eConomy, the non-politician side of the debate

[thewhitedragon]

Because of the economy, unemployment is pretty high. Because unemployment is pretty high, there are a lot of people scrambling for jobs. Because there are a lot of people scrambling for jobs, employers can hire people at significantly lower rates of pay than before. Because employers can hire people at significantly lower rates of pay, their "

Comments

[blueeowyn]

I think the better way to do it is tax incentives based on the % of the company who work in the US and make a liveable wage. Giving incentives for hiring could lead some companies to riff the high-salaried people and hire a bunch of low-salaried people to do XYZ for less money AND get the tax incentive.

[thewhitedragon]

excellent point there. I can deal with liveable wage "tax credits".

[kmg_365]

My uncle, who has been unemployed for two years, has made a point of buying American. It requires more effort on his part because those products can be hard to find, and it costs him more. But he is of the opinion that by doing that he is keeping an American employed.

I was impressed, but I can't see that catching on. I can't see Apple, for instance, saying "ok, we're going to have our products manufactured in the US...sorry FoxConn." I would think that the incentives needed for them (and others) to do so would have to be fairly significant.

[thewhitedragon]

yeah... I know.

In theory, it's a great idea. In practice, we want our cheap, disposable phones, small appliances and other knick-knacks and people aren't going to want to pay more when they can get something cheaper. More's the pity.

[pyratelady]

But I don't want to add to the landfills, I really don't! I kind of hate that we "have" to update our cell phones because I like my phone just fine just the way it is and it works for me. I can make calls on it! And take photos sometimes! I don't need it to cook dinner for me or scratch my back or mow my lawn.

I come from a family that has a really hard time parting with anything if it still works. Why throw it away or replace it? IT STILL WORKS.

A few years ago, Glenn had to look all over the place just to find someone to repair our television set. Because we didn't want to chuck it and buy a new one, and somehow that makes us really odd.

[thewhitedragon]

Judy and I are of the same mindset. We've still got *gasp* a non-hi-def, picture tube television. I just don't like replacing something if it still works and does what I need it to. I think that's the Scottish in me. ;)

[kauricat]

I kept trying to make a comment of reasonable length here, but failed. I guess I'll just put it in my own journal!

Short version: I'm with you. Mainly.

[thewhitedragon]

and responded in your journal. ;)

[pyratelady]

This really seems reasonable to me. If only the government would get out of the bed that it's sharing with Big Business.

[thewhitedragon]

Wait! I'm going to have to rescind this entry then... I'm *never* reasonable. ;)