What is pulling America Apart?

timothyu said:

This clip is from Davos last week by the Heritage Foundation and Doctor K Roberts who puts the elites who are behind the destabilization (WEF - a globalist world government of unelected elites) in their place.

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Isn't Heritage just the plaything of billionaires?

Hans Blaster said:

Isn't Heritage just the plaything of billionaires?

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Whatever it is, it definitely put down the WEF as it tries to regain trust after covid

Bradskii said:

Since 1960, China has gone from a little over a half a billion to nearly 1.5 billion. An increase by a factor of 2.6. The US in that time has increased by 2.2.

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China does not take care of you when you get old. So they have to depend on their children, usually their son. In America the goverment takes care of you so you do not need to have any children for that.

Diamond7 said:

China does not take care of you when you get old. So they have to depend on their children, usually their son. In America the goverment takes care of you so you do not need to have any children for that.

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Well, the individual doesn't have to have children in the US.

However, support of the retired generation always depends on the economic activity of the working generations. Whether it's government Social Security or an IRA or owning real estate, support of the retired generation always depends on the economic activity of the working generations.

So, somebody had better be having children.

RDKirk said:

So, somebody had better be having children.

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Contributing children

More immigrants.

BCP1928 said:

More immigrants.

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They're being paid under the table, so that won't count.

Need a larger middle class to top things up. Migrants don't often have higher paying jobs.

timothyu said:

Need a larger middle class to top things up. Migrants don't often have higher paying jobs.

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I've been watching old "Price is Right" shows the last few hours and I have come to a conclusion.

Food prices have gone up an average of between 400 - 500% in the last 40 years, and electronic prices have stayed fairly static (washing machines, irons, televisions etc), which means the price of electronics has actually decreased at the same pace as inflation.

It almost looks like, if you look from enough of a distance, that we as a nation traded a solid dollar and food security (things that last and matter) for cheap household goods....

Was just a weird thought I've been having... I wish I had a time machine for grocery shopping though... Hahaha

Hazelelponi said:

I've been watching old "Price is Right" shows the last few hours and I have come to a conclusion.

Food prices have gone up an average of between 400 - 500% in the last 40 years, and electronic prices have stayed fairly static (washing machines, irons, televisions etc), which means the price of electronics has actually decreased at the same pace as inflation.

It almost looks like, if you look from enough of a distance, that we as a nation traded a solid dollar and food security (things that last and matter) for cheap household goods....

Was just a weird thought I've been having... I wish I had a time machine for grocery shopping though... Hahaha

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"They've got money for cell phones and LED television sets, so they're doing all right!"

RDKirk said:

They're being paid under the table, so that won't count.

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Only if they're illegal.

Hazelelponi said:

I've been watching old "Price is Right" shows the last few hours and I have come to a conclusion.

Food prices have gone up an average of between 400 - 500% in the last 40 years, and electronic prices have stayed fairly static (washing machines, irons, televisions etc), which means the price of electronics has actually decreased at the same pace as inflation.

It almost looks like, if you look from enough of a distance, that we as a nation traded a solid dollar and food security (things that last and matter) for cheap household goods....

Was just a weird thought I've been having... I wish I had a time machine for grocery shopping though... Hahaha

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The price of some electronics may be flat, but alot of it is actually going up. People are still paying for stuff like smart watches and smart phones and so on, though it's mostly a dwindling percentage of the population.

Also, it's been processed foods that have gone up in price the most. However, processed foods account for about 60-80 percent of the average American's diet. Add in foods like meat or eggs, that have alot of hidden "manufacturing", and the percentage goes even higher. Foods like beans, grains, or vegetables really haven't changed as dramatically.

BCP1928 said:

Only if they're illegal.

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That's the only kind business (and therefore government) likes.

FireDragon76 said:

The price of some electronics may be flat, but alot of it is actually going up. People are still paying for stuff like smart watches and smart phones and so on, though it's mostly a dwindling percentage of the population.

Also, it's been processed foods that have gone up in price the most. However, processed foods account for about 60-80 percent of the average American's diet. Add in foods like meat or eggs, that have alot of hidden "manufacturing", and the percentage goes even higher. Foods like beans, grains, or vegetables really haven't changed as dramatically.

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Those cyborg eggs.

RDKirk said:

Those cyborg eggs.

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That's why we call it "factory farming". Most food Americans eat has gone through alot of production steps to go from raw ingredients to the table.

I don't think a Christian Forum is the place for discussing Christian matters, but I will attempt to answer your post. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Governments are earthly and, as such, have nothing to do with governments; the words of Jesus state: they are allowed to exist. (Romans 8 and Hebrews 8) The New Covenant is now on an individual basis.
Neither the Right or Left in the USA are based on Christian beliefs. Both groups are guilty of supporting greed; it is the degree that is different. Augustine of Hippo referred to the Sermon on the Mount as the "Ultimate Guide for living your Life as a Christian." Now, if you are interested in changing the focus of this topic, I may join you.

