomfortable for a lot of people. Too bad. It is what it is.

I've known you and the guys for a long time now. Murrica is still, THE land of opportunity.
Knowing the prices of some of the parts you boys charge, and the money you boys earn, UK is 3rd world.
I would bust my balls making assembled parts which included painting, that i'd sell for $100 each.
I know you boys would charge $250 each minimum....and before anyone asks, this example I'm thinking is cockpit panels for MH60 (Blackhawk).
So we're talking aerospace with full traceability of materials and processes etc.
And some of the prices for spacey you know who etc - hubba hubba. BIG money to be made fo sho

[Incogneeto]

Incog, you're condescenting prick.  James can't blame the alchohol for that one.

If you weren't acting like an ass hole I don't think you would know how to act. Every time I get in to a conversation with you, you eventually insult me, so I'm not going to try anymore.  Go fuck yourself.

How is that for "playing a victim"? 

Now that that is out of the way. 


The point I've been trying to make, and that Brian does a much better job of, is that this isn't just black and white. There is nuance to "pull yourself up by the boot straps".  If you took 100 jobs that ranged from engineer down to Wallmart door greeter, and pitted 100 people against each other for those jobs, someone would end up with that door greeter job.

And your story is cool. It's inspirational. You should take that story to the neighborhood my mom raised her kids in and tell them that their life doesn't have to end at taco johns. This thread is more about what are we going to do?  Even those of us who already have good jobs, or are just retiring. How the hell are we expected to afford things that may double in price when "made in america". That's all I meant by that. 

Anyway.. I thought it would be a good thought experiement.  Somehow it always gets fucked up.  lol.

Ahem , Please show me where I specifically called YOU a Victim.

My Point was some people love to play the victim and use the social services for that purpose.

Perhaps as you said "This is a Long time coming"

You were just looking for a reason to jump me.

It's ok , if you need to vent I'm your Guy.

[Brian]

And your story is cool. It's inspirational. You should take that story to the neighborhood my mom raised her kids in and tell them that their life doesn't have to end at taco johns.

This^^^! I think James was getting at that in his post(s), but even though the concept is simple, it doesn't necessarily mean that making choices is easy, or that we even realize that we can make (or have to make) choices. I think there's a lot of subliminal programming (not sure that's the right expression, but it's the best I've got at the moment) that we all undergo when we're young, but we don't realize it. If you're around anything long enough it becomes "normal."

It's also interesting to consider just how much (read: "little") we truly control in life, despite our efforts, and our belief in the concept of agency. My friend who has made a good success of his shop lost his early-50's wife to cancer about a year ago, despite pulling out all the stops in every sense of the word. Sometimes life just kinda happens, no matter how well you choose.

[Del.]

Incog, you're condescenting prick.  James can't blame the alchohol for that one.

If you weren't acting like an ass hole I don't think you would know how to act. Every time I get in to a conversation with you, you eventually insult me, so I'm not going to try anymore.  Go fuck yourself.

How is that for "playing a victim"? 

Now that that is out of the way. 


The point I've been trying to make, and that Brian does a much better job of, is that this isn't just black and white. There is nuance to "pull yourself up by the boot straps".  If you took 100 jobs that ranged from engineer down to Wallmart door greeter, and pitted 100 people against each other for those jobs, someone would end up with that door greeter job.

And your story is cool. It's inspirational. You should take that story to the neighborhood my mom raised her kids in and tell them that their life doesn't have to end at taco johns. This thread is more about what are we going to do?  Even those of us who already have good jobs, or are just retiring. How the hell are we expected to afford things that may double in price when "made in america". That's all I meant by that. 

Anyway.. I thought it would be a good thought experiement.  Somehow it always gets fucked up.  lol.

You are destroying yourself being a glass half empty person. What if in one year you can buy twice as much stuff as now?

[neurosis]

You are destroying yourself being a glass half empty person. What if in one year you can buy twice as much stuff as now?

Then I'll celebrate right along side you.  Is that what you thin is going to happen?

[Del.]

Then I'll celebrate right along side you.  Is that what you thin is going to happen?

I think it's going to be better than today.

[Brian]

I started working in a machine shop at 16 sweeping floors. The shop foremen saw something in me, took me under his wing, and turned me in to a machinist.  That could have played out a lot different.

If there's ever been a better reason to try to take the high road in life, I don't know what it is! Try to be a good example in the way that you live your life, because you never know who's watching....some kid is likely going to emulate what you're doing, for better or worse! As an adult I look back with gratitude at some of the folks who gave me some sense of the possibilities in life; it was mostly an accidental/informal/unintentional sort of mentorship (again-not the right word...ugh), but it was powerful, nonetheless. So much of what we learn in life isn't taught in school, and often happens without our awareness in the moment.

[neurosis]

I think it's going to be better than today.

All that I can say right now, is that this is Navarro's baby. Most main stream economists call him a fringe economist and don't put a lot of faith in his idea. I've said this in other posts.  We're basically putting all of our cards in this and the people who stand to lose the most are the people who can least afford it. 

That is going off the rails a little.  Not that this thread hasn't already become an ideological train wreck. 

[neurosis]

If there's ever been a better reason to try to take the high road in life, I don't know what it is! Try to be a good example in the way that you live your life, because you never know who's watching....some kid is likely going to emulate what you're doing, for better or worse! As an adult I look back with gratitude at some of the folks who gave me some sense of the possibilities in life; it was mostly an accidental/informal/unintentional sort of mentorship (again-not the right word...ugh), but it was powerful, nonetheless. So much of what we learn in life isn't taught in school, and often happens without our awareness in the moment.

The man I was talking about just died last year.  I reached out to his wife and we talked for an hour about how much the guy mean to me and how much he changed my life. He was the only person in my life at the time who thought that I would amount to anything and he was willing to invest the time to prove it. And that was at the dismay of the shop owner.

I'm bringing this up because he was that guy. He was the example of how to live your life. He convinced me to graduate from High School, he convinced me to stop doing drugs, and he convinced me that I was capable of doing a job that I never would have dreamed of doing. 

He had 3 kids and his kids were very lucky to have him as a father.

[CNCAppsJames]

Well, You're a Fucking piece of Shit.


Too Early??

#NeverTooEarly to be a piece of shit.