The American Prosperity Myth
Do we really do business better than everyone else?
Are we really way ahead of the Europeans in terms of research and and modern industrial power?
Read the article below...
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i...1&c=1&s=hutton
Are we really way ahead of the Europeans in terms of research and and modern industrial power?
Read the article below...
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i...1&c=1&s=hutton
Comments
Also... we use foreign aid when and where we see it serves us...
Originally posted by chu_bakka
So what does foreign aid have to do with US Business's lack of foresight and maintaining a shareholder/board bottomline?
Also... we use foreign aid when and where we see it serves us...
Simple, if the US wasn't handing out money everywhere, we might have more money at home to take care of the "luxuries" that the article defends are being handled in Europe. The US is in a position right now to do what it can do best, considering that we have not been appreciated for assisting the rest of the world for over half a century.
If the flow of money stopped from the US, most of the luxuries described occuring in these nations would stop too.
I wish I had a rich Uncle Sam who would pay my way so I could pursue my bliss too!
1) American companies are undoutedly infected by the shareholder greed syndrome, where the goal every year is to do whatever it takes to make the accounting look good, rather than do whatever it takes to innovate and become more productive.
Companies more and more stick to their old modes of business, and simply lay off hundreds of workers, or greedily cut back worker benefits while demanding longer work hours every year. That's how they make the accounting work -- not by finding new services and products to offer that weren't previously available, but by slashing their costs (which invariably means employees).
It's ridiculous: my SO gets more and more responsibility dumped on her desk every year, gets only minor wage incentives to do that work, and what's more she has less time to do it. Middle management in corporate America is totally and utterly inept. Every friggin corporation you look at, how do the managers solve their problems? They call meetings every other day and dump their responsibilities onto other people's laps. More and more meetings, less and less time to do the stuff that was dumped onto your lap at the last meeting -- which of course originated from the 12 people that got layed off last month.
SOMEONE has to do their job, right? It's sure as hell not going to be the middle managers doing it. Quite frankly, I think it ought to be law that for every blue collar or staff work that loses their job, a middle manager also ought to lose theirs. That would make these friggin greed-stricken board members think twice about where their real problems lie.
2) Some of the above-noted infection HAS to be the result of the American consulting industry. And entire class of companies that produces nothing, but instead charges out the wazoo to advise other companies on how to pinch pennies. Ironic, huh? For every engagement that focuses on product innovation, there are four that focus on "restructuring". Consulting is the biggest friggin scam of the last 20 years.
When done right it combines helping the client innovate its product line with worker-conscious cost cutting and financial responsibility. Today all it is, is cost cutting with some IT window-dressing to make it look attractive.
This is a huge big part of why companies don't innovate more.
3) I can't speak to accessibility of one race or another because I truly don't know that much about all the different grant and scholarship prorgams out there that are geared to the same, but I DO know that American universities are universally FUBAR when it comes to tuition and living expense. Hell, even the best private high schools are now thousands of dollars per year. It's disgusting.
The bottom line here is, where does all the money go? The answers are "athletic programs, university management,and sometimes fancy new buildings that only affect a small portion of the student body (usually a new athletic complex or hospital addition)."
One of the reasons I don't plan on having children is that I know for a fact that I will never be able to afford a good college education for them, and furthermore that being middle-class, there will be almost no chance of securing scholarship money for them. It's pathetic that such thoughts should even have to enter my mind, living in America.
I could do the old "once you're 18 you're on your own, I'm not helping with college so figure it out" thing, but I'm not asshole enough.
Overall I think the article provokes the right kinds of arguments that need to be had across the country. Despite the normal cycles of business and prosperity (something I think the author ignores), the American Empire is clearly in decline on several important fronts. Things that will end up biting us in the ass 20 years from now.
Originally posted by chu_bakka
We do have a rich uncle sam but he's just spending it all on the military and giving it away as tax cuts.
Since when does the govt give away tax cuts?
Last time I checked, I earned that money. How can the govt give away something back to the original owner?
It's good to know that these are the only things that the US Govt wastes its money on. And here I thought all those alphabet agencies did so much more. Thanks for clarifying.
Originally posted by JimDreamworx
There's only one way to find out. Have America STOP foreign aid!
Lets see
US: $6.9 billion (1997)
Denmark: $1.63 billion (1999)
Sweden: $1.7 billion (1997)
Norway: $1.4 billion (1998)
Netherlands: $3.5 billion (2000 est.)
Germany: $5.6 billion (1998)
France: $6.3 billion (1997)
Not that big a loss.
Originally posted by JimDreamworx
If the flow of money stopped from the US, most of the luxuries described occuring in these nations would stop too.
You have got to be kidding. Total foreign aid last year was $11.4 billion out of a budget of $2.12 trillion. That is less than one percent of the budget.
<sarcasm>
All our problems in this country would be solved if we only had an extra 11 billion!
</sarcasm>
This didn't happen overnight or last year, but is a symptom of a problem that has been eating away at America. Like I said, review the last fifty years.
I'm surprised how no one has talked about the Great Economic Engine that is Japan. Why do we dwell on Europe? Where there is a social problem - a continent that has a massive history of anti-Semitism that currently on the rise again.
