BND letter writer John Kronenberger bemoans the state of the U.S. economy, blaming right-to-work states and business for a future disaster. I agree a disaster is coming, but not the reason or the kind he thinks.
Today's economic troubles began after World War II as we fostered freedom, democracy and human rights around the world. Is it so shocking to find that the people we touched responded? Patents expire, ideas are shared, the government sells our secrets and countries play unfairly. They applied these truths to expand their economies while we got lazy -- wasting money in government-sponsored competitions for "new" business, saving/creating jobs that aren't sustainable, lowering educational standards and redistributing existing wealth rather than aggressively pursuing new wealth.
We didn't so much ship manufacturing jobs overseas as other countries recreated jobs that our labor force failed to protect -- and that really weren't "ours."
It's now a global labor market (ask Andy Stern), where both people and companies find the best fit and value. A balance will eventually be found, but in reaching it, living standards around the world will rise while ours will continue to decline. We ignited the change and failed to adapt; spare me the national self-pity.
Instead, we need to avert the real upcoming disaster -- a rebellion caused by selfishly spending our children's money to artificially lift our own standard of living. Unlike the Greek or Spanish economy, a failed U.S. economy cannot be bailed out. If the riots begin here, nothing can be done to appease the rioters.
Richard Skillings
Troy
