Over the years, on various forums I have seen this a lot folks putting the blame solely on greedy big business.
Or on taxes
Or on Unions
But not many people, put the blame on the American consumer, why is that? They stoped shopping at the local mom and pops hardware store or local butcher (that used to pay good waged) and instead started to shop for bargains at the big box stores.
(1) Unfair, unjust, and one-sided foreign trade agreements and policies
(2) Greedy unions
(3) Greedy corporations
(4) Anti-America government seated in Washington
(5) Voters that elected and re-elected professional politicians to serve in government
(6) The progression of "The Selling of America"
(7) We can't compete with child labor that works in sweat shops 18 hours a day
(8) We have OSHA, EPA, and labor laws that other countries do not have
(9) Our farmers can't use certain insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides that other countries use on crops
(10) Our standard of living is much higher than our trading partners
(11) Many Americans can't afford American made goods
The above are the reasons that we've lost the textile, steel, electronics, furniture, appliance, tools, toy, automotive parts, housewares, farm equipment and other industries to cheap foreign labor markets over the past half century. We've supported foreign economies while sacrificing our own. As a result, we've become import dependent, lost many skills that were once handed down from generation to generation, and have created a poor and dependent citizenry. And now, our work force is employed in low-wage, part-time, and temporary jobs. Many are now surviving off of government assistance programs and unemployment checks. In addition, we off-shore out-source jobs, import labor, and have millions of illegal immigrants living and working in this country.
Then we have to consider "volume buying" that has shut down the "mom and pop" stores. "Mom and pop" hardware stores can not compete with giants like Home Depot. The "mom and pop" five and dime store can nor compete with giants like Wal-Mart. In addition, companies like Wal-Mart own factories in foreign countries that produce the products they sell in America. The same is true of Nike.
The term "Global Economy" basically means "equalization to the lowest level", and we're rapidly approaching that equalization. Businesses are producing more with less employees, innovation, technology, and automation are replaces workers, and the combination allows businesses to pay less and offer less company paid benefits. Meanwhile, our work force is rapidly growing. This creates an employers' market where you have a 1000 workers competing for the same job. Many workers are also receiving some form of government assistance even though they are working. We have college grads flipping burgers and living with parents.
We're being forced to lower our standard of living in order to compete in the world market place. We're no longer the industrial giant we were in the 50's and early 60's. Our closed plants and factories attest to the economic damage caused by cheap foreign imports over the years. Those plants and factories once provided self-supporting living wage jobs that covered all education and skill levels. Times have changed, and the above list are the reasons that we've fallen to the level we have in this once great nation. When negative economic issues are prolonged, almost every aspect of society suffers. We're now living the reality of what an anti-America government can do and has done.
