The United States of Decline: America unravels at an increasingly dizzying pace.

The National Review ^ | February 17, 2014 | Deroy Murdock

[2ndDivisionVet]

America is unraveling at a stunning speed and to a staggering degree. This decline is breathtaking, and the prognosis is dim.

For starters, Obama now rules by decree. Reportedly for the 27th time, he has changed the rules of Obamacare singlehandedly, with neither congressional approval nor even ceremonial resolutions to limit his actions. Obama needs no such frivolities.

“That’s the good thing about being president,” Obama joked on February 10. “I can do whatever I want.” In an especially bitter irony, Obama uttered these despicable words while guiding French president François Hollande through Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson — a key architect of America’s foundation of limited government.

That very day, Obama decreed that the Obamacare mandate for employers with 50 to 99 workers would be postponed until 2016 (beyond an earlier extension to 2015), well past the November 2014 midterm elections. This eases the pressure on Democrats, whose campaigns would suffer if voters saw their company health plans canceled due to Obamacare’s unnecessary, expensive, mandatory benefits — e.g. maternity coverage for men.

So, by fiat, Obama has postponed the employer mandate. When Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) effectively tried to do this through legislation last fall, Democrats virtually lassoed and branded him.

Also by decree last week, Obama decided unilaterally to soften political-asylum rules. Refugees and other immigrants who provide terrorists “limited material support” now can come to America. So what if someone merely clothed and fed Mohamed Atta or Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? After all, garments and meals don’t blow up. Welcome to America, Mustafa!

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is working hard to revoke the asylum of and deport the Romeikes....

[Fledermaus]

Don’t you get it? American jobs paying $15-20 an hour with benefits and gov’t taxes driving the cost up to $25-30 an hour along with massive restrictions and regulations by OSHA, EPA, Labor Dept., Interior Dept., will come back in droves from China to make $.05 trinkets to throw in a Happy Meal! /s

Some people have zero economic sense. Not every job in China replaced one in America.

[Recompennation]

...That’s the good thing about being president,” Obama joked on February 10. “I can do whatever I want.”...

free at last (repeat twice more)

[Mariner]

The goal of International Communism has always been to first destroy the rule of law, then by extension the Republic of the USA.

They have known for at least 80 years they could not succeed without first accomplishing those two goals.

Never, ever ascribe to incompetence the actions of this POTUS. He and his cabal know exactly what they are doing.

[Fledermaus]

The “Bring Back the Jobs” crowd don’t realize that even if they did they’d be filled by illegal aliens and low paid unskilled morons.

Yeah, that’s the ticket to growth.

[Count of Monte Fisto]

Even if the U.S. didn't import a single manufactured product from a foreign nation, we'd be producing those things here in heavily automated facilities that don't have many employees at all.

BS. Germany has the most advanced production facilities in the world that employ highly compensated workers and they don't have the mass unemployment we are experiencing here.

[nascarnation]

Not every job in China replaced one in America.

Very true. China is supplying the WORLD and we're just a small (and shrinking) part of it.

[SoFloFreeper]

The jobs weren't exported. They were driven out by trial lawyers, unions, and zealous Federal regulators.

Until those things are fixed (with tort reform, right-to-work laws, and regulatory overhaul) the jobs will stay overseas.

Absolutely correct.

[blackdog]

Mechanisms of Control

Nicolae Ceausescu used varying mechanisms of control over the twenty four years of his regime to stay in power.

Cult of PersonalityThis mechanism of control is defined as “promotion of the image of an authoritarian leader not merely as a political figure but as someone who embodies the spirit of the nation and possesses endowments of wisdom and strength far beyond those of average individual and is thus portrayed in a quasi-religious manner.”[6] Nicolae had pictures of himself plastered all of Romania in a act of self promotion. In later years his wife Elena also had pictures of herself all over Romania, however she was set out very strict guidelines of what pictures could be permitted to be used.

[Alberta's Child]

They're not coming back.

Check out the article linked in Post #9. The company profiled in that article currently has a sales force of 15 workers, and they're looking to bring their manufacturing back to Arkansas. They're going to employ all of 17 people when they do this -- and maybe get up to 74 full-time employees if the facility is running at full capacity in a few years. This is the kind of industry that probably employed hundreds of people at any one facility in the past.

Interestingly, it's the automation that's bringing these manufacturing processes back to the U.S. Chinese labor is cheaper than American labor, but an automated facility in the U.S. is cheaper to operate than an automated facility in China.

[alloysteel]

Violence and corruption have been the long-standing “normal” condition of mankind. Fear and intimidation have always worked, every time they are tried, at least on the short term.

