America The Beautiful

The poverty level in America in 2014 ranged from $11,670 (household of 1) to $40,090 (household of 8) but those government established levels mean very little when compared to one's geographical location in America.

In 2013, 14.5% or 45.3 million Americans lived in poverty.

The average amount of social security currently at full retirement is $1800/month and about $1200 if one were to retire early at 62.

Medical Insurance for the person that retires at 62 will be about $500/month reducing monthly allocation down of $700 for food and utilities and medications. And, out-of-pocket expense is $6300 each year until age 65. However, if combined income is less than $50,000 then there is a $100/month discount in your monthly premiums... Whoopie shit...

Older Americans are, on average, typically prevented from early retirement due to these costs and are forced to work 3 more years (maybe more) to keep their employer provided health insurance.

However, the generation before was able to retire at 62...

So, does that mean life in America is getting worse instead of better?

And, it is predicted that in a few years, those who are currently age 40 +/- like my daughter will have their full retirement age raised to 70 and those who follow them to age 74.

It is also very true that with recent advances in medicine, Americans are indeed living longer however, the cost of healthcare has also substantially increased well beyond and at a faster rate than one's level of income... so, Insurance Companies must continue to raise their rates to compensate.

One curious FACT about Americans and that is that we do not like to give up our “goodies” so we continue to lead the rest of the world in personal and family debt which I find rather amusing because in addition to family debt, our Federal Government likes to borrow as well and our biggest banker right now is the country of China whose economy is now greater than our economy.

But, not to worry... America has a bigger Air Force and Navy... (Sorry guys, but China has a much larger Army) but, may have to ask China if we can borrow more money to build bigger and better bombs to drop on China in case they want us to pay back our debt anytime soon....

However, that is not likely... at least, no in the near future because the global economy is predicated upon the economic survival of the US... and, until that changes we hold “all the cards.”

Yet, it still does not dismiss the fact that America's poverty is growing each year which in turn grow America's 1% and all levels in between. And, while all of this seems like a “good thing” to have happening in America, the purchasing power of the American dollar is getting diluted... as I have mentioned in previous articles... Americans actually can buy less with a dollar than they could in the 1960's due to an annual growth rate of inflation that is approximately 3% each year on average, but the typical American does not see this because they still carry around the same dollar basically as they did before and have always done.

But, here is a small comparison just to give you an idea... a Chrysler automobile in 1967/68 would cost the consumer about $3,200 to $3,500 but today 2015, a Chrysler automobile has an MSRP of about $26,000 and some change. And, I would be willing to bet a couple of things on the 1967 car as well:

• It was better build
• It's parts were all American made

Today's American Automobile has:

• Mitsubishi Engine
• German Steel
• French Tires
• Japanese Electronics
• European Glass
• European Plastics
• American Upholstery

Back in the 1980's when I was working in the American Automotive Industry as a TQM/Process Improvement/SPC consultant, it was common knowledge that American Manufacturing had a process capability of less than 3 Sigmas while Japanese Manufacturing had a process capability of right at 6 Sigmas...

So, what did this mean?

With 3 Sigma process capability Americans were manufacturing 2,600 out-of-spec parts every million

With 6 Sigma process capability Japanese were manufacturing 1-3 out-of-spec parts every million

Now, you tell me which process that you think would be better?

When I discovered this, I stopped buying American vehicles and not because I did not love my country because I did but because I was living right above the poverty level and need to be very careful as to how I spent my annual salary.

Well... I don't believe this shit, you might be saying... ok... let me explain it this way... consultants earn ridiculously high amounts of money when working but they do not work all the time which is why I stopped being a consultant.... I was averaging about 15-20 weeks of work each year.

The American automotive industry has improved but does not maintain this improvement nor is it consistent with its improvement which I attribute to the on-going animosities between management and labor. It is difficult to make process when these two factions still dislike and disrespect each other... and, this is to some degree brought about by the Labor Unions.

Another issue that I have discovered during my 67 years of life is the fact that American Appliances are not built as well in years around and following the 1990's as they were in the years around and following the 1950's/60's. For example, my parents purchased appliances for their new home in 1950 which they purchased for $15,000 which lasted for 30 years when in 1980 they sold that same home for $350,000. In case you are interested that same home recently sold for $1.5 million.

If appliances last 7-10 years these days we are lucky...

And, why do you suppose that is, especially since these appliances actually cost more? Do you not find it interesting that Americans have to pay more for less quality? I do...

I also recall about 1980/90or so that when I went into Sears or Best Buy to buy an appliance or a computer that I was given an opportunity to buy a service contract for an additional $200-$300 depending upon the item in question. When that first happened to me, out of instinct and meaning no disrespect, I asked, “Why... because the damn thing isn't built to last?” My recollection of the conversation would be me wanting to know why I needed this extra contract if it was built properly. And, recall the answer being something like “well, ya never know what might happened in the building process.”

Well, yeah I would, if it was build under the guidelines of 6 Sigma dude.

American just seem to accept the fact that they are going to buy “shitty” products and purchase warranty contracts on top of the price to fix those “shitty” products... while at the same time we have less purchasing power today than we had 30-40 years ago and while the understanding that we are going to have to work until age 70 and hope that our health is good because of high health care costs... and, by that time will our percentage of those living in poverty possibly increase closer to 20% of the American population...

Boy..... this should put us all on a John Denver “natural Rocky Mountain high.”