Europe and Japan should owe us a debt of gratitude nonetheless (they appear to have amnesia instead) .
Originally posted by james808
Europe and Japan should owe us a debt of gratitude nonetheless (they appear to have amnesia instead) .
AMEN!
What's there to complain about Japan?
Originally posted by james808
You have got to be kidding. Total foreign aid last year was $11.4 billion out of a budget of $2.12 trillion. That is less than one percent of the budget.
<sarcasm>
All our problems in this country would be solved if we only had an extra 11 billion!
</sarcasm>
So what? Why should it be more than that? We are the largest provider of foreign aid in the world. Though, to the "we must feed and clothe the world" left, it's not enough.
The article, in short, is pure Anti-American socialist nonsense. The fact is Americans DO work harder....even if it is because we put in more hours. My father-in-law has loads of international business experience, and according to him, it is the Europeans who are playing catch up in terms of work ethic.
His comments on social mobility are really off base as well. We have seen individuals come form nothing to go on to great success. Ronald Reagan was one of these people. His father was an alcoholic lower-middle class shoe salesman. Agree or disagree with him, Reagan will go down as one of the great leaders in history. Look at professional sports for another example. Alan Iverson could be in the projects now, but he's not. He's a millionaire. There are countless examples of people with little or no education that have made it. Bob Dole went to a public University. Micheal J. Fox is a high school dropout. Billy Joel dropped out of Julliard. We could go on about this one all day.
His public school comments really show his ignorance. There are many fine public schools in this country. There is also an adbundance of trade-school opportunity. The notion that only the elite private school students will suceed is insane. We have many blue collar workers earning $60,000 a year with no college education. Sales professionals often make even more...adn most of them didn't even go to college. My father didn't go, and he is a sucessful small business owner.
As the article goes on, he shows his true colors. He believes the government should provide a job, provide clothing and housing...and even happiness. He speaks of a Social Contract....which is EXACTLY the problem. There should be NO social contract. the government should not provide housing or health care or anything along those lines.
Finally, his whole premise is just wrong. The American middle class lives better than the European one. There is no question.
Originally posted by chu_bakka
ummmm... we did drop a couple A bombs on Japan... I wouldn't go holding your breath.
We didn't start that war, and those two bombs SAVED a few million lives on both sides (the price of a full scale invasion, that would have leveled ALL of Japan and an estimated 2 million allied casualties).
I don't have any grievances with the Japanese, but this bothers me:
Japanese history books have a hard time admitting that they a) brought the destruction of those bombs upon themselves by starting the war, and b) the Rape of Nanking (need I say more?)
Originally posted by james808
Europe and Japan should owe us a debt of gratitude nonetheless (they appear to have amnesia instead) .
The Marshall Plan was as much about creating a buffer zone with the USSR and preventing the spread of communism as it was about rebuilding Europe. There were certainly altruistic motives, but the plans architects felt that there was much for the US to gain as well.
Interestingly, the Economic Cooperation Administration (later to become one of the foundations of European Economic Community - which in turn led to the current European Union) was strongly opposed to the Marshall plan, feeling that Europe would be better served by the creation of a common market.
There was opposition within the US to the Marshall plan, but the assistance was seen by many as payback to the French for help provided during the War of Independence.
Originally posted by SDW2001
So what? Why should it be more than that? We are the largest provider of foreign aid in the world. Though, to the "we must feed and clothe the world" left, it's not enough.
The discussion I was having had nothing to do with "how much is enough", it was about how much ARE we giving. If you think less than 0.7% of our budget is really extending ourselves, then fine, we know where your priorities lie (i.e., yourself).
BTW, the years 1992-2001, Japan was the largest raw dollar giver in the world (this ended mainly due to Yen depreciation), to say nothing of percentage of GNP, where the US has been last among industrialized nations for years.
Originally posted by kneelbeforezod
The Marshall Plan was as much about creating a buffer zone with the USSR and preventing the spread of communism
I file that under the "it was an investment" part
Originally posted by SDW2001
His comments on social mobility are really off base as well. We have seen individuals come form nothing to go on to great success. Ronald Reagan was one of these people. His father was an alcoholic lower-middle class shoe salesman. Agree or disagree with him, Reagan will go down as one of the great leaders in history. Look at professional sports for another example. Alan Iverson could be in the projects now, but he's not. He's a millionaire. There are countless examples of people with little or no education that have made it. Bob Dole went to a public University. Micheal J. Fox is a high school dropout. Billy Joel dropped out of Julliard. We could go on about this one all day.
Lets not forget Bill Clinton. His family life was not one I would wish on anyone (regardless of what you think of him).
Or Kobe Bryant. Or even Ahnold Swarzenegger (forgive any misspellings please). America is one of the few places left on earth where anyone with the hustle can actually become someone. Europe is a bit too steeped in bureaucracy from their governments and churches. There is no magic club you can belong to to automatically become wealthy - yes, I know conspiracy buffs will point to the Illuminati
By the way, does Michael J Fox count? He originally came from Canada - the province of Alberta I believe - when he was older and "established", but then again, that could be a testament to how America welcomed him. Or how he made it better in the USA.
Ever notice how more people come to America than leave it? Must be doing something right! Seriously, would someone be able to provide stats on other countries where this is true? (Besides Canada).