Discussion
  • Read More
    JustActSurprisedHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:24pm

    I still haven’t made up my mind on the TPP - my question though is how do we reinvest in our own economy to create the jobs that allow us to have a sustainable middle class/improvement in quality of life? We’ve shifted so much from a blue collar/white collar to a pink collar/white collar economy (the service sector & health care are gigantic now) that we don’t “make” anything anymore. Those jobs aren’t coming back, but where is the investment in a new field of manufacturing that would actually provide the means to creating these jobs? And what incentive would a company have to stay here?

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Sobchak SecurityJustActSurprised
      8/03/16 2:27pm

      I still haven’t made up my mind on the TPP - my question though is how do we reinvest in our own economy to create the jobs that allow us to have a sustainable middle class/improvement in quality of life?

      Raise the minimum wage, raise taxes on the wealthy, raise our effective corporate tax, and rework the code for property ownership.

      We’ve shifted so much from a blue collar/white collar to a pink collar/white collar economy (the service sector & health care are gigantic now) that we don’t “make” anything anymore.

      Not that much though. America is still the #2 global manufacturer. Manufacturing accounts for almost a 1/3rd of our GDP.

      And what incentive would a company have to stay here?

      Our consumer base. We have the worlds’ most powerful economy. If you like money… Welcome to America. You’re gonna have to stick around here for a while. Also freedom or whatever. *makes jerkoff motion*

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      REX2RSJustActSurprised
      8/03/16 2:37pm

      You don't know how to feel about the TPP?!? You really want the US to be subjected to lawsuits from corporations for having 'too strict environmental regulations', or 'too high safety measures on pharmaceuticals'?

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Sobchak SecurityHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 1:59pm

    I get that she had to lean toward Sanders and his voters to win the nomination; their concerns with fairness and inequality are honorable. But those concerns can be addressed only with economic growth; the rising anti-immigration sentiments in the country can be defused only with economic growth; the general anxiety feeding Trumpism can be eased only with economic growth.

    I feel like he’s patronizing us.

    Then I look at his mustache.

    And I know he’s trolling us.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      ReallyBoredAtWorkSobchak Security
      8/03/16 2:03pm

      Thomas Friedman IS a children’s book about a child like understanding of capitalism.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      YouSmellFunnySobchak Security
      8/03/16 2:04pm

      Thats the mustache of an 8th grade social studies teacher.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    BigmouthHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:00pm

    Roberto Unger is right — people need to stop thinking of “capitalism” and “socialism” as monolithic and mutually exclusive ideologies. Mix and match the best of both.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      I'd rather have a V8Bigmouth
      8/03/16 2:04pm

      But that would require people compromising and readily accepting that their ideas might not be 100% correct all the time and possibly growing as individuals.

      I don't know about you, but that's not the kind of world I want to live in.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      RollinDoobiesUpBigmouth
      8/03/16 2:04pm

      > Mix and match the best of both.

      That just leads to Socialism.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Cam/ronHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:12pm

    I still haven’t forgiven him for cheerleading the Iraq invasion. Here’s his infamous interview where he ridiculously said the war was about telling Iraqis, “SUCK ON THIS!”

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      The Dread & Fear of KingsCam/ron
      8/03/16 2:19pm

      I also cannot forgive him for this, unless and until he's nominate by my party for president.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      RudycaneatadickCam/ron
      8/03/16 2:26pm

      The terrorism bubble? Hells bells, who was running around the west saying terrorism was “ok” in the 1990s? Tom Friedman, more than Newt Gingrich, is a stupid person’s idea of a smart person.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Quasar FunkHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:06pm

    How is this idiot still gainfully employed? What pictures of Arthur Sulzberger is he hiding in his moustache and/or neck pouch?

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Manny Both-HansQuasar Funk
      8/03/16 3:56pm

      He’s on the Pulitzer Board.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Quasar FunkManny Both-Hans
      8/03/16 3:57pm

      Holy. Fucking. Shit.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    carpetboxerHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:10pm

    “Thomas Friedman is a true American success story: a man who without any writing talent or deep understanding of any issue, managed to marry an heiress and now lives in a huge mansion. It’s called “capitalism,” folks.”

    Haha!

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      MWarnerMcarpetboxer
      8/03/16 3:45pm

      This is my new favorite quote illustrating someone’s complete obliviousness to their own luck. My previous one was a Deadspin column discussing Trump’s candidacy:

      “Donald Trump’s entire campaign platform begins and ends with him pointing down at the massive pile of cash he landed on at birth and bellowing ‘I’m a winner'".

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Jerry-Netherlandcarpetboxer
      8/03/16 4:03pm

      I’ve always called that Gold Digging. Nothing new about that!

      GIF

      [Ginger Rogers shows how it’s done in Gold Diggers of 1933]

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    NobisHamilton Nolan
    8/03/16 2:03pm

    About time someone spoke up for capitalism in these United States.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Sid and FinancyHamilton Nolan
      8/03/16 2:18pm

      “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” - Edward Abbey

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        WhuhtSid and Financy
        8/03/16 3:16pm

        Can’t star this enough. Particularly apt here, given Friedman’s explicit apathy towards inequality.

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      reggieinatlHamilton Nolan
      8/03/16 2:04pm

      Unrelated: His neck looks like a pig belly.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        ReburnsABurningReturnsHamilton Nolan
        8/03/16 2:24pm

        And that leads to my second reason for pushing Clinton to inject some capitalism into her economic plan: The coalition she could lead.

        Friedman as always, is a putz, but on this point I would agree in that if Clinton could move to the right a smidge and sweep up some moderate Republicans, she might be able to accomplish more. But, pigs could fly too ...

        I just don’t think she would sweep up those moderate Republicans. While I do think that those moderate Republicans do exist, I think that they are also invested in their own Party dynamics, which includes the looming shadows of people like the Koch brothers who will primary them out of office and replace them with someone who is even worse if they team up with Democrats to accomplish anything meaningful.

        Reply
        <
        • Read More
          MWarnerMReburnsABurningReturns
          8/03/16 3:46pm

          I think many if not most moderate Republicans are just gonna stay home.

          Reply
          <