Do Americans just not understand how an economy works?

And is it unreasonable to think that until they do understand, that this country is going to suffer extreme levels of poverty like what is seen in Brazil and Africa?



It's sad, but I think so. They are bratty, so they might complain before things get that bad. Still, they look at the economy as a system that is point-based that can be run up, instead of as a pot that has to be shared between everyone.



Think about ordering a pizza. If 8 people got paid for work with a pizza and one person took the majority of the it, that's pretty much what is going on in this country. We're overpaying people because they are crooks or claim they have the right to be, at the expense of everyone else.



This is not sustainable. It is already collapsing and getting worse.



The myth that wealth is always being created is not true. Even if it were, the jobs go straight overseas anyways!Do Americans just not understand how an economy works?
Many don't even know how to read, let alone understand the economy.
Extreme level of poverty in Brazil? WTF?



That's the biggest joke i ever read comparing Brazil to Africa! lol



You must have never been to either Brazil or Africa for making such stupid assumptions. lol

You should worry for your educational system because judging by your level of knowledge it's really lacking quality.



It's not the first time you bash Brazil,what's the problem with you?Do Americans just not understand how an economy works?
Your explanation is entirely too simplistic. Study economics much? You fit in with the crowd that doesn't comprehend. I can't comprehend a pizza that was cooked overseas and delivered to my home.



Capitalism isn't perfect, just the least burdensome solution to distributing goods and services.
Barracuda, This country not fulfilling your socialist dreams of spreading the wealth is not it's problem, the problem is liberals like you trying to spread other peoples wealth, that's what the problem is. Apparently it's you who don't understand. God bless.Do Americans just not understand how an economy works?
Heres an idea I work, get paid and buy my own pizza, not 2 slices for my neighbor and 1 for the guy pretending to be hurt down the block.



Until Americans can grasp that, we are all screwed.



Also if I want hamburgers then I can buy my own.
So, our national pizza pie is the same size that it was in 1609, 1620, or 1776, or just when was it frozen in size? Are you thinking that the hundred billion dollars that Bill Gates is worth came at the expense of someone else?
Socialism assumes that wealth is a pie, that must be divided and subdivided until all is consumed.....and then what?





Capitalism is a bakery, more pies, bigger pies, tastier pies are always coming off the line.
As long as the rich have money they have nothing to worry about. They can buy and sell both parties in the house and senate. It`s not right but it`s the way it is.
No-one understands how the economy works. It's so complex, you can only vodoo your way through it and hope what you do does indeed work.
not only do most Americans not understand but apparently the PRESIDENT does not either.
Your premise shows an utter lack of economic understanding. Mercantilism is quite dead, my friend. The idea that there is a concrete amount of wealth in the world is false. That is a very myopic way of looking at the world. Every time someone digs up steel and turns it into a car, wealth is created. Every time a computer programmer turns his thoughts into a useful program, wealth is created.



Do you understand how the money supply works? As interest rates rise and fall the amount of liquid funds in the economy expands and contracts in concurrence. We are not sharing a pizza here. If we were, wouldn't the world have grown much poorer as population exploded? Think, man!



I know it's convenient to espouse the idea that wealth is concrete. That means that anyone making more than the average is taking more than his fair share. It gives validation to one's wealth envy. Suddenly, you're no longer responsible for your position in life - it's the fault of those greedy, evil rich. Your hatred for those above you is suddenly legitimized. But here's something that the rhetoricians of socialism have been hiding from you: you're altogether wrong.
First of all i should never feel forced to help strangers,second people who benefit from this shouldn feel like im obligated to help anyone, the beauty of our country is anyone can be successful if they apply themselves but news flash they dont most people who live in poverty created about five more lives to live in that same poverty without even thinkin about what they would do for survival so if u have more money goin out then comin in then ya things get bad thats not the wealthy guys fault he paid taxes
I would agree that the majority of Americans do not really understand the mechanics of how the economies work. However your position is based on a logical fallacy. You are making the assumption that you have the right to assign the value of your work and that you should be paid based on that self assignment. You have a right to put a value on your work to be sure, but no one is required to accept that value and compensate you according to it. The executives in my company make a great deal more than I do, but this does not mean that I am not fairly compensated for my work.



crunch: Execellent analogy!
Unfortunately, I don't think very many do. It's so much easier to take talking points from one's favorite t.v. or radio personality, and blame President Obama, or Bush or Clinton for the current national economy. Very few bother to look back as far as '71 when Nixon took the U.S. off the Gold Standard. Even fewer will look back as far as 1913 and the creation of the Federal Reserve. Way too many are still buying the Reagan, Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand, trickle down b.s. What I think it's all going to come down to in the end is either every man for himself, or we're all in this together. Personally, I think we're quickly running out of time for the former and will soon be forced by the ever growing human population and dwindling resources into the latter, some of us kicking and screaming all the way.