BCP1928 said:

More immigrants.

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I Agree, to think that the illegal immigrants in many cases are working without legitimate Social Secutity Cards/Numbers and are paying in and will never receive the SS benefit

Truth7t7 said:

I Agree, to think that the illegal immigrants in many cases are working without legitimate Social Secutity Cards/Numbers and are paying in and will never receive the SS benefit

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Here is where we need an immigration lawyer.
We have two different groups of illegals: those we know and those we don't know. Decades ago immigration laws were not enforced. A new term was introduced, WOP. (With Out Papers) You would be amazed by the number of illegals who came into the US from Europe. The difference between them and those coming in via Mexico was the Atlantic Ocean. At customs, they were allowed to enter because it was cheaper to let them in rather than send them back. In the late 1800s and 1900s, we had a building boom, and large businesses needed them. so they were allowed into the USA with minimal checking. This is a part of immigration we don't like to talk about because those involved were from Europe. Getting signed off by immigration allowed them to get jobs and pay taxes.
The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35, and the taxes started being collected in January 1936.
The Southwest border
A whole set of differences. I suggest you read: britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War.
Immigrants were accepted into the USA as cheap labor. After WW2 they were needed by businesses and individuals. Businesses wanted them to build low-cost homes and even paid to get them here. The individuals wanted them for domestic help. We did have a chance to control immigration at our southern border when Ike was in office. He believed that if we had laws, we should enforce them. Again, businesses and individuals wanted them. Too much too late never works well.

Joseph Perry said:

Here is where we need an immigration lawyer.
We have two different groups of illegals: those we know and those we don't know. Decades ago immigration laws were not enforced. A new term was introduced, WOP. (With Out Papers) You would be amazed by the number of illegals who came into the US from Europe. The difference between them and those coming in via Mexico was the Atlantic Ocean. At customs, they were allowed to enter because it was cheaper to let them in rather than send them back. In the late 1800s and 1900s, we had a building boom, and large businesses needed them. so they were allowed into the USA with minimal checking. This is a part of immigration we don't like to talk about because those involved were from Europe. Getting signed off by immigration allowed them to get jobs and pay taxes.
The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35, and the taxes started being collected in January 1936.
The Southwest border
A whole set of differences. I suggest you read: britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War.
Immigrants were accepted into the USA as cheap labor. After WW2 they were needed by businesses and individuals. Businesses wanted them to build low-cost homes and even paid to get them here. The individuals wanted them for domestic help. We did have a chance to control immigration at our southern border when Ike was in office. He believed that if we had laws, we should enforce them. Again, businesses and individuals wanted them. Too much too late never works well.

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There are laws on immigration, if you enter through the customs gate and wait in line that's called "Legal Immigration" if you cross the river or enter another way than the customs gate its called "Illegal Immigration"

The US Supreme Court ruled on Bidens illegal immigrants holding TPS, they can't obtain green cards to work, or become US citizens in the future, it's that simple

NBC NEWS​

Supreme Court unanimously rules against immigrants with temporary status​

June 7, 2021
Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently.

FireDragon76 said:

The price of some electronics may be flat, but alot of it is actually going up. People are still paying for stuff like smart watches and smart phones and so on, though it's mostly a dwindling percentage of the population.

Also, it's been processed foods that have gone up in price the most. However, processed foods account for about 60-80 percent of the average American's diet. Add in foods like meat or eggs, that have alot of hidden "manufacturing", and the percentage goes even higher. Foods like beans, grains, or vegetables really haven't changed as dramatically.

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I buy the Basmati rice in the 10 lb bags and the cost of rice has exactly doubled in the last 15 years. I don't believe it was available to buy back in the 80's so I can't much compare that far back.

Things like cans of soup - which people buy constantly, I have many casserole recipes that call for canned soup - boxed macaroni and cheese, jars of honey etc really have increased dramatically.

The problem many, if not most, home cooks face is the problem of the cost of going completely from scratch (making your own cream of mushroom etc)

When times are going good in life people can do that, I was pulling in around 5,000 a month in '92, a number that drastically dropped when I got a real job (I decided I wanted days off and a normal work schedule more than money, as opposed to my own business, not that such a thing actually ever occurs anywhere I have learned... Lol)

So life itself changes and there's times your dependent upon the canned goods as opposed to all fresh ingredients. (I mix it up so you can't tell as much...)

I'd say the percentage of people depending today upon canned goods - especially in the days of food TV - as opposed to fresh is telling as to how much money people have.

Some things are far less expensive to make from scratch - I still make homemade breads as much as physically possible because the difference in cost is dollars, not pennies. Same with pastas. I just make it...

But the more processed food is, the cheaper it often costs unless you're buying beans and rice - which I use plenty of... So the more of processed food people are buying, I think the less money they have.