Why are certain truths hard for people to grasp or accept?

Let us start with your first “certain truth”. There are some US made goods that cannot be made abroad simply because nobody else has the capabilities. Yes, they can make cars and electronics, but there are certain things they cannot do. I wish I could go into a little more detail, but that’d be a rather long and boring digression; just trust me when I say that I’ve done a few of those jobs.

And that right there pretty much answers your question; many “certain truths” are not so certain (or always true), so why should we accept them?

There was a time when ones vote did make a difference, that is no longer the case. There is no ” we the people” anymore, another harsh truth that many do not accept. There is corporate America and a handful of high rollers that seal the deals before anyones vote is cast.
Part of what you ask is just the reality of our capitalist culture.

Outsourcing for the best deal IS capitalism at it’s finest.
As far as sexy women exciting men, well…..nothing new there, the difference is women with ethics.
I was quite the cutie in my younger years and was aware of my sexual power but I always wanted to be liked for my brains and humor over my tits and ass. There is no “one size fits all.” “Truth” is always subjective.

“Truth” is subjective, and never say “never”.

edit sorry didn’t read the whole question.

Truth=Facts
You gave no facts or data to establish what you are calling truth. Not a cogent argument. Oops.

“A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.” N. Bonaparte
I’m sure you know the saying that opinions are like ****, everybody’s got one.”
It seems I was just occupied with what I think is related to this subject.
Everybody loves science, they think they have a good grasp on it. Yet just as the religious are accused of cherry picking from the Bible, the public at large does the same with science.
I have nothing to reference only personal observation.

One truth that many people cannot accept:

God doesn’t exist. God is a made-up construct.

I am reminded of the quote in Jesus Christ, Superstar

Pontius Pilate: “And what is ‘truth’? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?”

Some changes matter enough to be worth fighting for. The paycheck thing in particular is one of those “truths” worthy of close examination. How is it that German workers manage to receive such generous paychecks producing expensive quality goods that everybody wants? Along with universal health care, free childcare, free college education, generous pensions. Why is it that we somehow take a backseat to Europe in everything but nukes and prisons?

@stanleybmanly Don’t forget obesity; we’re #1 there too, last I checked.

We have problems but most are self inflicted. Manufacturing that employs high levels of unskilled workers will make it hard to compete with foreign labor. When you get to automated processes or highly skilled labor we could be quite competitive. Unfortunately we drive costs higher and higher with regulations until it drives the industry overseas.

It’s almost funny to hear @stanleybmanly complain that Germany pays better but we waste money on defense. If we had not helped Germany with defense, they would be part of the Soviet Union (which would still exist).

We have no unsolvable problems. Nor any ‘Truths’ that cause our decline. Only self inflicted wounds.

@Jaxk At no point did I mention “wasting money” nor “defense”. If,however, it turns out that their standard of living is leaving us in the dust because we’ve squandered our treasure on their defense, were we stupid? Would we be stupid to continue?

@stanleybmanly – You may have information I don’t but a quick search of median house hold income shows Germany at 30 721 USD a year and the US at $49,486. I’m not sure but it looks like we earn more.

@Jaxk Quite so. It’s the “highly skilled labor” part that has kept me employed, and we do cause a lot of our own pain.

However, there is more than just regulations driving up costs. Employers generally subsidize their employee’s insurance, right? Simple truth; higher healthcare costs means insurance companies pay out more, which leads to higher premiums. In other words, the high cost of healthcare is money flying out of employer’s pockets.

Or how about the simple truth of the tax loopholes that allow GE to pay zero taxes? If we need X amount of revenue, and they pay nothing, that’s a little more out of the coffers of small business owners, the ones who actually make most of the jobs in this country.

But probably one of the biggest driving forces behind employer costs going up is housing prices. Rent/mortgage is almost universally the largest expense the majority of working-class Americans have. The higher housing costs go, the more wages workers will demand. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that paying $20/hr costs more than paying $10/hr.

Overall though, I agree with you. I just have a slightly wider scope of vision than you presented there.

What is the average household size in Germany anyways? That affects the “median income” vs “median household income”, but I’m not up for Googling it right now.

@Jaxk Wonderful thing “median income” The Kochs, Buffet, and Bill Gates rather skew the statistics. Oh yes, and their standards of living are just fine.

@stanleybmanly They may skew the average, but not the median.

@stanleybmanly & @jerv

I give. If I can’t use statistics or facts, I am effectively disarmed. I will mention however that Germany has some rich bastards in their ranks as well.

Yes and their government regulates the hell out of their society. Their billionaires make the same complaints as ours. But yet they find the money to provide universal health care free daycare, free tuition, pensions for everyone and on and on.

Wonderful place that Germany. I wonder why everyone’s not emigrating there.

Tighter shorter and much better controlled borders?

@Jaxk I am honestly curious as I am uncertain of the stats. I just know math well enough to be fussy about certain points.

@jerv – According to this the average household is 2.04. I saw another that put it at 2.2 (can’t remember the year they used). That makes it slightly smaller than the US average but not significantly.

@Jaxk Thanks.

here’s a truth: the customer is not always right.

@Carly The customer is always right… and for that they need to be punished. Scott Adams -Dogbert.

@Coloma I was quite the cutie in my younger years and was aware of my sexual power but I always wanted to be liked for my brains and humor over my tits and ass.
Yes, it has been around forever same as the ”oldest profession”, but what does ethics have to do with anything? If a female is born with abilities or attributes that allow her to get ahead or earn money, why should she not use it? If she has a MENSA quality brain and she uses that to her advantage why is it more ethical than her shaking her booty in a G-string?

@tinyfaery You gave no facts or data to establish what you are calling truth.
I am following the template of 100s of other Fluther questions that make assertions of fact without a data base of facts behind them.

@elbanditoroso God doesn’t exist. God is a made-up construct.
That would take more than a novice to deal with, so we are dealing with things that can be seen, a concept novice can wrap their heads around because it doesn’t take much thought.

@stanleybmanly How is it that German workers manage to receive such generous paychecks producing expensive quality goods that everybody wants?
Because they don’t have a bunch of greedy, viperous, executives that push shoddy merchandise off on their customers. We all know the executives and the 1%ers are rooking John Q badly. They could pay decent wages if they give up their 7 figure incomes for sitting behind desk, downsize their McMansions, liquidate their fleet of Ferraris and Bentleys, and did away with their Golden Parachutes. ~~~

@Hypocrisy_Central I can’t pose an ethical argument, pandering sexuality just is what it is. All I can say is that using ones brain to make a difference in this world, in whatever form, trumps using ones ass. Catering to base, animal sexual instinct and arousal doesn’t contribute to much of a rise in the progression of humanity, only contributes to a rise in ones jeans. Lap dances don’t cure cancer. lol

@Coloma _All I can say is that using ones brain to make a difference in this world, in whatever form, trumps using ones ass. Catering to base, animal sexual instinct and arousal doesn’t contribute to much of a rise in the _
So, if she used her ”MENSA quality brain” to ace quiz shows for big prizes, in business to make millions, or some elaborate Ponzi scheme that can’t be detected and if so, never points back to her, then I guess her brains becomes no better than an ass shaking in a G-string or her crotch performing a sizzling lap dance?

@Hypocrisy_Central None of those examples are poster kids for using ones brain in a way that makes a real difference unless making tons of money in business goes along with an altruistic mindset.