Headline: A way of life fades away as wages fall

[Bozita]

swing state

headline article, frontpage, above the fold

http://www.freep.com/money/business/jobs7e_20040907.htm


ELECTION 2004 THE JOYLESS RECOVERY: A way of life fades away as wages fall


Michigan struggles with big job losses; political clout erodes

September 7, 2004


BY JOHN GALLAGHER
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER


Second in a series.

-snip-

That life involves a working-class job with middle-class pay and benefits, good enough to afford a place Up North, a fishing boat in the garage, and trips to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon or Disney World.


All across Michigan, that sort of life is threatened by wages that are flatlining or declining -- and experts disagree on what to do about it.


At the very least, wage growth in Michigan has been lagging behind most other states for decades. In 1969, Michigan's median household income was 18 percent above the national average. By 2003 the figure was less than 4 percent above the national average and still dropping, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.


There are many reasons Michiganders have been losing out. Of course, tens of thousands of high-paying manufacturing and white-collar jobs have been eliminated as Detroit's automakers lost sales and market share to foreign competitors. But even workers who still have jobs are under pressure to accept minimal raises, or even pay cuts, as cost-conscious employers struggle with competitors around the globe.

-snip-

more...

[xchrom]

1. employers struggle?

the big three make huge profits -- but we call them struggling -- compared to their workers?
it's not wages or benefits that keep manufacturers from competing.
they should look a litle deeper -- and they should look at the often unreasonable pressures of being a publicly traded corporation.

[ixion]

4. yeah, very good point...

The reason they've had trouble with foreign competition is because they made an inferior product.

Due to robotics, there would have been job cuts to some degree, but the fact that the 'big 3' are only now realizing that they have to actually compete against superior technology.

And why did technology lag?

Why, because they chose to take profits rather than invest in R and D.

ah, poor corporation...they actually have to work for a living. :cry: :eyes:

[DBoon]

9. The big 3 have international operations

So they can shift production to low wage countries anytime

Smaller businesses that are entirely domestic in operations can't do this, but still have to cmpete.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Thanks a pantload, BushCo

"Unless your family owns an oil or pharmaceutical company, there is no reason they should support the Republican party."

[booksenkatz]

3. Middle class?

I disagree that the definition of "middle class" must include a vacation home and a boat! We middle-class folks would like to have enough money to buy groceries and a pair of shoes once in awhile, thank you very much. And even THAT is getting more and more difficult to do, no matter how much money we make.

[JNelson6563]

5. Growth hasn't stopped in the north

Commercial growth that is. More and more pricey housing gets built and nothing moderately priced finds its way onto the market. I've never seen so many foreclosure notics as I have the last couple years in our local paper. Also, fellow Dem board member is bankruptcy lawyer and he tells me that he is very, very busy.

Yet you should see the Lowe's going up behind my neighborhood. It's easy to find, near the mall and the other large (and getting larger) shopping centers within this square mile section. Yes, we are opening lots of stores, producing a plethera of really crappy paying jobs and building $300,000+ homes. :eyes:

Julie

[mbperrin]

6. Foreign competition? Ford OWNS Volvo,

Jaguar, has partnerships with Mazda and others, and so do the others. So do nearly all US manufacturers! The solution is in the tax code. Simply charge an appropriate rate for the usage of the public infrastructure here for both foreign and domestic companies, taking away the advantage of relocating.

[cthrumatrix]

7. but Kerry's campaign is in trouble - can't you guys read?

[colonel odis]

8. the people in power don't believe the "middle class"

should own such things. there should be two types of people, in their view: the poor .... and them.

all those people who made money in the 90s? those working people who invested in the stock market and prospered .... those young professionals who bought nice cars and nice homes .... those people who filled airplanes so all the proper people had to fly first class ...... they don't deserve money in the republicans' opinion.

ever since the reagan years they've made it harder to go to college and easier to go to jail for a long, long time.

gee, why do you think that is?

[Dr Fate]

10. A place up North? I can barely afford one place on the compass.

I must be LOWER middle class in that case.

Sorry to hear about anyone slipping though- Bush really stinks.

[wellst0nev0ter]

11. Whatta Buncha Economic Girlie Men

Suck it up, lucky duckies, and take it like men

</sarcasm>

[Gyre]

12. I have a lot of relatives in Michigan

And they all bellyache about how bad the employment situation is there, and what a bum bush is, but they still hate Kerry (even though they can't articulate why). Consumate proles built to be exploited by their owners who can't even provide for them. Dumbshits!

Gyre