The Gutting of the Middle Class

It was Clinton who sold out America with his idiotic policies.

Stop reading epics such as “Iliad,” and the “Odyssey,” and pay closer attention to the news.


Bubba Sells Out America

Bubba sells Out America

This won't be popular... but this isn't totally a democratic thing, or even totally a republican thing. It's a capitlism thing (sorry Draginol, hey, I'm a capitlist too.) as well. To some capitalists, and capitalist entities (like corporations,) it's all about the bottom line.
Often:
American labor + set price/rate = profit however...
Foreign labor + set price/rate = MUCH more profit or even..
Foreign labor + lower price/rate = More profit still.

More profit equal more money. More money equal more money given to buy^h^h^h support politicians on both sides of the fence.

(Argh... where's my Aleve?? Woke up with migraine... ugh..)

Dude! I so agree with you! So, like, in my article that I recently posted, (yesterday) I ask you....do you have a friend of a friend who maybe knows someone who has a friend that has a solution/new idea? Europeans give America 20 years.....what do YOU think?

Typical lefty tripe. Good point by Anthony R. Here's another article explaining that manufacturing jobs have been lost worldwide since 1995, including China (who lost 15% compared to the U.S. 11%.)

http://news.morningstar.com/news/DJ/M10/D20/1066625462299.html

Of course it's all (somehow?) the fault of the evil republicans. What isn't?

How do Europeans "Give" America 20 years. For what? In 20 years, at the rate things are going, Europe will be well on its way to being an economic back water.

You guys are not alone, this is an event if you like that being repeated around the world, mainly started by left wing Governments attempting to equalise wealth between first and thrid world countries, (it always worries me what has happened to those second world countries).
So whilist I am well and truely from the left, the truth is that this is a totally left creation created by the likes of Democrates in you country, just as it was created by the Labor and Democratic parties in my country.
Having said that I must say it did not take big business very long to realise the "merits", or should I say profit potential of this strategy.
Having said that, the very real fact is that the more countries try to change the trend with tarrifs etc , the worse it becomes for all concerned. Protectionism is not the answer.
The sad reality is that some countries can produce some products cheaper, however this is not a trend that continues, due to the fact that they do catch up in wgaes eventually, not that this helps the battling working class, as they are known in Australia. The good news is that a transition does happen as economies adapt. However proping up un competitive parts of that said economy on defferes this change and adds more pain for those who are already battling. What the US, as well as many other economies, need to learn is economies are fluid, and will always change as others find better and more efficent ways to produce goods and services. In these economies there needs to be a realisation that there will be new products and services that go with them, to advance an economy and assist those affected by change.
The truth is the conservatives did not create the situation, however they as usual have to effect the change. The reality is am I am yet to see me proved wrong, the left always have great ideas, and love to implement change, in areas such as social security, healt care, welath equalisation etc, sadly they are very inept in what happens after this stage and always fall down on the follow through. Thus the conservatives are left to clean up and rescue the economy. In a two party system which we both share, this seems to work well one being the consince, the other the guys who make it all work and take the heat as the right wing uncares, I can't believe I am saying this, however many of my like minded friends agree with me that this is generally the way it works.
The fact is you either spend huge amounts of taxpayers mony to prop up inefficent practices or you have some fore sight and recognise the need for change and work with industry rto effect this.
Australia has spent the last 15 - 20 years going through the same problems, and I am happy to say that our economy and population came out the otherside better for it with a much more robust economy, growing at a very healthy rate.
In a nut shell, Draginol and Anthony are correct in pointing the finger at Hil...sorry Bill Clinton, I'm sure he was the President. Oh and those battlers who lost jobs, well Australia hs more people employed now that at any time in the last twenty years, based on figures realesed Last friday, economy growing at 4%, with investment from overseas and local business up dramatically, the intent on the part of the left was correct, however it is now up to the right to make it work, and it will given the right stimules and management, as I said protectionism may keep a few politicans in office but will only extend and compound the rpoblems that exist within that economy

The rich do get richer and the poor do get poorer, however many of the rich tned to take risks and work hard, and employ people, not all people with money are bad, and undeserving.

Try reading some European newspapers.....the US govt. can't censor what THEY print.....you will also see what an embarassmet GW has become for this nation.

hippygrl, I,m not sure if you are refering to my reply or the article itself, either way that my reply is neither an endorsement of GW nor is it a critisim of policy moving towards freeing up world economies, if you read my blog on protectionism, you will see that I actually endorse the policies which allow all economies to grow and florish, and do not believe in an introverted policy of protecting domestic markets. I do however support tax breaks and economic developments of domectic industries, and if GW is doing this then more power to him.

