So who's fault is it that the World is in Recession? Certainly not the Republicans, not Bush.... 'Nuff Said.I haven't read one post here that blamed GWB and his team for causing the problem. But he's President now, and with one signature he can end the influx of foreign labor, and, in the name of national emergency send home every non-citizen who is doing a job that an unemployed or underemployed US citizen is qualified to do.
Thanks everyone for the viewpoints. Just one concern which remains to be addressed. This country sees more long term benefit through trade, championing free trade as it is called, than "fair" trade. If the US today were to assert her right to make trade "fair" then it would destroy the system. This system existed long before the the WTO. The WTO is actually a global system which integrates nations peacefully into the international fold. Most of the State Department jibberish in diplomacy is laced with advancement of goals through trade. It is my humble opinion that as the leading economic engine in the world, the US must sometimes accept less in order to get more. On economies of scale, people - individuals - are hurt by this action but in the broader sense (cents) we all benefit from the advancement of these policies. I'm sorry for those who cannot make a living wage, or those out of work. I'm also sorry that some believe taxing the rich will allivate this plight at the expense of future growth and job creation. There are no easy answers but I make one simple suggestion - do not work for someone else if starting out in life, but rather engage in a vocation that is in demand so that you own your means of production; while I know this is not possible for everyone, it is the best I can come up with.
In the USA today, people are given an opportunity to succeed. Most Americans prefer to get "jobs". Those who immigrate prefer to create their own jobs. In Europe, they have a social safety net for everyone, but there is no opportunity. Without opportunity as an incentive, there is no significant individual spirit released to become creative. I watch my EU coworkers every single day struggle with knowing that their current plight is the penacle of their social experiment; faced with restructuring because their society cannot any longer provide for all as it has in the past. It is better that we Americans suffer as we than collectively as Europeans.
There is not a single answer politically. Currencies will play a pivital role in trade and job protection; not tarrifs or policies, least we revert to wars throughout the world tomorrow.