It should be noted that the two areas that continue to decline in this country are manufacturing and coal mining.
It is just cheaper to manufacture elsewhere and coal doesn't make sense anymore, there are cheaper alternatives.
This has impacted and continues to impacts certain areas of this country disproportionately and the solution is not a return to a past that is long gone but movement into the future.
There are already areas that have transitioned into new industries and abandoned most of the old.
Jobs in the service sector don't offer the same level of income and security for the unskilled as our old manufacturing economy used to.
The transition is therefore going to require that the Government fill some of the gaps in things like health care and pensions that have been created.
The alternative is a further increase in income inequality as those with the right skills or right connections do well and everyone else doesn't.
At this point people are being warned against voting for their own self interests with scare tactics and social issues.
We are a country of and for the people, so what serves them is what is right for America.
Showing posts with label fairness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fairness. Show all posts
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Monday, April 22, 2019
Government Fairness
We should never forget that decisions made by the Government impact peoples lives in very significant ways. In addition to the life and death decisions made regarding our active duty troops, it makes decisions that impact our lives from before our birth to the day we die, and even after.
You want the air you breathe to be clean, the schools safe and equipped, the streets safe, the highways in repair, the police professional, the health care system to be available and affordable, the food you eat safe, the country protected, the unemployment and retirement benefits to be there when needed, justice blind and your vote to count.
For all of those things we need Government at some level, and we generally want that Government to be fair.
We also know it is better to be rich in this country and if you are rich you are more likely to get what you want.
That old saying about needing money to make money is nowhere as true as in Government. If you need something, it certainly helps to buy a few politicians.
We have significant systems of welfare for the rich in the form of Government contracts, subsidies, incentives and favorable tax treatments. Some of these may generate jobs, but those jobs are diluted by high executive salaries, profits and the use of automation.
In fact the latest giveaway tax law increased profits significantly, helped stockholders, but had a minor and passing impact on jobs.
Its time to make sure politicians represent all the people, not just the ones who can make big campaign donations.
You want the air you breathe to be clean, the schools safe and equipped, the streets safe, the highways in repair, the police professional, the health care system to be available and affordable, the food you eat safe, the country protected, the unemployment and retirement benefits to be there when needed, justice blind and your vote to count.
For all of those things we need Government at some level, and we generally want that Government to be fair.
We also know it is better to be rich in this country and if you are rich you are more likely to get what you want.
That old saying about needing money to make money is nowhere as true as in Government. If you need something, it certainly helps to buy a few politicians.
We have significant systems of welfare for the rich in the form of Government contracts, subsidies, incentives and favorable tax treatments. Some of these may generate jobs, but those jobs are diluted by high executive salaries, profits and the use of automation.
In fact the latest giveaway tax law increased profits significantly, helped stockholders, but had a minor and passing impact on jobs.
Its time to make sure politicians represent all the people, not just the ones who can make big campaign donations.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
More Fairness
If you grow up poor in this country your odds of escaping that world are pretty slim.
Recent studies show that the best indicator of someones ultimate success level in life in their parents.
It makes sense. You learn what to do from your environs and the more money you have generally the better the environs.
Wealthy children go to well funded schools with extra-curricular activities, labs and advanced placement courses.
Poor children are often lucky to be in a class with an up-to-date text book.
For many of them school is more day care than educational experience.
They face many more issues related to bullying, gangs, drugs, and random violence.
Many have parents who are unable to take care of themselves let alone their children.
Many of them live in single parent homes and many of them have fathers who are incarcerated.
Often the question isn't if they will join a gang, its what one will they join?
Some do manage to get educated in spite of this and escape the cycle of poverty.
These are the exceptions, not the norm.
Thee children often have parents or a parent who cares just as much as parents in the suburbs, but if they are part of the working poor, they work long hours and aren't always available.
They say it takes a village, but what if the village is dominated by drug dealers, gang members and addicts?
You are likely not going to end up as a corporate executive.
Recent studies show that the best indicator of someones ultimate success level in life in their parents.
It makes sense. You learn what to do from your environs and the more money you have generally the better the environs.
Wealthy children go to well funded schools with extra-curricular activities, labs and advanced placement courses.
Poor children are often lucky to be in a class with an up-to-date text book.
For many of them school is more day care than educational experience.
They face many more issues related to bullying, gangs, drugs, and random violence.
Many have parents who are unable to take care of themselves let alone their children.
Many of them live in single parent homes and many of them have fathers who are incarcerated.
Often the question isn't if they will join a gang, its what one will they join?
Some do manage to get educated in spite of this and escape the cycle of poverty.
These are the exceptions, not the norm.