Hippygirl, the US government doesn't censor the news or what is printed in the media. Moreover, I don't really give a rat's ass what France or whatever thinks of GW. Don't they have someone they should be surrendering to this time of evening?

Quite right Draginol, what I and other non residents of the US and its President think in the long term is of no real concern to its citizens, it is you people who should have the final say as it is you who will benefit from either the good or the bad decisions, just as we have to deal with what our leaders do. After all I doubt that I or cictzens of France would appreciate our leaders being maligned by you or your media. You are the voters and it is your right to be proud or embarresed, however not all that the US does is necessarily wrong, you have contributed much to the world. However and sadley we are always remembered for our mistakes. As far as France is concerned, well they are faring no better than the US economically, and as far as caring about being a good citizen, just ask an Australian, New Zealender or and of the citizens of the south pacific on our opions as we have born the brunt of their atomic tests in the pacific, not to mention the British using Australia as a testing ground when they still were in a position to do so, and I am sure the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior is not that much of a distant memory. Some things need to be seen in the right context, France is not a very good International citizen at times, and they has some of the most repressive tarrif regimes anywhere in the world, which have hurt Australian farm trade every bit as much as the US. They also started the mess in Vietname, and sold arms to Iraq. So in the clear light of day I do not feel that the US should be taking too much notice of the CHET THUMPING of their President, as in the main he does not give a stuff about the Iraqies, just can see an opportunity to gain some brownie points with the Left in France and Europe, and it seems the US as well. If he was well intentioned say like the New Zealenders then maybe you could pay some attention. But he offered no solutions, just enough time to cover the French tracks throught Iraq.

You got me fired up now, just to add to above, many of us have opions, and this has always been something I like about this forum. However while I was disappointed with Gw TB and JW(thats John Howard our Prime Minister), I was just as if not more annoyed with the spoiling tatctics of the French President and Media, as I do not believe that the domestic polictial aspirations of their President should be furthered by using the very real plight of the Iraqie people. Nor has any further commitment come from the French Government to help since the war sought of finished. I know I am off the subject a bit, but France has historically been a spoiler and forgotton those who have been allies in the past in pursuit of their own agenda. So I say again the American public should not be giving too much creedence to the European Media. Its interesting, when Mr Bush came out here a couple of weeks ago, to green senators maligned him, very un Australian., and they have paid the price in recent polls. The reality is France are in no position to critise yhe US, one just has to consider the fact that they still control nations that they have no right to and at this point in time are still fighting several wars with sepratists around the globe, so one does need to consider what gives them the right to take the Moral high ground on International policy wheter it is relations with the UN, or the world in general or for that matter economic policy.

And it's not just true of France. If you look at ANY country under a microscope things start to look grim. Australia is the only modern nation to SUCCESFULLY carry out genocide for example (against the native Tazmanians). We won't even start on Germany. Even neutral Switzerland has a taudry history.

I'm not going to lose too much sleep to what the newspapers in France or Germany or Belgium write about Bush.

The US economy, btw, is currently growing at over 7% annually. Things are going pretty well here. Unemployment is at 6.0%.

Calor, btw, doesn't provide any actual solutions to the problem ofj obs going overseas. Just blame.

I should write a followu p article to this.

So what should those evil Republicans do to stop jobs from going overseas?

He can:

a) Give tax breaks and aid to American companies and have the left charge him with "corporate welfare"

He can smack tarrifs on foreign imports and subsidize American companies and get in trouble with the WTO (didn't we just see a post about that?)

Like Anthony pointed out, it was CLINTON that gave China permanent most favored trade status -- without requiring them to reform some of their shady trade practices.