The states of violence and corruption are actually opposing motives in the seesaw of political change, with the growth of corruption finally causing the countervailing force of violence, which temporarily suppresses the corruption. For a very short period, the two forces are at relative equilibrium, until the violence recedes and corruption again gains the advantage.

The genius of the American idea is that the great gyrations between violence and corruption were largely damped down, for the most part, with the notable exception of the Civil War of 1861-1865. There have been other lesser surges to one extreme or the other, over the centuries of the existence of the nation once known as “the United States of America”, that has been fundamentally transformed into something most of its residents no longer recognize.

At the moment, corruption seems to have the dominant position in this territory.

Beware of the outwash when the tides turn.

[P-Marlowe]

Obama now rules by decree. Reportedly for the 27th time, he has changed the rules of Obamacare singlehandedly, with neither congressional approval nor even ceremonial resolutions to limit his actions.

There are no changes.

The law stands as written.

If you own a business, you are subject to the business mandate and if you haven't complied, you are in violation of the LAW and YOU WILL BE FINED. Eventually someone will challenge Obama's waiver and it will be found to be invalid and every business that didn't provide a compliant policy to their employees will be fined. A lot of money. Which will go to the government.

Obama can't change the law. He can pretend to, but when push comes to shove every attempt at changing the law by fiat will be declared to be invalid and everyone who is counting on the waivers and postponements is going to be sorry they thought they could.

Obama is a liar. There is no waiver. If you haven't complied with the law, then you are breaking the law.

Think about it.

[yorkiemom]

Excellent. We are in mourning.

[RetiredArmy]

This is the promised change. Destroy the nation. Destroy America as founded. Establish an Islamic republic here with Obama as sultan. This country will never be free again. The heavy hand of the communist government now in place will never allow America to recover. America does not have enough decent people left to take back the nation. Nope, toast. Done. Never recover. $17 Trillion in debt not counting social security, medicare and Obamacare. Pile all those together, probably $90 Trillion in the hole. There is not enough paper in Sodom on the Potomac or NY City to print that much money. Obama set out to destroy this county and he has basically succeeded. If he cannot get what he want via Congress, he simply imposes one of his illegal executive orders. Those pile up and our freedoms, right, etc. flow out the door like a river.

I have been watching The Revolution about the war for our independence on discovery this afternoon. Watching those reenactment troops going through the drills and enacting the old battles for our freedom. All that for nothing. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, all those proud and wonderful men and women who gave so much to found this Republic and now it is gone. Destroyed IN FIVE YEARS!!!!! What Jimmy Carter, Bush 1, Klinton, and Bush 2 could not accomplish, Obama has in five years.

[Alberta's Child]

The Milken Institute did a study a few years ago about prospects for U.S. employment growth, and they cited Germany as an example of an advanced industrial economy. Here's the list of "positive" attributes they cited of the German economy:

1. a socialist government
2. a highly qualified labor force
3. developed infrastructure
4. a large and new capital asset base
5. minimal corruption
6. a high level of innovation

You'll notice that "low labor cost" is not among these. And you'll notice that Item #5 is sorely lacking in many parts of the U.S.

Comparing the U.S. to a highly homogenized modern socialist state in Europe doesn't do much to explain our competitive advantages and disadvantages compared to Asian countries.

[Old Yeller]

It is now like it was in the days of Noah - when violence and corruption ruled the world.

Sure looks that way.

[DonaldC]

We’ve been on the slide a lot longer than 5 years, maybe 55. Some would say since just after the turn of the 20th century.

[Secret Agent Man]

yup.

don’t forget to include bammy being the Antichrist. The man of lawlessness. He changes the times and dates. He has no use for women. He is an angry young man. He has made America’s govt now not be a friend to Israel (the whole world goes against Israel), although he tries to have a veneer of friendship to keep rich liberal american jews donating to democrats.

[Old Yeller]

We are definitely in the Days of Lot and Days of Noah.

I believe we are experiencing the beginning of God's judgement upon this country. Started with Obama, and if the country survives long enough, it will continue with Hellary.

[Diogenesis]

"Let me please introduce myself
I am a man of wealth and taste.
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a mans soul and faith
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name".

[Mich Patriot]

Automation isn’t all about replacing humans, “dude”. Automation is about precision, repeatable processes (quality), and yes, speed. It is estimated that the companies who make automated tooling, robots, etc. employ just as many people as their products have replaced, plus you still need people to monitor and maintain those machines / production lines.

Also, any company who doesn’t automate where they can employs ZERO once the doors close.