Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis
We have 7.4 million less manufacturing jobs than we did in 1979. Contrary to the philosophy of the Dell's of the world, Everybody can't be a captain of industry, rise from the ashes, and change the world.
Sometimes, folks just need a job that puts a roof over their head, offers them rudimentary healthcare, and at the very least affords them the mirage of hope- that when it's all said and done, they raised a family, put their kids through school in the hopes that their kids might have a better way, and didn't need to worry about dying in the streets in the process.
Those jobs are gone - unless you want to move to Bangalore, India, China, Bangladesh, etc...
I grew up in DC, not far from Baltimore, in fact spent a great deal of time there, back then. I remember Bethlehem Steel, General Motors (all the Chevy Astro vans were assembled there), GAF, all the cannery's along the harbor, along with a million other places that offered a decent (not great, but livable) wage and benefits (that wouldn't bankrupt you if you ever dared to use them) if you were willing to work for them. And the majority of folks did.
That's all gone. Walmart, McD's, etc - these jobs are their replacement - like it or not. The sad fact of the matter is that there is a majority of the population that is either not mentally, physically, financially adept enough to excel in the current climate (similarly to the way they were back then) - the difference - Back then, they could work an assembly line, operate plant machinery, etc... Now they are Cashiers and Greeters - if they can even get those jobs.
At the end of the day, the more they earn, the more they pay in taxes and the less of a burden overall the lower class is on the system. That is a positive for all of us (unless you're the corporation).
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