"We can't afford" a welfare state anymore -- says robert samuelson.

[Hannah Bell]

Robert Samuelson Never Heard of Productivity Growth
Monday, 06 December 2010 05:59

That is what readers of his column today must conclude. He insists that the United States and European countries can no longer afford their current welfare states because of an aging population.

This might be true if there was no productivity growth. However, unless something incredibly bizarre happens, the economy will continue to see productivity growth in the neighborhood of 2.0 percent annually. This means that in 2045 output per worker would be almost twice as high for each hour of work as it is today. This rise in productivity would allow large increases in both the generosity of the benefits provided for retirees and also the living standard of the working population.

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/robert-samuelson-never-heard-of-productivity-growth


i'd add to baker's comments this: *if* productivity gains are shared with workers in the form of higher wages. for the past 30 years, they haven't been, which is the root of our present difficulties.

samuelson translated: "we can't afford a welfare state because 'we' ruling class folks want a bigger cut and we don't care if it kills the peons."

[Mimosa]

1. He's an Oinker. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

2. big-time.

[Monique1]

4. Time for the elderly

join the death panels. We paid all our lives, now we are not accepted. So goes the golden age. I wonder if the Japanese still respect the elderly.

[David in Canada]

3. Really?

When did the United States ever have a welfare state? That is, besides the bare safety net offered to the old and disabled.

To describe the United States as a "welfare state" is laughable.

[leftstreet]

5. We can't afford wealthy capitalists. Dump Them!

K&R

[Newest Reality]

6. Well, I could agree with that if we could

clearly agree to define that major part of the current welfare system as being primarily directed at the deadbeat rich and their large, multi-national corporations.

Yes, we simply have no way to afford that luxury and indulgence. It has to stop, now.

[gratuitous]

7. Well of course not!

Silly proles! How are the overrich going to maintain their opulent lifestyle if you all insist on continuing to live well past your productive years, sucking up resources that would better be routed into the overstuffed pockets of the affluent? The dilemma now is whether to draw the line at reproductive replacement or take advantage of the decade or so of relatively high productivity after the child-bearing years have concluded. There are good arguments to be made on either side of the issue, but clearly, we should all be mindful that after a certain age we're no longer contributing enough to the wealthy. The best solution would be to get off the planet, and that right quickly.

Thank Cthulu that Samuelson has the moxie to say what his overlords will only hint at.

[AmandaMae]

8. he's delusional, we've never had a "welfare state".

[blindpig]

9. Who is 'we', asshole?

The more they talk this shit the clearer it becomes, class consciousness is unavoidable.

[glitch]

10. I wonder if he calls us "useless eaters" when he's at his private club. nt

[Jamastiene]

11. What "welfare state?"

Give me a fucking break.

[Hissyspit]

12. Does he mean corporate welfare?

[DailyGrind51]

13. We can't afford Robert Samuelson!

[cutlassmama]

14. "WE" can't afford our defense spending.

[hobbit709]

15. Oxygen stealing waste of skin.

[Octafish]

16. Chicago School got us into this fiscal mess.

Turds in the service of warmongering greedheads.

[Starry Messenger]

17. k&r

[msongs]

18. Military welfare is the biggest welfare scam in the country at the moment nt

[struggle4progress]

19. We can't afford a permanent war economy. We can't afford loaning 65% of our gdp

to large unregulated and poorly managed financial conglomerates so their topdogs can continue to receive humongous bonuses. We can't afford 10-15% unemployment. We can't afford to ignore the coming end of the oil economy. We can't afford to listen to wacko ideologues who don't care if the country collapses or if people starve in the streets