Are facebook and Twitter killing America?

Video stores are gone as we get our dvd from the red box or stream it from Netflix.  Is that a shame for the small business owner who got squeezed out because his industry changed?  Yes, it is.  However, to keep doing the same thing because some people might get squeezed is worse.

Now that being said, we make a point to spend locally.  I am working with a business consortium to create business districts and buying groups and co-ops to help small businesses survive.  Our goal is to make sure that when you want Mexican food you skip Taco Bell and go to a local chain called Amigos.  When you want a new bike you go to the bike shop and buy a Schwinn instead of Target and buy whatever Chinese import they have.

Why? Because their profits stay local and help to build our own economy here.  Nobody is going to come help us so we have to do it ourselves.  You would be amazed at the response we have gotten.  Small business owners lining up to be a part of it and consumers educating themselves on which chains are local franchises, which restaurants are owner operated, etc.

Balance should be a key to healthyand fruitful living. I am sad to see local businesses to close, and would love to find ways to save them from that faith. On the other hand, I'm grateful for technology - we benefit from products and knowledge of people from around the world. I am not a big user of Facebook, have not signed up for Twitter yet, but I believe we should be offered choices.

We live in an ever changing world and need to learn to adapt.  Facebook and Twitter are just another way to communicate.  It's your choice to embrace it or not.  What I see happening is that the youth of today are loosing the art of face to face upfront and personal communication and I find that sad.

Mario: I think I see your post as an analogy of what is happening in the country--and I agree. Symbolically, the Twitter, Facebook crowd are looking at life entirely through the lens of "social" networking, not through the lens of hard work, including manual labor. The trend to be a part of the internet realm without having to participate in the physical act of creating goods and products or even offering services that may mean income for the average American, has made us all a little less aware of the real hard work that it takes to stay afloat. We are losing out to the masses and cheap labor of the 3rd world. I don't look forward to the days when we wake up and realize that we don't have the means to survive a change in the world that could include OUR world as a 3rd world country. Great post!

I think Facebook and Twitter are even hurting those that have a job!  My kids are on it just about every hour.  You can't tell me they are productive on their job at that time.

Good post.  I agree w/Bryan #28.  Lots of possibilities due to technology, but there is no doubt jobs have also been lost due to the web.

I think the biggest unfortunate is that once companies go web-based or increase their tech side of things, they need a lot less manpower as one person w/knowledge of the systems can do several jobs.

Interesting concept, and it will be interesting to see how things go from here.

Hi, Mario. I once lived in a town where you could conduct all your business at a drive-up window....the bank, the pharmacy, the dry cleaners, the liquor store....even a funeral home! I'm serious; the departed was on display in a window and you'd write your condolence card and leave it in the slot. I thought it was sad that (a) people were too lazy to get out of their cars and (b) that they were losing so much social interaction.

The interaction is back and bigger than ever but it's still done at a remove, which I think is equally sad or even sadder....especially when you're interacting with someone down the street or, sorse, in teh next room!

Times are changing, Mario. We have to adapt to the changing technology and industries. Maybe we will all be working for Facebook Real Estate one day?

This is such a non-issue!  I decided last night to either save or create 31 million jobs.  Everyone who is out of a job can simply come work for me... telecommuting at home with  180K base + benefits + bonus and 32 hour work week, 12 holdiays/yr and 5 weeks paid vacation... and a bag of chips!  ;-)

When I make purchases, I look at the bottom line. The place that has the lowest price gets my business. If Borders had the lowest price, then they would have gotten my business. I always check Amazon against local businesses. I have saved hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by shopping on-line. If these businesses want to continue, they have to adjust their thinking. Why would I pay Blockbuster 4.99 to rent a movie, when I can get the same movie from Redbox for 1.09. Businesses need to really look at their competition and then adjust their strategy. That's what I had to do.

If not used right, Facebook and Twitter are just the distraction de jour. I am out busting my hump all day, which is probably why the company is still in business and moving forward. But 20 years ago it was MTV and chat lines. Anything that keeps us from work, regardless of the modality, is debasing. 

Technology and inovation is not killing our country no more than the automobile did when it replaced the Horse and Buggy.

What is killing our country are the changes that have been made over the last 30 years to how we do business in the USA.

Just one small example : What is the incentive for a corporation to create new jobs when they are rewarded handsomly for exporting jobs over seas given there sole goal is the make a profit. Pretty simple math. American corporations no that there name is the big selling point. So create a factory in another country. Let that factory then sell to there American counter part for a Profit. Then sell to Americans for less than it would take to produce here and you have the perfect storm. Corporations fullfilling there mantra : :" Make a Profit at any Cost " even if it means the destruction of the very country you live in.

Torgie hit the nail on the head.

America is faltering because we have bred in laziness.  Everyone should get out there and CREATE something!  Quit watching so much TV and SOLVE A PROBLEM!

Germans are nuts for inventing, engineering, creating, building, perfecting, and making things more efficient.  To compete, we must quit standing around the water cooler whining.

IMO I don't think Facebook or Twitter have anything to do with what is going on. I feel that the problem is we (the USA) are service oriented and not manufacturing like they did back in the day. We need to start making more things that other countries want along with keeping the service side going. Think about how many manufacturing jobs we lost to outsourcing even USA based companies outsource costumer service. Come on now, call up anyone of the companies you see in front of you right now for support and see where you end up (India just to name 1). As far as twitter and Facebook they just put you in front of millions of people to shake their hands and introduce yourself to them and build a relationship that might lead to a need you can fulfill.

Mario, Is this discussion part of the new book you have coming out?  If not, maybe it should be with all the conversation it has gathered.  The sense of entitlement in our country is a bit sad.  As a nation we have risen to many a challenge, thanks for showing us.

Mario - great blog, and you have some great points about how we can continue as a nation that does not produce anything tangible; as for the impact of social networking, many people  (I think) "hide" behind Farmville in Facebook (for example) and allow themselves to feel connected and meaningful while in reality doing nothing - we do need to put the technology down now and then and communicate!