Possibly a change in the tax structure that would penalize off-shoring and incentivise repatriation of capital and domestic hiring along the lines proposed by John Kerry would be a help. Then too, a return to normal levels of construction would be of great help. We had reached a point where housing and commercial building was nearly 25% of the economy. That's too high, but a return to a reasonable and sustainable level is going to happen. We have to work through the present inventory though before we can get there, and that will take a number of years yet. This problem of discouraged job seekers and a transfer of them to the long-term public assistance rolls is a very serious problem facing the country. It is difficult to off-shore domestic construction, but I suppose you could via pre-fabs. And then there is the potential for automated domestic pre-fab production that could cut into construction jobs. These are not easy problems to solve. It takes creative thinking in Washington to do it. Tsing Tao's idea of requiring companies that sell into the U.S. market to employ at least some U.S. workers is an example of the kind of creative thinking I'm referring to. Not sure if that could work, but it is a nice example of something to be considered.
I already read it, and I watched the lectures by zinn on tv the moore piece is a film documentary I'm not recommending it, just an interesting take on the bailout
why should people work when the benefits of not working make not working a better choice. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/opinion/sunday/kristof-profiting-from-a-childs-illiteracy.html?hp
Is that along the same theme as "Capitalism: A love story"? If so.. I watched it.. w mixed feelings. Yea I feel bad for the people getting kicked out. At the same time.. I saw some of these people refinance their homes every year.. buying houses they couldn't afford... stating incomes they didn't really have on their loans.. charging up credit card debt.. living way beyond their means.. Once, I told a lady over the phone... "I can put you into this loan.. but is it going to solve the problem.. You charged up 20,000 dollars in one year. You need to throw your credit cards away." She insisted..
Maybe that's why some believe we need to provide incentives to small business startups and ownerships? Usually. .they are not thinking of going overseas. I've not given it much analysis. Definitely they suffer from competitive advantage.
instead of penalizing off-shoring.. why not find ways to be more competitive.. Tell me more about how this might help?