It has driven non-entrepreneurs and non-salesmen to the Public sector to earn a wage they can actually subsist on. Teaching pays more than most Science jobs nowadays. Blame the union all you want, but it's primarily that way because you can't outsource a classroom of children - yet.
The only thing stopping the outsourcing of American job was the kind of tariffs and levies the Founding Fathers always used to protect American interests. That's gone now, because the Chamber of Commerce types swear by Milton Friedman and despise Adam Smith. Economic Patriotism is “Socialism” if you ask them. “Start your own damn business or shut up,” is the attitude. Then try actually starting a new business when the Chamber businesses are gods to the Legislative bodies. Good luck.
Make no mistake about it. When we talk about the “Global Economy,” we talk about reaching new markets and new investments. The Free Traders are talking about ten-cent an hour labor in Third-World countries without consequence. Free Trade has widened the wealth gap and destroyed the market for the American worker.
Worth repeating.
Everyone talks about Detroit, well there are thousands of mini Detroits all over the USA....
As I found out the hard way, the average life of a small company controller is 18-24 months. I’m now in the public sector, coming up on five years. Won’t go back, I learned how John Galt felt working for Taggart Transcontinental. I now have the time and flexibility to enjoy my family and other pursuits.
Thanks for the thread, the last time I discussed this I felt like the lone ranger surrounded by free traitor zombies. Free trade is great in theory until you actually see it in action. I remember during the early 80’s the Japanese bypassing their quota of cars coming into the country by taking the back seats out and getting them through as trucks. They moved in and devastated my state. China is scheduled to have a bigger Navy than us in 6 years time. They already have nearly double the submarines. Americans better wake up pretty quick. They are going to come for us eventually, make no mistake about it.