American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

[PrincessPerky]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Maybe american made products would be better made if their people were better paid!

Wanna place bets on how much those Non americans are getting paid? somehow they seem to do pretty well on less.

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I'm in a Global Trade and Finance class that has really opened my eyes in a new way. My teacher is extremely for the free market. Globalization is a good thing, enriching all participants, etc. And he's showed us lots of studies of different countries that decided to trade openly (and he specializes in the Soviet Union market pre-fallout). It's been pretty interesting.

One thing that caught my eye is that he said we should embrace outsourcing, globalization, etc. Countries are better of specializing and trading than trying to 'protect' their jobs at home. So, for instance if some country can manufacture steel much cheaper than we can, we should let 'em have it. And the steel workers should find new skills.

But how the heck do you teach a 30 yr steel worker new skills - 2-3 years from retirement? He touched on that, but didn't go into much detail.

It's an interesting class.

[cicy33]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Like most theories there is a flaw in your teachers. Sure it is great for the government but what about the people? According to what I read about your teacher is they he/she could care less about the american people and more about saving a dime. Which is exactly what is wrong with this country to start with. If you are constantly taking jobs from your people and lowering wages by doing so how can they expect loyalty? I don't see anything wrong in protecting our jobs. I also agree, how are going to teach someone new skills much less get them hired at a later age. We hear all the time about how hard it is to get hired after you are 50. Not saying that you agree with your teacher just my point of view. And I would be willing to pay a little more if it meant a stronger country.

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I'm going to play devil's advocate (which will probably help me on any tests ).

How do you define a "stronger country"?

[cicy33]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I believe a stronger country would entail more loyalty among its citizens which this area worries me ALOT. There are people fighting for our freedom and what happens if loyalty to our country fails? A stronger country means being more willing to help our people instead of other countries. I think that the people of this country did more for the victims of Hurricane Katrina than the government did. Which is wonderful but I think that the government should be more willing to put more funds towards our own disasters versus other countries disasters. If we continue to fund everyone else, we will not have any money here. I am not willing to help other countries with their problems until we have resolved the starving children the homeless and the lack of basic medical care here. A strong country means not worrying when we our threatened. We know that we will get up and kick A**. Mentality is just as important as weapons. Think about it. You work for a place that treats you like crap and makes you work really hard. You are paid okay but the stress is too much and you leave. You have no loyalty or care for them at all. Same idea. I am sure that this does not help. I just feel strongly that we need to help ourselves first. Otherwise who will? And who will be there to make sure we are okay?

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Do you believe the strongest country is most always the wealthiest country in terms of production? Or do you believe there could be a stronger country with less economic power, but more loyalty?

[VJW]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I wish we had more to depreciate. His truck is so old that I am afraid that if we depreciate it anymore it will cease to exist! One of these days I would love for him to have a new truck but so far not happening.

Once again, further evidence of how the tax system is structured to benefit the wealthy. If you were leasing a brand new truck, you could deduct 100% of the lease payments in the year they accrued.

#

[VJW]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I'm in a Global Trade and Finance class that has really opened my eyes in a new way. My teacher is extremely for the free market. Globalization is a good thing, enriching all participants, etc.

One thing that caught my eye is that he said we should embrace outsourcing, globalization, etc. .

Ask the teacher to explain why the wages of the vast overwhelming number of American workers have DECLINED over the past five calendar years, if “outsourcing” and “globalization” are such good things ?

#

[cicy33]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Do you believe the strongest country is most always the wealthiest country in terms of production? Or do you believe there could be a stronger country with less economic power, but more loyalty?

I think that having our own production makes us stronger not just because of money but also because we are self sufficient. Like right now, we are at the mercy of other countries over the gas prices. If we were able to provide for ourselves we would not be in such a crunch. When one depends on another country for supplies and needs that is to me a dangerous game. Also having our products made in the USA gives employees a sense of pride which can translate into loyalty. I was really upset when LEVI went to I believe to Mexico. Seems like nobody is interested in an american product anymore.

[cicy33]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Once again, further evidence of how the tax system is structured to benefit the wealthy. If you were leasing a brand new truck, you could deduct 100% of the lease payments in the year they accrued.

#

I know but I couldn't make the payments so I will just have to wait to be wealthy!

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Ask the teacher to explain why the wages of the vast overwhelming number of American workers have DECLINED over the past five calendar years, if “outsourcing” and “globalization” are such good things ?

#

I'm not sure how that fits into his argument (or rather, flies in the face thereof).

His basic premise was with trade theory. If a country can produce a good for cheaper (has a competitive advantage) then it should specialize and trade for its other goods.

The theory goes that when countries specialize and trade, there is more production in TOTAL.

I can see this happening in real life also. It makes sense. But what bugs me is how this total production is then allocated through natural market forces. He says it would provide for a wealthier world which would certainly be wonderful. But if 10% of the population controls 90% of the world's assets (I'm just using arbitrary numbers), and the assets total 1 trillion dollars. Then when the world becomes even richer (let's pretend twice as rich), the 10% benefits with an increase of 900 billion, and the 90% benefit with an increase of 100 billion.

Is that making sense? Am I missing something in my thinking?

[cicy33]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I think that the bigger concern would be if (and this is just an example) I will even use one of our allies. Lets say Canada has the market on Milk, and they supply 90% of the milk to everyone else. What happens if Canada decides it doesn't like us anymore? First they would diminish our milk supply and then make the prices so high no one could afford it. So Canada just got richer. Cuz people must have milk. This is a silly example of course. What if it were something more serious? What if we went to war with a country that provides us with something we must have and no longer produce here in the USA cuz it was so much cheaper to make somewhere else and have it shipped in.

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I'll have to ask my teacher. My first thought is that they would have huge incentive to not do that b/c we're also the sole supplier of some goods that they would desperately want. Does inter-dependence promote peace? I don't know

[PrincessPerky]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

Only if all parties are pretty rational. In the case of Canada they prolly are, in the case of some of the oil countries......

I love Scifi, and one series has two planets relativly close together, Masada and Yeltson? (fake names please excuse my spelling by David Weber) The 'Main' system Manticore is working on a treaty with Yeltson and brings along an economist. He feels they should forget their centuries long war (religious of course) with Masada and go for the mutually useful economic trade. Only there is no way to convince the not so rational 'faithful' to stop trying to beat their religious views into the other planet. So as proserous as it may be, it requires rational cooperation from all sides. (of course there is much more to the story, and very good)

Anyway economic theorywise I agree with your teacher, real life...you have to deal with poeple, not theorys.

[jmjj215]

Re: American living, then and now (1975 vs 2005)

I failed to mention he advocates free trade - no tariffs.