One comment, Draginol, Australia did not carry out systemised genocide on Tasmainians, if you where in Australia you would be better informed as this very issue is being debated by Historians, both white and balck. The upshot is that while British settlers in some area pursued this policy it was not Government policy, nor was it favoured by the population at the time or the Crown, being the Government of the day. However having said that, in Australia like many other countries we have perptrated many crimes against the indeginous population, which we all have to accept as being fact and very wrong. However Genocide is the systematic and orginised eradication of people, this was not the case, while it does not deminish the crimes, you still need to be factual in your arguments. There are many other things that where done on systematic basis against the Aborigional Population, none of which I for one am proud to have part of my country's history, including the stolen generations and the masacares that were perpatrated against the indeginous population. As well as the slave trade of the Torres straight Islanders. As I said before Draginol, I will accept that the way the early settlers treated the first residents is shamefull and criminal, but at least get your facts straight mate, OK. Otherwise we could sit here all day pointing the finger, my friend. Thinghs like the Occupation of In\dian Land, and the ensuring treatment of these people , or the occupation of a large chunk of Mexico, now known as New Mexico, Texas and California, to name a few issues. I have never claimed to hold the moral high ground, but I won't lie down and be accused of mistruths, by the ill informed. I should mention that I do have the inside running on relation to aboriginal history, as my dear old mum is actually an authority on the subject and is often called to give evidence in land claim cases on behalf of the aboriginal population to help them win their case. So as you can see I am not talking out my arse. Of course genocide or not the fact remains that all abroiginal pure bloods in Tasmania have either been murdered of the last two centuries or died as a result of disease, so the sad fact is that we can discuss symantics till the cows come home, but it won't bring these people back, or change the injustice of it all. I might add that I have always been a vocal critic of the current governments head in the sand attitude to problems which still beset the aboriginals in Australia.
In closing Draginol, critise Australia all you like but get it right.

LOL.

Here are some facts: Number of native Tasmanians today: Zero. Where did they go? Wiped out by Australians. Not even mainly by disease but through killing. Much of it governmented funded.

By contrast, there are millions of native Americans still. Mexico's "Claim" on those territories was about as legitimate as any European claim on any land. Mexico wasn't founded by native Americans. At best, they merely had the land they stole from the natives stolen by a different European based power. It's kind of hard to feel sympathy for Mexico. The land controlled by native Americans, sum total, is larger than some European countries.

Just because you're in denial doesn't mean I'm "ill informed". I have, in fact been reading with some interest the various debates. My conclusion: The Tasmanians were wiped out mostly in the 19th century. They were wiped out by government sanctions raids. The last native Tasmanian was, for a time, stuffed and put on display. Australia has a lot of good things going for it but its treatment of the native peoples of Australia has no equivalence in the new world.

I suppose we will always differ on this, as for denial, sorry none there other than the acusation of genocide, by a Government that did not exist until 1901, and againg you should check you facts as I said before, there was no government funded killings, these killings did happen however were solely paid for by wealthy settlers, had you been keeping up with the current debate you would know that this is now proven to be true. You forget I do not deny what has been dished out to native Australians, just you account for it.

Draginol, There are still many aborioginals alive in Australi today, many decended from the Tasmanian Aboriginals, to some how think that you can justify the treatment of the American Indian, by a remark such as the fact that there are still plenty left belies belief, if only one aboriginal died it would still be a crime, as for your assertion that The aboriginals were wiped out in the nintenth century again is wrong however what sticks in my mind is that it seems to be okay to treat native americans the way they have been treated, exactly the same as the treatment dished out to the aboriginals, is some how less of a crime. I suggest you think about the above comments. None of the above is jusified , nor does it matter whether the British Crown paid for the eradication of aboriginals or whether it was landowners the fact is that is that it happend. To Address the stuffed aboriginal, that is true, however it or should I say he like many other abroiginal relices where actually stored in England, and the case is still to be settled. As for your justification re: Mexico, all life is sacred, ALL LIFE, you can never justify the killing or ill treatment of any one or a group or nation of people, however you seem to be a tad selective of just who is hard done by and who isn't. Again get you're dacts straight, including just who was the government of the day. By the way the Aboriginals of Tasmania do not refer to themselves as Tasmanian, they are in fact either Murrie or Coorie. No one denies the attrocities that occured, just you particular version.

THERE ARE NO ABORIGINALS OF TASMANIA IN TASMANIA.

You seem to be confusing Aboriginals in general with the ones that lived in Tasmania.

The only major source I've seen disputing this is from Keith Windschuttle who wrote a book trying to claim that it's all a "myth". Sorry Zerg, but other than a few people like Keith Windschuttle, the consensus is that Australian settlers conducted an organized campaign to exterminate the aboriginals of Tasmania.

There is no equivalent in US history here. The United States government did not advocate the wholesale slaughter of American indians. While isolated incidents certainly occurred, the intent was not to eliminate them. WHich is why there are millions of American indians but zero aboriginal tasmanians.

