It's great

[dotymed]

that the "global economy" has raised the standard of living in China. I wonder what the average pay there is? Probably, 50 cents an hour, that may be too high. Has anyone noticed that the "old money" top 20 nations have been able to keep their wages at a living wage scale (middle class amenable)? Of course our corporate owned, millionaire congress, hasn't even tried to do the same for Americans. These countries all have "evil socialized medicine" which miraculously allows them to have much better health, longevity and low infant mortality rates compared to ours and Africa's. We now have a thriving "medical tourism" business, thats what a "service economy" is for, eh? Americans can (if they can afford even that) travel abroad and get great medical care for a small fraction of what America's "health industry" charges. American corporations pay little or no taxes on their billion$ of profits. The wealthy have tax rates that should make them blush every time they see a "95%'er."
Europe, France, all of the "other" civilized nations have good paying jobs and benefits that most Americans cannot even fathom. Of course when global capitalism finishes with them, they might be economically closer to American standards. Their honestly progressive tax rates, will save many of the workers unless their elite learn how to game the system from their American cousins.
In America, in 1970, the top tax rate for the wealthiest individuals and corporations was 91%. The wealthy stayed that way. The middle class thrived and poverty was actually confronted by social programs. Was America in 1970, a "Socialist" country? I have never heard that accusation. Of course we had laws against monopolies enforced. The Congress was not allowed to be bought (as openly), and Americans would protest unfair policies that threatened their jobs and their economy.
In 2009, the highest tax rate was 35%. Corporations paid little or (mostly) no taxes. Wages have actually decreased for the working class over the last 30 years. Unions are basically non-existent and about 40% of our income is taken by the for-profit "health care industry" even though our health care ranks below that of most third world nations.
We are watching the dying throes of an empire. We spend more on "defense" than the top 15 countries COMBINED. We have double digit unemployment and most (by far) of the available jobs pay less (adjusted) than they did thirty years ago. Our CEO's in the 1970's "earned" about 30-40 times of what the average worker earned. Today CEO's are paid about 4000 times what the average worker earns. With a top tax rate of 35% !
It is not hard to see why we are in such a mess. We could return to the policies of the 1970's and how could anyone call that "Socialism?" We can look abroad at what works for Universal health care and maintaining a profitable manufacturing base. Profits in those countries, are not allowed to go directly in the pockets of the wealthy. This gives them an incentive to pay good wages and benefits to their workers.
AMERICA HAS THE WORST DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN THE WORLD.....THE ENTIRE WORLD. Of course. Americans will no longer protest these inequities. It makes it really easy to rape someone when they cannot or will not fight back.

[Captain Hilts]

1. The US - even Mexico - can't compete with that. nt

[dotymed]

2. France, for example,

their workers earn much higher wages than us. The euro is stronger than the dollar by far. They have universal health care. They work fewer hours, have great benefits (they have paid vacations!). They have been able (it's become harder since America's banksters have nearly ruined the economy, so far) been able to maintain industry, social nets and yet "the greatest country in the world" (lol) has managed to allow the wealth to be hoarded by a few elitists. The French people fight for fair policies, we bitch.....
Tax rollbacks to pre-reagan levels and laws that insure a strong manufacturing base, combined with restoring and enforcing financial regulations can save us. President Obama can explain that returning to an economic model that worked, it can't be "Socialism" now, if it wasn't then....$$$$$$