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tj444 -> RE: What is wrong with politics in America (10/10/2013 9:47:06 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: vincentML
quote:
the middle class has been disappearing
This may be true. But I propose it is not due to the mismanagement or bickering of politicians but to the rise of globalized markets and labor, and to the advances of digital technologies which replace the workers in our dwindling manufacturing base. Short of imposing ruinous tarriffs and abrogating trade agreements there is little that politicians can do. Today's labor force needs to learn new skills just as the blacksmith was pressed to become an auto engineer when that technology arose. There has been a tectonic shift away from a manufacturing economy to an information economy that requires workers to catch up. Unfortuantely, some are too old to qualify. But that is due to the economics of disruptive capitalism rather than to the messiness of democratic government.
that may be part of it for some people but imo its also due to the govt increasing taxes over time and the introduction of new taxes, fees, charges, etc by all levels of govt.. A person having the same job (where the reasons you cite are not a factor) has seen his/her take-home pay dwindle- that is the squeeze on the middle class and why they are disappearing (imo).. I have looked at this myself cuz I noticed this happen.
The govt could impose tariffs, I suppose, but it is Big Biz that has lobbied them to allow them to offshore and reap gangster profits and not be taxed on their worldwide income, the lack of tariffs benefits US global industry, not the middle class.. Is it fair that the US govt requires Americans living & working abroad to pay US tax (if they earn over a certain amount) when at the same time they allow US multi-national corporations to get away without paying any tax on their offshore earnings? As corporations are "people" too, they should be taxed on worldwide income also, I would argue.. so imo you don't need tariffs, you just need to tax the corps on worldwide income.. that tax thing is part of the reason they offshore in the first place & shift income to a faux intermediary corp based in a tax haven.. take away that incentive..
If the govt was a fair, responsible govt and people did not see the waste of tax dollars, the back room dealings with Big Biz, see govt selling them out over and over again.. then people would feel they were at least getting their monies worth and they wouldn't think there was much wrong with politics.. but that is not the how politics in the US is, of course..
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