My take on this whole issue is fairly simple. It all boils down to the culture and work ethic that has evolved in this country.
We want the companies to sell to us cheap while paying us big bucks, without having to work TOO hard. In a free market, that mentality just doesn't work. Blame the companies, blame the Gov't, blame the unions - they are all influenced by the same factors - the people.
Corporate greed today? Driven by Wall Street which in turn is driven by the average investor. Times were that a good company was determined by solid performance and good dividends providing modest returns- speculation was for the gamblers. Now it is all speculation - get rich quick and whine when we get burnt. Most forget that most of these "greedy, corporate, despots" began in someone's garage with an innovative idea and hard work.
Livable wages? Used to mean bare necessities, maybe buying a house, hoping to send junior to college, and an occasional luxury - now it's about collecting the most toys, have the biggest house, and luxury car. Somewhere people feel that their wages should be equitable with the people around them - regardless of the level of work or skill. Sense of entitlement?
There is indeed corporate greed and bad management - but I would argue that much outsourcing occurs just to control costs to keep companies afloat (look at all of the mergers and failed companies over the years) and/or please Wall Street - impossible when workers demand higher wages than the market will bear. Add to that all the new regulations - wanted by people that drive their SUVs to the forest to hug the trees. Oh, and let's now forget liability for not warning consumers to use common sense.
Broken education system or spoiled/lazy students? I see the honors students get off the bus with a stack of books and hours of homework - others go straight out to play - how do you convince the 10 yr old honor student that they are on the right track when they see the others coast. The schools might not be perfect, but we expect teachers to entice the kids to learn, without any ability to apply discipline. Same in "Little league" - used to be about teaching competition and to work hard, and maybe not make the cut - now everybody gets to play and rewarded the same - can't hurt lil Johnny's feelings...
My gut tells me capitalism is dying in this country - hopefully it's just the typical generation gap thing - but it sure seems different this time.
We can talk conspiracies, greed, lousy Gov't, but IMHO it starts at home, as with most things. I almost hope for an economic "ice age" to level set things, even though it would be very painful. The Big 3 going under would be a sign of such a thing....
Sorry, I swore I was not gonna post to this thread, but just couldn't help it - feel free to throw rocks or flame away.....
