Special Report: Is America the sick man of the globe?

[CLANG]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BF28720101216

"The recession merely revealed a reality that has been with us for a long time. We faced a growing gap in education and skills that we tried to fill with debt and credit, which gave us the illusion of growth."

After World War Two, unskilled blue-collar jobs in manufacturing -- typified and in many ways defined by the auto sector -- became America's easy path to the middle class. As U.S. manufacturing declined, starting in the 1980s Congress and successive administrations focused instead on the financial sector and relied on debt -- its own and that of the U.S. consumer -- to foster economic growth.

At the same time, U.S. companies faced a growing competitive challenge, largely from Asia -- both in terms of manufacturing prowess and lower wages and legacy costs -- that hastened the nation's exodus from the sector.

That in turn created lop-sided trade imbalances, with the U.S. invariably in the red. The U.S. trade deficit with China, for instance -- a nation that tightly controls its imports -- hit a record of $268 billion in 2008 and could reach $270 billion this year.

[Vincardog]

1. The lack of 'education and skills' is BS. They are another attempt to blame the victims of the

corrupt economic system that has taken over our government.

[CLANG]

2. You think our education system and it's product is just great?

And at that point you gave up on a 10 page article. Remember, this is Reuters, and they operate outside our propaganda machine.

[Vincardog]

3. I think the GOP has been working feverishly to destroy our education system as long as I have been e

alive. I know that the reason we don't graduate more Science and MAth graduates is because we don't ave the JOBS for them.
I know that the NUMBER ONE barrier to having more educated Americans is the FOR PROFIT educational system.

[CLANG]

4. Lots of future openings for doctors and dentists.

Unfortunately most people couldn't afford to get the required education.

[Vincardog]

5. Word

[madmax]

9. +1 exactly

[Demeter]

6. America Is Run By Psychopaths in Business and Government

It makes us People oppressed, not sick.

[bemildred]

7. Well fuck yeah.

It's been all downhill since WWII. When does someone get held accountable in our so-called democracy?

[CLANG]

8. That, is the $64,000 question.

With inflation probably worth a few mil.