My Wife Believes American Workers Being Positioned To Accept Lower Living Standard.

[laundry_queen]

7. She's right

I've had this discussion with my class in business school and with family. Especially in business school, when we discuss the economics of free trade and how it's supposed to create more equality in the world - always at the expense of what is currently known as the 'western world' or 'wealthy countries'. We've discussed how the 'western' countries are likely on their way down because of this, and how workers are going to earn less, permanently, because of free trade.

I think a lot of these rich business owners (and probably politicians too) see people in the 3rd world willing to work 14 hour days for $2/day and think Americans (Canadians, Europeans) are spoiled and deserve less. They think they are doing the world a service by helping the 3rd world worker earn $4/day and 'raise their standard of living' and they do think Americans need to be knocked down a notch or 2 - what with all their demands for raises, benefits and decent working conditions. It's a means to an end for them and the American worker is what stands in their way of more money/profits/riches.

Some of them actually do understand that hurting the American worker means less consumerism, which means lower profits for some companies...they are looking at a bigger picture than that. China and India have large enough populations that even a small rise in standard of living means billions for these companies. They don't give a shit about the Western world anymore because that's not where the population - and therefore profits - are anymore.

It's not going to get any better, I am afraid. MHO of course.