"You didn't build that ... "

[IisJustMe]

Review & Outlook: 'You Didn't Build That' - WSJ.com

The Presidential election has a long way to go, but the line of the year so far is President Obama's on Friday: "You didn't build that." Rarely do politicians so clearly reveal their core beliefs.

" If you've got a business—you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

This burst of ideological candor is already resonating like nothing else Mr. Obama's said in years. The Internet is awash with images of the President telling the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs and other innovators they didn't build that. Kevin Costner's famous line in "Field of Dreams," as adapted for Mr. Obama: "If you build it, we'll still say you didn't really build it."

Beneath the satire is the serious point that Mr. Obama's homily is the soul of his campaign message. The President who says he wants to be transformational may be succeeding—and subordinating to government the individual enterprise and risk-taking that underlies prosperity. The question is whether this is the America that most Americans want to build.
​

It isn't. America isn't ready for a socialist. It appears we elected on in 2008. Time to vote him out in 2012.

This man seriously thinks that message resonates with the majority of Americans? Good. Hopefully he'll stuff his foot in his mouth up to his hipbone between now and November. That's doubly good. He looks the fool he is, and with that much leg in his mouth, he won't be able to talk.

 

[SearchingStudent]

He has a point. Nobody gets to where they are in life without the influence of others. If one is successful in school, they were helped along that path by their parents, teachers, etc. If one is successful in business, they were helped along by mentors who guided them. If one is successful in parenting, they were helped by others who set an example. There is no such thing as "individual" success. Each person's success or failure is influenced by those around them.
The Wright Brothers...there were 2 of them who fed into each other's dreams and ideas. They had the ability to take off and go down to Kitty Hawk. They didn't do it alone. Who ran their shop while they went to NC? Who sold them the materials for their first plane?
It is quite true that no man is an island. If I stuck you on some deserted island, would you be able to be successful? No, you would not. You would not have mentors, suppliers, competition.
A top athlete may have all the talent in the world, but if that talent isn't taught, coached, practiced and mentored, the talent is useless.

Just another misconstrued bunch of sour grapes here folks...use your own brains and ability to think critically instead of buying into some other misinformed, biased, talking head's opinion of a speech...

edited because my fingers were not fast enough to keep up with my thoughts...

 

[Godcreatedsteve]

Parasites like Romney build nothing, give nothing, and do nothing but export jobs and cannibalize companies that other people helped to build. This worship of wall street and all the lowlifes who manipulate money is sickening and obscene.

Romney had a business that never produced anything but money (for him) and pink slips (for men better than him). To pretend otherwise is delusional.

 

[Dieselman]

If not for the automobile, there would be no highways.
If not for interchangeable parts and mass production, we would still be an agrarian society.
It was mechanized harvesting that ended slavery as much as anything else.
The desire for profit has given us every invention.
The desire for personal recognition and reward has given us nearly every scientific breakthrough or discovery.
The desire for profit has given us affordable personal computers and an almost limitless access to information.
What teacher would still teach if they never made more than minimum wage?
What fireman would run into burning buildings if he could make more money dishing out ice cream?
This isn't saying these people don't have a desire to help people, but the primary goal of any man is to provide a better life for their families. Liberals are effeminate; they want to be be cared for rather than to care for others.

Barack Obama has no clue about American business. He was the product of a liberal mother and a communist father; raised in a socialist country and mentored in the US by radicals who hated this country. He has never held a job in the private sector, and yet has become rich by sucking off the weath of others. He is an unprincipled liar who hates America and everything it stands for; just like his father did before him.

Most millionaires in America are self made. They made money through hard work and the desire to better themselves. If Americans really knew understood how much damage socialists have done to this nation in the last 30 years, there would be a national outrage.

I do hope that outrage comes soon.

 

[SearchingStudent]

And how many people did it take to invent the automobile? How many ideas were bounced around? That didn't just spring, fully formed, into the mind of Henry Ford. The development of the auto gave the need for roads. So...roads were needed...people started construction companies to fill that need...

Your entire argument does nothing more than prove the point that nobody does things in a vacuum. These "millionaires" are making their money providing goods or services to others. If nobody took advantage of those goods/services, they would make no money.

Once again, nobody operates in a vacuum. There is an interconnectedness that is what makes the economy grow.

 

[florida2]

If not for the automobile, there would be no highways.
If not for interchangeable parts and mass production, we would still be an agrarian society.
It was mechanized harvesting that ended slavery as much as anything else.
The desire for profit has given us every invention.
The desire for personal recognition and reward has given us nearly every scientific breakthrough or discovery.
The desire for profit has given us affordable personal computers and an almost limitless access to information.
What teacher would still teach if they never made more than minimum wage?
What fireman would run into burning buildings if he could make more money dishing out ice cream?
This isn't saying these people don't have a desire to help people, but the primary goal of any man is to provide a better life for their families. Liberals are effeminate; they want to be be cared for rather than to care for others.

Barack Obama has no clue about American business. He was the product of a liberal mother and a communist father; raised in a socialist country and mentored in the US by radicals who hated this country. He has never held a job in the private sector, and yet has become rich by sucking off the weath of others. He is an unprincipled liar who hates America and everything it stands for; just like his father did before him.