At best, you can say that the wiping out of the TAsmanians wasn't government sanctioned. That it was the act of Australian settlers. But the end result is still the same.

Draginol, you are spot on with Mr Windschuttle, since his book was released there have been several articles presented to refute his rather skewed claims, and have now been brought together in one book (I'm sure it is now a book). This is a very balanced argument presented by Professor Robert Mann, which is accurate and in essence draws on the work of several contributors, all authorities in this field. This is worth reading if you can get your hands on it. Concerned to refute Windschuttle's claims and arguments, Robert Manne edited Whitewash, a collection of essays by some 20 contributors, which was published during the Melbourne Writers Festival, this in itself prompted an interesting debate which was broadcast on ABC Radio National. I have tried to track down acopy of the transcripts, however to no avail. As you can see the name of the book is, Whitewash, Author: Robert Manne;
Publisher: Black Inc Agenda. Robert Manne is highly respected for his understanding of these parts of Australian history.
If this subject is of interest to you , you may also wish to look at the stolen Generation, this was a more recent event where the Federal Government at the time felts that all aboriginal children should be taken from the parents and homes, and put into church missions, to be assimilated into mainstream society. In other words an attempt to wipe out all existing culture, whilke many of these children do say they recieved a good education and were in the main treated well by the Sisters, and other clergy, they are all still traumatised as a result, many of whom suicided. Yes Australia has a bleak history when it comes to our treatment of Aboriginals, and in some ways some members of our current government still refuse to acknowledge this, makes me wonder why we call ourselves civilised.

According to your logic, the Republicans sold out the steel industry. A recent news event involves Bush in a huge flap with the WTO, and the fourth Reich (EU) over steel tariffs. The steelworkers unions have been applauding and cheering Dubya, who is trying to save their jobs.

Living in the land of the big 3, I can tell you that there are still many Americans that make a ton of money off from blue collar work.

I also never understand the mentality behind "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". Explain why that happens? I am sure that you will say "society" or the "government". Which, then, takes all the responsibility away from the individual. Funny thing is, my family was not "rich" by any means. There are a lot of my family that are still on welfare. However, *I* worked my way up to where I am now by taking risks and being a bit driven. I also don't have a "degree" in what I do. The funny thing is- my husband, who has a blue collar job, makes more money than my "tech" job does. The company that he works for is also owned by *gasp* Germans (that silly world trade stuff that we have going on...)..... All that doesn't quite equate with your neat little view of how America works. And, BTW, I'm not a Liberal or a Conservative, but I am a Capitalist

The interests of big business are driving the off shoring of jobs. EVERY professional job is at risk of being off shored due to labor arbitrage NOT free market dynamics!

Silence Or Compliance
Raymond Donald Pairan Jr.
Copyright (c) 2004 All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION
This paper is just a further elaboration on some of the topics that I presented in my work entitled “The Economy” which I hope has inspired the moral, the passionate, and displaced future working slave class to start inquiring about their ultimate condition within the hands of the business/political elite. It is absolutely wonderful that certain members of the media have started to question the direction and motives of the business/political elite and have beat the bushes where they’ve been hiding thus exposing their true motives to the clear light of day. But make no mistake the business/political elite will stop at nothing to eliminate any opposition be it ethical government, the media, or any other encumbrance that inhibits them from achieving their goal of creating a subservient working class and a contrasting unencumbered business/political elite power base.

SILENCE/COMPLIANCE
At this point in time the media has the business/political elite (forgoing referred to as the controllers) on the defensive at least within the United States, which is in the mist of a presidential election year. Make no mistake the controllers would like to and will eventually silence all media dissent against their planned worldwide domination of all elements that can negatively effect their goal of sucking every last drop of revenue from the world into their realm. If this means devising a means of quelling dissent from those within the media that don’t wish to go quietly with the controllers view – so be it. Keep in mind that money and power are the driving force of the controllers and everything and anything that inhibits their eventual control over these elements in their eyes must be eliminated. This could mean the off shoring of media jobs to compliant outlets such as India where in the case of the English speaking world there exists a future working slave class that speaks English rather decently. The controllers could then eliminate media disseminated descent to their plans of complete global control over all the factors of production including the eventual working slave class. This means that no job is safe from the plans by the controllers to evolve all jobs into mere subservient, compliant, malleable factors of production. Time is limited for the controllers and others that support the free trade (code word – free) subjugation over all workingmen and women. The ideologue's within the future working slave class will blindly follow one another lock step onto the slave ship that will set sail for their future of no dissent, compliance, no morality, no freedom, no future but one of subservience. The time is very near at hand so those within the media that are the moral voice of dissent must take our case to a fever pace in order to expose and keep all rouses from becoming the new molded distorted facts that can be espoused by the controllers. For the controllers their religion is money and power because for them nothing else matters. If they can gain control over not only you the educated working, the hard factory working, the service sector working, then they will be free to build a truly worldwide free market economy where they are free to do what they wish when they wish it.

