American Middle Class is no longer the world's richest - NYT

[Daelak]

A nation in decline. Is it because of the socialist liberalism communists of the 80's, 90's, and 00's? Or is it because of the freedom loving Americans and their American companies outsourced jobs and talent to Asia? Or is it the trillions of American dollars owned by American citizens who evade trillions in taxes?

What say you?


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/up...hest.html?_r=0

[Billy Has Plans]

I blame smart phones and all things connected with it.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

The Latter Daelak. The Latter.

[mmokri]

I doubt that it counts purchasing power. Money/purchasing power formula can bring some countries on their knees.

[Crissi]

I blame putting short(ish) term profits over long term society viability.

[LilSaihah]

I doubt that it counts purchasing power. Money/purchasing power formula can bring some countries on their knees.

Doesn't change that other countries have had pretty steep gains over the last 10 or so years. Or, perhaps more pertinently, pretty steep Nothing At All for America.

[TrumpIsPresident]

I blame a government that tells people that the reason they don't have any money is because some rich guy stole it from them and then pretending they aren't that "rich guy".

[NewOrleansTrolley]

To be fair, Canada's economy is tied together by the pinkie toe with the US's. However, it does seem like a sign of the times. Outsourcing + income gap + everything else is having an impact.

[Crissi]

My ex told me something fairly interesting a couple weeks ago when talking about jobs. He said the best way to get a sizable raise is not to stay with your company, it is to jump ship and join another company. With that in mind, I can see how such barely noticeable raises can have an affect on companies because their talented people can just jump ship.

I think that may be part of the problem?

[Daelak]

I blame a government that tells people that the reason they don't have any money is because some rich guy stole it from them and then pretending they aren't that "rich guy".

So the government = the rich guy?

[Aeluron Lightsong]

My ex told me something fairly interesting a couple weeks ago when talking about jobs. He said the best way to get a sizable raise is not to stay with your company, it is to jump ship and join another company. With that in mind, I can see how such barely noticeable raises can have an affect on companies because their talented people can just jump ship.

I think that may be part of the problem?

I'd think Jumping ship multiple times would be more of a symptom of the problem.

[NewOrleansTrolley]

So the government = the rich guy?

Umm.. are you honestly asking or do you not know how government works?

[Daelak]

Umm.. are you honestly asking or do you not know how government works?

Yes, please tell me how the government works, or resembles a "rich guy".

[Falrinn]

We've spent the last 30ish years with essentially all of the economic growth going to the top 20%, and the majority of that going to the top 1%. Because of this, any country where the middle and lower classes are gaining any wealth at all will, if the trends don't change, inevitably surpass the US in the very long term in everything but upper class income.

Countries like Canada who were never all that far behind the US in the first place will be the first to surpass the US, and now they have.

[Sky High]

this goes right along with the US no longer being a democracy, all the power and wealth is in the hands of a few hundred people. they pretty much control the government, and the economy. it is mind numbing to me how there are people who bitch about how the government is too far reaching, when in fact they are as reaching as their donors WANT them to be. seriously if I ever get to the point where I can have the luxury of moving to a different country I'm moving the fuck to Canada. have fun with Rome 2.0

[Reeve]

A nation in decline. Is it because of the socialist liberalism communists of the 80's, 90's, and 00's? Or is it because of the freedom loving Americans and their American companies outsourced jobs and talent to Asia? Or is it the trillions of American dollars owned by American citizens who evade trillions in taxes?

What say you?


http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/up...hest.html?_r=0

I say that because we aren't #1 in something doesn't mean we're in decline, nor does it mean the sky is falling.

[Jackmoves]

My ex told me something fairly interesting a couple weeks ago when talking about jobs. He said the best way to get a sizable raise is not to stay with your company, it is to jump ship and join another company. With that in mind, I can see how such barely noticeable raises can have an affect on companies because their talented people can just jump ship.

I think that may be part of the problem?

Hes absolutely right. 3-4 years then move on if you are not in a good position for climbing the ladder in the company. You dont burn any bridges by doing so as long as youve done a good job and if they were happy with your performance then you will probably have a bigger chance then a newb if you would want to go back to your former employer. You can bump you salary with 20-30% given the right circumstances.

Its one of the reasons women, at least in my field, make less money, they dont change job as often as men. They like the stability and the security of a employer they know(generalization).

[Reeve]

Hes absolutely right. 3-4 years then move on if you are not in a good position for climbing the ladder in the company. You dont burn any bridges by doing so as long as youve done a good job and if they were happy with your performance then you will probably have a bigger chance then a newb if you would want to go back to your former employer. You can bump you salary with 20-30% given the right circumstances.

Its one of the reasons women, at least in my field, make less money, they dont change job as often as men. They like the stability and the security of a employer they know(generalization).

This is true, but it's important to be aware of the prospects within your own company too. My family was telling me to jump ship for years when I got that promotion I was angling for, and a 45% raise, with more growth opportunity to come.

[Daez]

You really want to know what the biggest issue is....

Lack of affordable non-employer provided health care. Canada has more USA companies making products in it than USA does. Canadian workers are actually paid more per hour; however, their employers do not have to pay for their healthcare, and that makes them much cheaper to actually employ.

If you want to fix USA employment problems then make USA citizens cheaper to employ. Currently, for each employ, the company normally pays their wage plus almost their wage in benefits (and most of that is healthcare or benefits that are needed because of lack of healthcare such as sick leave).

[muto]

this goes right along with the US no longer being a democracy, all the power and wealth is in the hands of a few hundred people. they pretty much control the government, and the economy. it is mind numbing to me how there are people who bitch about how the government is too far reaching, when in fact they are as reaching as their donors WANT them to be. seriously if I ever get to the point where I can have the luxury of moving to a different country I'm moving the fuck to Canada. have fun with Rome 2.0

Why not leave now, and be done with it? Cross the border illegally if you want to leave so badly.

Also, how about the article includes housing costs in there, because I'm sure that will balance the spectrum. Living is way more expensive in most of Europe, because it's denser.