Most millionaires in America are self made. They made money through hard work and the desire to better themselves. If Americans really knew understood how much damage socialists have done to this nation in the last 30 years, there would be a national outrage.

I do hope that outrage comes soon.

Wow, what happened to love thy neighbour?

 

[Thekla]

If not for the automobile, there would be no highways.
If not for interchangeable parts and mass production, we would still be an agrarian society.
It was mechanized harvesting that ended slavery as much as anything else.
The desire for profit has given us every invention.
The desire for personal recognition and reward has given us nearly every scientific breakthrough or discovery.
The desire for profit has given us affordable personal computers and an almost limitless access to information.
What teacher would still teach if they never made more than minimum wage?
What fireman would run into burning buildings if he could make more money dishing out ice cream?
This isn't saying these people don't have a desire to help people, but the primary goal of any man is to provide a better life for their families. Liberals are effeminate; they want to be be cared for rather than to care for others.

Barack Obama has no clue about American business. He was the product of a liberal mother and a communist father; raised in a socialist country and mentored in the US by radicals who hated this country. He has never held a job in the private sector, and yet has become rich by sucking off the weath of others. He is an unprincipled liar who hates America and everything it stands for; just like his father did before him.

Most millionaires in America are self made. They made money through hard work and the desire to better themselves. If Americans really knew understood how much damage socialists have done to this nation in the last 30 years, there would be a national outrage.

I do hope that outrage comes soon.

I don't think it can be said that the "desire for profit" has given us "every invention".

This statement ignores the concept of 'value' as a goal, or at least confuses profit with value or value with money as wealth (and money is not wealth).

As for the rest of your post, there is a great deal more inaccuracy that I will leave aside.

 

[Dieselman]

Once again, nobody operates in a vacuum. There is an interconnectedness that is what makes the economy grow.

Obama's point was that the government was responsible for the success of everyone, when in fact the intrusion of government is an obstacle that successful people have to overcome.

 

[Dieselman]

Wow, what happened to love thy neighbour?

I do love my neighbor. It's a shame this America loathing socialist put him out of work.

 

[Thekla]

When the term "socialist" is used, do you mean for example the countries of Finland, Denmark, etc. ?

 

[Dieselman]

I don't think it can be said that the "desire for profit" has given us "every invention".

Do you think Eli Whitney would have spent long hours perfecting the cotton gin so he could simply give it away without compensation?
Do you think Thomas Edison worked so hard just to have something to do?
Would you dedicate your life to finding a cure for some disease knowing your name would never be mentioned in any reference books, that you will get no credit nor reward for your efforts, and that you could have made a far greater living working part time at the drug store?
Do you think the Beatles intended to spend their lives giving free concerts?

When the Pilgrims came to this country, they lived as a commune. Everyone shared everything; even the lazy. That winter many of them died. The next spring a system was put into place where those who were more productive were rewarded for their efforts, and those who didn't want to work were not allowed to suck off the efforts of others. The result was a plentiful harvest. Capitalism is what caused the first Thanksgiving. Socialism nearly destroyed the colony.

 

[athenken]

Do you think Eli Whitney would have spent long hours perfecting the cotton gin so he could simply give it away without compensation?
Do you think Thomas Edison worked so hard just to have something to do?
Would you dedicate your life to finding a cure for some disease knowing your name would never be mentioned in any reference books, that you will get no credit nor reward for your efforts, and that you could have made a far greater living working part time at the drug store?
Do you think the Beatles intended to spend their lives giving free concerts?

When the Pilgrims came to this country, they lived as a commune. Everyone shared everything; even the lazy. That winter many of them died. The next spring a system was put into place where those who were more productive were rewarded for their efforts, and those who didn't want to work were not allowed to suck off the efforts of others. The result was a plentiful harvest. Capitalism is what caused the first Thanksgiving. Socialism nearly destroyed the colony.

As much as I agree that the western world would never work under a socialist environment I must counter your argument with a certain people that were here long before the "white man" showed up. The native americans lived in socialist societies for hundreds of years to varying degrees of success.

 

[IisJustMe]

He has a point.

None whatsoever. You go on to mention that teachers, coaches or whoever you might be referring to influenced them. So what? Others had the same opportunity to be influenced as well. But the vast majority of them do nothing with it. Those who actually do something with their lives have only two people to thank for the fact of their success: Themselves, and God. Those others they thank and recognize when being awarded for their achievements gave the same advice, offered the same mentorship to others, who (as I said) did nothing with it. Certainly the government has absolutely nothing to do with the success of entrepreneurs and business leaders, because the government, particularly under the Empty Suit, is doing everything it can to prevent individual success and make it conform to the mass concept of equality. Socialism, in other words. Dumbama doesn't even pretend he's anything else these days but a socialist. So save your defense of this worthless man. I'm not listening.

 

[IisJustMe]

Wow, what happened to love thy neighbour?

