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Rilgin

(787 posts) Thu Apr 23, 2015, 05:36 PM Apr 2015

"We want to win the future" -- UGH

President actually said this and other similar things. We have to compete etc. He said America is about competing and winning.

The only problem with that is its the same speech made by every football coach every week before the game. The problem is that we don't always win. Further, even if we (meaning Americans) win, the we is very limited. It does not include all Americans. It does not address that fact that we already have an economy based on competition and there are winners in this world -- the 1%.

Relying on competition and focusing on winning means we are condemning most of the US population and the world to losing. Winners require losers or there is no concept of winning The people who are "winning" are restricted to somewhere between 20% and .01% depending on how you define it. Our problem is not there are not winners. The major problem is the number or winners is shrinking and the consequences for not winning is becoming more punitive.

Trying to define America by referring to winning and competition is the wrong message for democrats. It is similar to what Ayn Rand wrote not something that FDR wrote. We need a leader that talks about community and cooperation and shared benefits and increasing the living for all people. Not competition for limited spoils.

4 replies

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"We want to win the future" -- UGH (Original Post) Rilgin Apr 2015 OP

He's exceptional no doubt, but living the American Dream orpupilofnature57 Apr 2015 #1

Mindless "competition" is destroying the planet. hifiguy Apr 2015 #2

I think you are one of the few people here that upaloopa Apr 2015 #3

Thank you Rilgin Apr 2015 #4

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)

1. He's exceptional no doubt, but living the American Dream

Reply to Rilgin (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 05:44 PM

Apr 2015

shouldn't be something that you need to be exceptional to enjoy .

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)

2. Mindless "competition" is destroying the planet.

Reply to Rilgin (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 05:51 PM

Apr 2015

To believe that a closed system - i.e., the planet upon which we live - can accommodate infinite growth and competition is beyond insane.

The laws of finitude and entropy have yet to be cheated.

Rah, rah, 'murka #1, blather, blather, bullshit, bullshit.

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

3. I think you are one of the few people here that

Reply to Rilgin (Original post)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 05:54 PM

Apr 2015

really gets what TPP is about.
It isn't a win win for most Americans.
I think what is happening is that many people want to take what was good about the past and project it into the future.
Unless things change drastically that isn't going to happen.
What most of us don't get is we are going from nation states to corporate states.
Very few can see into the future and understand this.
My cousin told me this. He was a manufacturing rep and had to travel to China monthly. He said this to me, "I have seen the future and it isn't pretty."
As soon as he could after his father died and left him an inheritance he retired.
My cousin could teach us all a lot about what TPP is about.

Rilgin

(787 posts)

4. Thank you

Reply to upaloopa (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 23, 2015, 06:24 PM

Apr 2015

Actually a very nice complement. It is a definite fear that we have passed a tipping point in changing directions from a corporate feudal state.

The rhetoric in the President's speech today clearly indicates that he does not get it. The platitudes about winning, competition, equal opportunity for shrinking opportunities is not about solving the future. It is as you have said, looking backwards. It is trying to put your fingers in the dyke to preserve the status quo which is not working and heading in the wrong direction.

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