I believe in captalism... which is like saying I believe in marriage... hang on, let me explain.
Capitalism, like marriage requires effort by both parties involved.
A business requires employees... they agree to work and work hard for the success of the business, and with the hope that if they excel, they will be
promoted and increase on a regular basis their income. The business owner agrees to hire and pay the employess ADEQUATELY for their labors with the
expectation that the owner will have a thriving business producing and selling a superior product.
Both parties realize that by doing their part, a successful and secure community is ensured as each business and employee puts back into the community
by supporting other businesses, stores, factories, restuarants, and then local governments see a rise in taxable income and in return provide better
schools and parks and services to support and enhance the well being of the community.
Somewhere, that idealism and commitment broke down. It has all become very mercenary... highest bidder and lowest bidder take all. No more commitment
to the employee and no more commitment to the employer...
as such, jobs have gone overseas because the job done in Bangledesh or Mexico can be done for half of what it was done for in Illinois or
Pennsylvania. The skilled laborers found thay could make as much on a computer at home leaving the business owner seeking trained labor somwhere
else.... the influx of cheap labor into the US has pushed wages unskilled wages down, as business owners find workers to do a skill for 8.00 an hour
instead of 12.00...
For instance, the avg. wage for meat cutters/processors in 1990 was 12-13.00 an hour in a packing house...today, it is 8-9.00 an hour. I have a couple
of uncles that were successful brick masons...had their own businesses and did well for years. They eventually retired early because they couldn't
compete with new start up businesses by immigrants willing to do the work for almost half the bid price.... right or wrong, these market elements
drive down wages.
As a result, we see more money going out of governments instead of going in..and a reduction is services, infrastructure maintainance, projects, cut
budgets, etc. We see businesses that relied on local factories closed...the shoe store, the diner, the hardware store, auto dealers...closed down. And
as they close, they have a ripple effect across the town, county, state, and country.
Unless the USA begins to develope some new businesses and products and technologies, and offers incentives for businesses that hire low skill labor to
return to the USA....we are stuck with low wage jobs. Even people with good skills and training are having trouble finding work, as these jobs are on
the cutting edge...which means technology has replaced a bank of workers with a computer.
The only answer I can see is to become an entreprenuer and start your own business...which takes time and capital and doesn't work for everyone....
Our country and our businesses have abandoned a commitment to each other, not realizing that people can't buy your products and services unless you
provide them the means to buy them in the first place.
Back to the marriage analogy, instaed of treating our people and citizens as a loving, trusting, and respected mate and companion...most businesses
have turned us into a 2 dollar crack whore that they use, abuse, and then lose.... thinking that tommorow, there will be somebody else to take your
place.
edit on 29-9-2011 by AlreadyGone because: wording