my life with depression.com

now that the us’ stay in iraq is coming close to it’s 4th year, many non-military people are forgetting that we are even there. in fact, when we first arrive, all we heard were the positive spins and the death toll of young american lives. we never really heard of how many innocent civilian’s lives were lost and how some of the gruesome acts could happen in the hands of the army that’s suppose to "liberate" these folks; who are suppose to be their protectors.

upon reading the article that i’m pasting, i became embarrassed to be an american. it’s no wonder the world hates us. they hate american tourists and they hate american people. we walk around as if we rule the world and as if our way is the only way. we have egos as big as our deficit and we lack control. i feel like there’s been a build up of hate more and more after sept 11. i feel like with this arrogance comes the fall of this "empire" just as the roman empire fell.

am i the only one who feels like america has hit it’s plateau and is starting it’s decline? aside from being hated by … like … everyone in the world, we are having a harder time competing. we are not adapting to the new world around us and if we are, we are not doing it fast enough. take a look at what’s happened with japan, a country that we bombed for instance. before the bombing, anything that said "made in japan" was a piece of shit. it was rinky-dinky, quality was low and it was hella cheap. after the bombing, WE gave them money to rebuild. now WE have the second class products coming out to compete with THEIR first class products. what the fuck happened??? back then, american technology and industry was the gold standard. now we’re shit. let’s take a look at the tv market. wasn’t rca the shit back then. now it’s all about … i have to have a sony tv. shoot… i have 3 tv’s and two of them is are … yeah. that’s right.

let’s talk about some american inventions that were disregarded by american companies that were taken on by the japanese. in those markets, niche or not, we can’t even compete AND the idea came from us! the japanese are innovators. the just-in-time theory which americans now practice is japanese. the cars that are stolen (honda accord & civic) most often for parts are japanese. why? because there’s a bigger market for stolen japanese car parts than stolen american car parts! why? because everyone drives a japanese car these days! i feel like i and my former pharmaceutical sales rep co-workers and associates are/were the only ones driving american made cars these days. the only reason why is because the cars are given to us by the company!

when you think of normal people luxury cars… what brands do you think of? bmw & mercedes (european), lexus / infiniti / acura … all japanese. when you think of gas efficiency and style, who do you think of? i won’t even answer that. when looking at future technology, who are the innovators? the east and sometimes europe. in the bell shaped curve, i feel like we are in the area of slow adopters. all the way to the right.

man, half of all our labor jobs are getting outsourced overseas. and you know what… that’s a good thing. if a business can pay someone $5/hr to do the same job as a $20/hr worker and still do a great job, wouldn’t you outsource if you were a CEO? cut costs / cut prices to compete right? of course. if you don’t agree, take some logic classes or some finance classes … maybe even some math classes. and if you say "what about the poor americans who loose their job?" well, they should get their ass off the couch, get educated and adapt! shit, my mom did it when the banking industry fell!

americans always feel a sense of entitlement just like our x-generation. are you still on that "what about the poor americans who loose their job" thing? well, if they were responsible in the first place and saved their money rather than keeping up with the jones, maybe they will have enough money saved for these types of rainy days. but nope! americans save less than 20% of their income. we carry so much debt it’s ridiculous! why? because we want instant gratification. forget about the future and what we will do if our jobs are sent overseas. there’s always welfare! fuck that! don’t get me wrong. i’m all for government assistance. but that’s being taxed due to american indulgences and lack of preparation. it kills me when i see people driving around in - yes - japanese luxury cars, but come home to a shit ass apartment or when they drive up to their parent’s house - where they are staying. what is wrong with this picture people???

don’t even call me a hypocrite. you can’t even imagine what percentage of my income i save and invested. i didn’t drive a luxury car until i owned a home AND i don’t live above my means. in fact, i live WAY below my means AND i pay off the my credit card balance every month. don’t call me anti-american because i am very american. i’m just writing about our weaknesses as a culture so we are not the laughing stock of the world.

oh, and everyone is bitching and moaning about wal-mart coming into the neighborhoods and eating up small business? huh! that is hilarious because the same people who are bitching about keeping jobs in america are the same ones who are buying wal-mart products that are made outside of the us. why? because it’s cheaper!

well, i guess that’s why there will always be a hierarchy in our society.

i love what america stands for. there are not too many countries that you can immigrate to with only $1000, 3 kids and have only the cloths that fit into your suite case and years later retire as a middle class citizen. And yeah, the american dream still can be had … just look at my parents. that IS their story.

man, just like all my other posts. i’ve gone on and on and on and on - on tangents and i’ve forgotten what i intended on writing about in the first place. oh yeah… what’s an iraqi life worth?

are they the "gooks" of the 21st century, but called by a different name? …

"Such crass language, redolent with racist, ethnocentric connotations, speaks volumes. These characterizations, like the use of "gooks" during the Vietnam War, dehumanize the Iraqis and in doing so tacitly permit the otherwise impermissible. Thus, Abu Ghraib and Haditha — and too many regretted deaths, such as that of Nahiba Husayif Jassim"  –Andrew J. Bacevich is a professor of history and international relations at Boston University

"… only reinforces the impression that Americans view Iraqis as less than fully human. Unless we demonstrate by our actions that we value their lives as much as the lives of our own troops, our failure is certain." — Andrew J. Bacevich is a professor of history and international relations at Boston University

well, here’s the link that i mentioned. the article is sooooo worth reading:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/07/AR2006070701155.html