Clueless in D.C.

For some reason, we trust our leaders, or I have anyway, when I was very young and idealistic. Sad, to said, that in all actuality, they don't really have your best interest at heart; only their own pockets. For the first time in a long time, I am really beginning to worry about the changing workforce, off-shoring, out-sourcing and the effects these things on our economy.

I am reading two great books now and the information in one of them backs up and gives credence to the information in the other book. They are both great reads.

I haven't finished reading it, but what I have read so far is beginning to unnerve me; the book: "The World is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman. Well, between Microsoft and the ocean bottom optic cable which connects continents by allowing every country to transmit data between countries.It seems that the world will never be the same again. Because those two things, that combination, was the start of out-sourcing and off-shoring.

The software and optic fiber technology make it possible for all corporations all over the world to speak the same language and to be able to communicate easily enough so work can be done for anyone from anywhere.

Remember the Y2K scare? Well, it was very profitable for India. India had an extreme number of well trained IT techs willing to work for extremely low wages, compared to U.S. A. wages. And to work they went and fast so Y2K went as smooth as silk. The corporations realized they had a good thing going and began taking advantage of the high education and low wages and began off-shoring and out-sourcing.

Out-sourcing occurs when a corporation in the U.S.A. sends work overseas to a foreign country to have the work done for extremely low cost and then the produce is shipped back over there and other places to be sold. This is wonderful for the corporations; but people here in this country, the great U.S.A, are put out of work in the process.

Off-shoring occurs when a corporation, for example, in Camden, Ohio, moves its shop to Camden, China. In other words, the whole operation get moved overseas and again, workers here in this great country of the U.S.A. are out of a job.

Also what we have now, by doing this, is India and China, becoming much more independent economically. Corporations formerly located (although some are still here) in the U.S.A. find it more profitable and tax savvy to move the whole operation to India and China. So, now, what is happening is that their economy is prospering; so, what is happening to the U.S.A's economy. Oh, let me interject something here: Guess who holds the billions of dollars in loans? China! I wonder What would happen if they were to default on those loans?

Well, it seems all the good paying jobs are going aboard where highly skilled people are willing to work for very low wages. And the sad result of that is that (you must read "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, to get the full picture) people in this country, the United State of American, are degressing into poverty.

According to Barbara Ehrenreich, some people are no more than two paychecks away from living out of their cars and here is why. Since, Bush has been in office the poverty rate has increased 17%. And social services are decreasing for the poor people of America. Let's face it! The rich, white males running our government are wealthy; they haven't a clue as to what is going on under their noses in this country. Most still blame the poor for being poor claiming that they just didn't try hard enough, or take advantage of education or opportunity. The fact is most of our leaders have never been poor so cannot relate and they have never lived and worked among the poor like Barbara Ehrenreich has.

It takes making $9.00 per hour for a family of four to be on the edge of poverty; $8.00 for a family of three. Well, according to Barbara Ehrenreich, she couldn't make it on her own making $7.00 per hour. She couldn't get the deposit together to get an apartment; because maid jobs and waitress jobs usually don't pay you for two weeks when you start them, so where are you going to live in the mean time?

She worked full time with co-workers who slept in cars and held down two jobs. Day care won't take a sick kid, so if a kid got sick and the mother had to stay at home she didn't get paid plus risked losing her job.

While working at cleaning houses, a fellow maid, had to "work through" a broken bone in her leg because she could not afford not to work. Many workers skipped meals and left at the end of the day dizzy from hunger and fatique.

Bush has said nothing about rising minimum wage; in fact, the mostly Republicans in office now are cutting social services and benefits, hitting the poor especially hard. So, what we have here is the government working with the corporations seeing that we lose our tax bases here by letting them do off-shoring and loses jobs here by out-sourcing. This , my friends, does not seem like a "government for the people, by the people." Something is terribly wrong with this picture, and it can only blow up in their faces one of these days, when our economy truly suffers and we have many poor and a few few that are rich in this country. In the past rising minimum wage was a bipartisan issue; now it is only a democratic issue, it seems, and we have a house and senate full of Republicans. Folks you are not going to get a rise anytime soon!

I recently read an article in the paper where 21,000 children do not have insurance in this state; because their parents are supposed to pay a premium now and I guess many cannot afford to. Well, the good state government has extended the due date; if the people didn't have the money before, where is it going to come from now, from a third job?

Another thing that surprises and worries me is the big spending that is going on here in this country. Oh don't get me wrong, it's great for the economy that houses are getting built; and old building converted to $600,000 condos. My question is? Where are the people who are going to be able to buy these places. Extreme creature techniques in financing now is being engaged to make these homes affordable to the upper middle class; but, I just wonder for how long. More people are growing deep in debt and live from paycheck to paycheck. If their job suddenly goes away; Well, I don't think they'll be making fun of poor people any longer; they'll be camped out right along with them in the park somewhere.

I used to turn a blind eye to the state of affairs concerning the government and the economy; but now I'm not the only one wondering and worrying what might happen next and how it might hit us.

Read the books, write your congressman and senators and vote. And don't let the government trick you into being so concerned about abortion, religion, gay marriage and moral rights; they are merely diverting your attention away from issues that are already effecting your lively-hood. Look at the big picture and get informed. Read! And listen to NPR for another point of view. It can't hurt; But, not taking the time to learn can hurt you.

I'm not even going to talk about Iraq; well only one thing. The democratic government that they are trying to establish there, will not give those people, any of the groups, control over the oil fields. Which reminds me of another good book to read: "American Dynasty" by Kevin Phillips. The library has these books available.

The latest book by Barbara Ehrenreich is "Bait and Switch". Its about where the jobs are going and things that just may effect your future.

Oh, and have a nice day! Concentrate on the things in life that are, you know, like the commerical: "priceless"! The best things in life are free!