Re: Why hasn't the government figured it out yet?
The only solution to America's problem , is to do away with "greed".
However, it will be extremely difficult because of the constitution, and the fundamental premise of "democracy", freedom of everything. There really is such a thing as "too free".
To start with, there ought to be a limit on "capitalism". Let's start with the CEO and executive salaries.
A simple calculation:
It's reported that even in the depth of the recession, the Banks' CEO and executive bonuses were something like $10 billion+? If true, that is both obscene and immoral! while people are suffering, and the whole country is going to the dogs. Take that $10 billion, and divided by say the minimal worker's salary of $30K....you get something like 300,000 + jobs. What about the CEO and executive salaries themselves? So, if the salaries of these people were limited to say, Max $1 million each year, how many jobs will that create? At least it'll get the jobless rate down to a more reasonable level.
And, those executives will not starve on their $1 million salary...and they will still be RICH!
As it stands with the law now, these people in charge of Corporate American, have one goal , and one goal only, to enrich themselves and set up for retirement. Do you think they give a hoot about the Company or the workers or the country? No! Even if the Company goes bankrupt, after being in the company for a few years, they're all set; they've already amassed their fortunes with their multi-million $ salaries and bonuses. If they get fired, all the better, because the contract gives them $millions in severance pay. Unfortunately, the government does nothing because their hands are tied by the constitution, they cannot "interfere" with the "free market". It's a free-for-all out there. These guys have got the politicians in their back-pockets.
The form of government is flawed too. Yes it's freely elected, but does not represent the people. The only goal of the politicians is to get elected. So, they can lie and promise...but once elected, nothing matters. The sad part is, there IS NO choice out there, even though there's the appearance of a choice between two parties, the reality is they're mostly the same; no real changes.
Unless you have a closed society with no trade, living standards and wealth of average citizens will gravitate towards the compromise denominator....meaning the standards of poor countries will rise, and those of "rich" countries will fall until they meet in equilibrium.
All manufacturing will go to China, India,...etc as long as you have international trade and there's a large gap in wages.
The other problem is oil. There was a crisis back in 1980, when there was a shortage of the stuff, and rationing occurred. For 30 years after, the government did nothing, both Democrats and Republicans. If they had seriously put a alternative energy plan into effect back then, I cannot imagine that there would still no substitute for oil today. Imagine if they recognized the problem with "free enterprise" back then, and diverted the excess salaries of Corporate America into research for a solution, the country may not be in this dire situation today; similarly, the limitation on "greed" would have prevented the housing crisis that precipitated the economic collapse and recession.
Then, there's the wars; which drained the country of its capital.
Don't you go to war with a plan? overwhelming force, win ,kick out the bad guys, and leave? Why stay, especially if you're NOT welcome; what are the benefits?
Unless the above problems gets addressed by the government, the country will continue to accumulate debt.
Ken
? If there was not a Wal~Mart, there would be 1.2 million less jobs, (that's in the US ONLY) and 100 million less people being able to afford things they need and/or want.
