Consumer manufacturing overseas is depressing

[pampango]

2. Of course, China and other "developing countries" sell more to Europe than they do to the US.

We are not the "largest, richest consumer market in the world". Europe is. And Europe's middle class is much healthier than our because their income distribution is much, much better than it is in the US for a variety of progressive reasons.

"Most developing countries that are growing well are doing so by selling goods or services for our consumer market." They sell even more to Europe's consumer market.

If Europe can do it, so can we. Our middle class problems have everything to do with what we have done to ourselves than anything that poor countries have done to us.

Reagan and others since have cut taxes for the rich. Europe never did that. Reagan and others have weakened our unions. Europe never did that. Reagan and other slashed our social safety net. Europe never did that. Reagan and other recklessly deregulated corporations. Europe never did that. I could go on but you get the idea.

To portray the US as a helpless giant at the mercy of mean developing countries obscures our own responsibility for our situation. Rather than lamenting "What can we do? Poor folks in the world are taking advantage of us." Do what Europe has done and take care of our own people. Once we have a European-style strong middle class, the rest will take care of itself.