I won't say any argument made here is wrong, because in some circumstance it is probably right, but how much do most of you think a working American should make annually, considering possible layoffs, health care and rising prices and taxes? I have been a conservative all my adult life, but I see corporations continually being bailed out or being supplimented with tax dollars and executives taking big bonuses. I just can't understand the thinking. The average working American may make two million dollars in his or her lifetime, but the arguement for multimillion dollar salaries are "they are worth it" or "they are taking risks". I can't help thinking a person making $25 an hour, who can loose his job when banks make bad loans or a company's inflated stock values "readjust" has a bit of risk too? Once a person has two million in the bank they are at least assured an average working persons standard of living. And the thing about the boots, I mentioned earlier, the ones made in China are only a couple dollars less than the ones made in the U.S.A.. The Chinese aren't getting that profit margin. Profit margin is the key, I think. Can a company exist with less of a profit margin and better paid employees who can afford to pay for their own health care and save for retirement or does a company have to make large profits, make their executives millionaires and pay out large dividends to their stock holders? The answer is of course- yes, to the latter! That is what those with power want and their arguement is "that is what makes America strong". So we have working people without health care and at real risk of becoming homeless every business cycle, but that is alright because the wealthy and powerful are keeping America strong. Working class people fear they may loose their income or health and the wealthy fear being like working class people. We know who will always win. It just a shame they have to complain so much. Unions leaders are just the wealthy in a different niche. Perhaps it is just a combination of fear and lack of discipline, both rich and not?
ben-t, this is a very thoughtful post and while I can disagree with small parts of it, overall it's spot-on.
People are so fearful of what they think is "socialism" that they selectively ignore the socialism that really exists in this country - the wealth is being transferred from the working class to the oligarchs. And the working folk support this and think it's "patriotic"
If low marginal tax rates are needed to create jobs, where are the jobs? We've had record low tax rates for a decade. Where are the jobs?
German companies are making money hand-over-fist and German workers are well-paid and have universal health care. The whole health care argument is bogus. The balance of power in this country has tipped and unless you've already gotten yours, you'll never get it nor will your children. The pols on both sides are bought off by the really big money.
Sorry for the rant - I realize this started off as a Cabellas post and there, too, I agree - I try not to buy Chinese stuff.