He may be our "neighbor" but he's also responsible for the dismantling of America as we have known it since its founding. The destruction actually started sometime after the turn of the 20th century, but this socialist iconoclast is doing the last of the demolition with his idiotic pseudo-idealistic machinations.

 

[Thekla]

Do you think Eli Whitney would have spent long hours perfecting the cotton gin so he could simply give it away without compensation?
Do you think Thomas Edison worked so hard just to have something to do?
Would you dedicate your life to finding a cure for some disease knowing your name would never be mentioned in any reference books, that you will get no credit nor reward for your efforts, and that you could have made a far greater living working part time at the drug store?
Do you think the Beatles intended to spend their lives giving free concerts?

Compensation does not = profit; profit exceeds compensation where compensation reimburses at a rate commensurate with effort expended.

There was Edison, there was Tesla.

There are numerous persons who invented and worked to improve the public good.

And yes, as a Christian, I would certainly have no problem if my name were never mentioned if I were to "cure a disease".

When the Pilgrims came to this country, they lived as a commune. Everyone shared everything; even the lazy. That winter many of them died. The next spring a system was put into place where those who were more productive were rewarded for their efforts, and those who didn't want to work were not allowed to suck off the efforts of others. The result was a plentiful harvest. Capitalism is what caused the first Thanksgiving. Socialism nearly destroyed the colony.

This seems to be an inaccurate account; starvation that first winter was not a result of laziness (maybe you're thinking of Jamestown ?).

The Pilgrims also benefited from the knowledge of native residents of the region, and from particular benefits of the environment they did not create; they added work to what already existed in spite of them.

As for "socialism = leaching off others", that is also not accurate.
People in Finland, Sweden, etc, do work. And I see no evidence that we actually work harder than Scandinavians.

 

[Dieselman]

As much as I agree that the western world would never work under a socialist environment I must counter your argument with a certain people that were here long before the "white man" showed up. The native americans lived in socialist societies for hundreds of years to varying degrees of success.

And yet, they were still using hand tools when the white man had locomotives. Murder, rape and theft were celebrated. Women were property. They had no schools and only the Cherokee had a written language. Their society had simply not advanced in centuries.

 

[IisJustMe]

Compensation does not = profit; profit exceeds compensation where compensation reimburses at a rate commensurate with effort expended.
There was Edison, there was Tesla.

Your idealism is showing. Despite the 200 failed efforts at building a light bulb, Edison nonetheless profited immensely from the patent for the incandescent bulb, as well as from the phonograph, the carbon microphone used in telephones until the late 1980s, the flouroscope, etc. You think he gave no thought to profit? Yeah, right.

There are numerous persons who invented and worked to improve the public good.

But at the same time, intending to profit. That was their motive, to invent as their livelihood.

This seems to be an inaccurate account; starvation that first winter was not a result of laziness (maybe you're thinking of Jamestown ?).

Now you're either misrepresenting his comments, or missing the point. He described the "laziness" as being compensated via communal living, he didn't say it was a primary cause of the failure. What the primary cause of that failure was, was socialism. Even people who do work aren't nearly as motivated to work hard for everyone's benefit when everyone is going to benefit equally regardless. When things became specialized, with each benefiting according to his own ability to produce his unique product, that is when success occurred.

The Pilgrims also benefited from the knowledge of native residents of the region, and from particular benefits of the environment they did not create; they added work to what already existed in spite of them.

And they justly compensated the natives for providing the expertise that was needed. It was a quid pro quo arrangement.

As for "socialism = leaching off others", that is also not accurate.

It is absolutely accurate. One only need look at the health care programs in Europe to see socialism's results. Doctors leaving patients opened up in an operating room while they go out for lunch. Nineteen weeks to see a specialist. Forty-seven weeks to have major surgery. Managed care that says, essentially, that a person is too old to receive certain treatment regimens, not because it is dangerous for them but because they are simply old and don't need to have that kind of money spent on them. Welcome to ObamaCare.

People in Finland, Sweden, etc, do work. And I see no evidence that we actually work harder than Scandinavians.

[/quote]We don't, because they are social democracy under which private enterprise is encouraged and well compensated. What Obama is attempting to do is undermine the capitalism and free enterprise that makes this country great by robbing from the rich to pay the poor. ObamaCare is just the first step.

 

[athenken]

And yet, they were still using hand tools when the white man had locomotives. Murder, rape and theft were celebrated. Women were property. They had no schools and only the Cherokee had a written language. Their society had simply not advanced in centuries.

So. Sure there were some things they did that were not so good (rape, murder, stealing, etc...), but all societies have that. The point is that they survived just fine for centuries in a socialistic environment.

 

[IisJustMe]

So. Sure there were some things they did that were not so good (rape, murder, stealing, etc...), but all societies have that. The point is that they survived just fine for centuries in a socialistic environment.

Native Americans did not live under socialism. They knew the Bible, even though they didn't know they knew the Bible: "He who does not work, doesn't eat."

 

[athenken]

Native Americans did not live under socialism. They knew the Bible, even though they didn't know they knew the Bible: "He who does not work, doesn't eat."

You have been listening to Michael Pearl, haven't you?