BEND THE TRUTH LIKE LIGHT THROUGH A PRISM
If you say something enough and if you change the dynamics and distort the facts to your liking then eventually it will be believed by enough people to become the truth. Basically, the controllers just prior to taking complete control over all media dissent will be hard pressed to dispute facts such as 3 million jobs lost in under 3 years, poverty within the United States at record high levels, whole town centers across rural America with a preponderance of vacant store fronts, a trillion dollar deficit, most states within budget crisis, a college education now getting further from the reach of most Americans, and the list goes on and on. Historically speaking when facts don’t convey what the power elite (in our case the controllers) wish than they just change the way those facts are presented so they convey a distorted picture favorable to those in control. This is nothing new and has been employed quite successfully by those in power many times in the past in the form of propaganda. We must maintain focus on the standard measures used within the past and not let the seeping of new measures (touted by the controllers) distort the facts.

THE TIME IS NOW
It is imperative that we work with the media while it is still free to convey the truth about the controller’s objectives and goals. Time is quickly running out for the average working citizen to maintain some semblance of influence over their respective governments. The controllers will and are gaining control over these governments covertly, directly, and through draining the government treasuries converting partially effective governments into impotent shells of past power. Once the controllers are finished with governments than even the political elite will be at jeopardy of becoming obsolete. So those within the political elite may be enjoying the fruits of soiled money conveyed to them by the business controllers but make no mistake once the business controllers have achieved their objectives they will dispose of even the political elite thus eliminating this drain on their coveted profits. There exists one goal of the controllers and that is to extract and drain as much wealth from the world as is possible. The controllers have no God, no religion, no morals, no scruples, and no conscience but only one overriding unquenchable desire – the complete control over all aspects of their bottom line. They will stop at nothing to satisfy their additive need to acquire more and more wealth at the expense of anything that gets in their way. Any worker that is currently employed by a firm that has global reach over its factors of production (and this doesn’t include many small to medium sized firm’s playing by the rules) are at risk of being eliminated. This includes every imaginable profession since there currently exists the technology and desire (by the controllers) to out source any profession – first and foremost the media (the thorn within the controllers side). It is imperative that in the next few weeks and months that all of us that count ourselves among the working class keep abreast of issues, meaningful relevant facts, and not be swayed by propaganda spewing from the controllers. We must make our voices heard through written, vocal, and peaceful dissent to the path that the controllers are leading us down. We must not and cannot follow the controllers blindly into a future of no government and working slave subservience. Remember the controllers will use key phrases such as “free market”, “household survey”, patriotism, and many others to sway global opinion towards their way of reasoning. Also, keep in mind there are many honest, decent, caring employers (mostly small, medium, and a few large sized businesses) that are playing by the rules and respect their workers, and communities. It is probably only a few but powerful firms making up the Fortune 500 that are the real controllers of a destiny of worker subservience. I will continue to write the unpopular truth be it what may come. You should continue to question, reason, and judge the facts and not be swayed by propaganda. Let the facts speak for themselves because they surely will if given the chance!

The rich do get richer and the poor do get poorer, however many of the rich tned to take risks and work hard, and employ people, not all people with money are bad, and undeserving.

You are one-third correct. The cliche about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer just doesn't hold up to objective scrutiny, however. It is looney in the extreme to posit that living standards for the poorest among us here in America have worsened as the nation as a whole has prospered. Even John Kennedy ascribed to the "rising tide lifts all boats" premise. It has to be put in the context of the reality of existence in the rest of the world. What other engine (capitalism) for improving the lot of the masses has ever worked?

Cheers,
Daiwa

Sorry, zergimmi - I meant to say two-thirds correct. I agree with you otherwise.

Cheers,
Daiwa