Thee children often have parents or a parent who cares just as much as parents in the suburbs, but if they are part of the working poor, they work long hours and aren't always available.
They say it takes a village, but what if the village is dominated by drug dealers, gang members and addicts?
You are likely not going to end up as a corporate executive.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Fairness
Life is not fair.
Both due to genetics and heritage we start off unequally.
Some people are born to wealthy or rich parents. Some are born with physical and mental attributes that exceed the average person.
Many successful people, seem unaware of the advantages they started with. There are of course people who have overcome the disadvantages of their birth and achieved success. This is the exception and while you see many books, written by successful people that talk about how they succeeded because of hard work, and they did, there were just as many people who worked as hard who didn't succeed.
If you don't have the natural ability it doesn't matter how much you practice singing, you will not become a star.
Economically it is a bit more equal, one can achieve some success despite the disadvantages of being born poor, with a little help.
The real question is what should society do to help those who for various reasons, are unable to help themselves?
This is not a new problem, it existed since the earliest days. The poor are mentioned in the bible and there is plenty of historical mention of the poor.
In some ways we have been fortunate in this country. For much of our history we were growing and creating jobs that required minimal skills but paid well.
This led to unprecedented national wealth and a standard of living for many that was the envy of the world. Not everyone shared in this but most did.
Then the robots started to take over. There are so many jobs that went away because of the rise of automation that we see a large group of Americans with limited opportunities. Its not their fault but they are the victims of it. The benefits accrue to the owners and the investors and we see the great increase in wealth inequality in this country.
Is there a solution? We have to find one. We can't just turn back the clock.
Both due to genetics and heritage we start off unequally.
Some people are born to wealthy or rich parents. Some are born with physical and mental attributes that exceed the average person.
Many successful people, seem unaware of the advantages they started with. There are of course people who have overcome the disadvantages of their birth and achieved success. This is the exception and while you see many books, written by successful people that talk about how they succeeded because of hard work, and they did, there were just as many people who worked as hard who didn't succeed.
If you don't have the natural ability it doesn't matter how much you practice singing, you will not become a star.
Economically it is a bit more equal, one can achieve some success despite the disadvantages of being born poor, with a little help.
The real question is what should society do to help those who for various reasons, are unable to help themselves?
This is not a new problem, it existed since the earliest days. The poor are mentioned in the bible and there is plenty of historical mention of the poor.
In some ways we have been fortunate in this country. For much of our history we were growing and creating jobs that required minimal skills but paid well.
This led to unprecedented national wealth and a standard of living for many that was the envy of the world. Not everyone shared in this but most did.
Then the robots started to take over. There are so many jobs that went away because of the rise of automation that we see a large group of Americans with limited opportunities. Its not their fault but they are the victims of it. The benefits accrue to the owners and the investors and we see the great increase in wealth inequality in this country.
Is there a solution? We have to find one. We can't just turn back the clock.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Fairness
What is economic fairness?
If you subscribe to laisez-faire economics, the results are pretty much fair no matter how they come out.
It works our pretty well for the winners and not so good for the losers.
That was largely the state of affairs when the industrial revolution started and generally the outcome wasn't pretty as rich industrialists dominated and many people lived in sub-standard housing or company towns where they eked out a meagre existence.
We went through a long period of reform where certain things were added to make things a little fairer, such as universal public education, public hospitals, unions, rules about the environment and worker safety as well as programs for the unemployed and the elderly.
It is hard to imagine life without those things now, although some do.
They are envious of the days when an enterprising person could rape the environment, oppress some workers and get rich.
Of course we see a lot of people getting rich and richer as wealth is becoming shared less equally.
Is this fair?
What is the fair share a resident of this country deserves?
It is the question that divides conservatives and progressives.
It doesn't have a simple answer.
If you subscribe to laisez-faire economics, the results are pretty much fair no matter how they come out.
It works our pretty well for the winners and not so good for the losers.
That was largely the state of affairs when the industrial revolution started and generally the outcome wasn't pretty as rich industrialists dominated and many people lived in sub-standard housing or company towns where they eked out a meagre existence.
We went through a long period of reform where certain things were added to make things a little fairer, such as universal public education, public hospitals, unions, rules about the environment and worker safety as well as programs for the unemployed and the elderly.
It is hard to imagine life without those things now, although some do.
They are envious of the days when an enterprising person could rape the environment, oppress some workers and get rich.
Of course we see a lot of people getting rich and richer as wealth is becoming shared less equally.
Is this fair?
What is the fair share a resident of this country deserves?
It is the question that divides conservatives and progressives.
It doesn't have a simple answer.
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