I agree completely. "Freedom From Want" and "Freedom From Fear"...

 

Ultimately, what it all comes down to is that they all aren't in it for their constituients, they're in it for their special intrest kickbacks. They'll support whatever, or whoever pays them the most money. In general, the Democratic party has been supported by organized labor and has opposed trade treaties like NAFTA.

And to top it off, they go on their respective left or right bent media outlets and scream about how the other side is screwing our nation. Shut up, and do the job we elected you for. In my humble and worthless opinion, both sides suck.

Oh, and while I'm on my political soapbox I'll add a little more. If you want to come here, welcome. Just play by the rules and come by the right channels. After all, unless you're a native american, you're from a family of immigrants too.

 

I remember listening my American Government prof tell us how interesting it was that people will paint a rosey picture of the way things were back in the 'good ol' days.' The point he made was that things wern't that much greater back then, just different. I obviously can't speak for everywhere, but middle class America is still alive and well throughout much of the nation.

Freedom from want and fear??? I was just a twinkle in my parents eye when the Cold War was going on, but my understanding was there were some pretty tense moments during those years. Our desires as humans are, and probably always will be insatiable. As much as I would like, I find it difficult to believe people have ever been free from fear and wants.

 

Fortunately for me I am in school and have learned/learning my economics from someone other than a ultra liberal prof. Trade Deficit - The trade balance (difference between exports and imports) of goods and services, usually in dollars, between the US and countries other than the US.

A trade deficit means that a country is consuming more than it is producing. Consuming more than you produce is pleasant thing. It also means that capital is flowing into a country, which can be used for investment. Why don't you go read (or re-read) the short example ryane gave. A long term trade deficit is not a good thing, but in the short term is a good thing (all in moderation). I believe the trade deficit will eventually work itself out.

I agree, but you fail to mention the immigration issue. Workers come here and send a large chunk of the money back to their home countries economy, sucking it out of ours. China at least invests a considerable sum back in our economy and continues to buy our debt (which is an entirely different issue).

 

You're certainly right that people have never and will never be completely free of either... All of economics and business are geared towards the allocation of limited resources in a world of unlimited demands. I was making reference, however, to two of the paintings in Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" series, which were derived from FDR's speeches and were used as posters in the Second World War. Neither was a depiction of actual conditions (especially at that time), but rather represented an ideal of free and democratic society towards which many Americans and others contributed their blood and toil, both in WWII and the later hardships of the Cold War. Sadly, these goals seem all too frequently lost in the highest levels of contemporary business culture, as the various threads here on the sad state of the airlines seem to indicate...

 

I only wish the Airlines had more customers like yourself. I'm glad you're taking the time to educate yourself about the complexities of the airline industry. Please pass your information on to your co- workers and friends.

 

The immigration issue wasn't directly relevant to the direction the thread was taking. I do take issue with immigrants sending our nation's money back home. The fact that Mexico's second largest source of income after oil is Western Union really chaps my backside. China buying our debt is not a good thing, that just gives them good position when it comes time to foreclose. America should be in debt to its people, not foreign nations. That way, should the nation become insolvent, it will be returned to us and not over to China.

It's a pleasant thing for countries like China. Our GDP stands to get worse as our country fails to produce. It also hurts when we no longer have the incentive to improve technology. Technological revolutions are what have driven our GDP up as high as it is. Families are wealthier because we have improved technology. We have grown from being poor farmers because of investment in technology. If we outsource all manufacturing, then why would it be necessary to invest in R&D as long as their is an endless supply of cheap labor.

If the breadmaker can produce 10 loaves of bread a day and sells them for $1 each, he would have $10 a day for his effort. If he invests in technology and produces 100 loaves a day as a result, then he will surely enjoy a better standard of living. However, if children in Bangladesh are making bread for $0.10 a loaf, the breadmaker will descend into poverty. This same principle happened to those who worked in the auto industry. Try selling your argument to them. You are replaceable as well. Let's see if you remain convinced after someone with an H1B Visa replaces you.

 

The whole argument for outsourcing is based on the fact that if US companies are doing well, then wealth will trickle down, and the middle class will see the benefits. The whole idea of outsourcing is to cut manufactering costs so you can use that extra money to invest in research and development.

Lets say Boeing can sell a 737 for $50 million. It costs $5 million to manufacter inside the US, and $2 million to manufacter outside the US. Now Boeing can take that extra 3 million dollars and do one of two things.

1. Lower the price of the 737 to $3 million dollars below that of Airbus.
Cheaper airplanes = more customers = more revenue for Boeing, an American company.
2. Spend that extra $3 million on research and development. That would provide more jobs at Boeing, and better technology leading to more efficient Boeing aircraft.
More efficient airplanes = more customers = more money for Boeing, an american company.

Now when countries like China want to buy medium size aircraft, they will buy from Boeing (as opposed to Airbus, a foreign company) because Boeing's aircraft cost less, and have more technology. Billions are poured back into the US economy.
ALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTERED FOR LESS!
Thank you outsourcing!!!

 

Jet Blue just signed a 10 year $200 million maintenence contract today to send their airbuses to montreal's aircanada maintence base.

 

That's all fine if you are a stockowner, but not if you are part of the working class of America. Putting Americans out of a job because it benefits your bottom line will eventually erode your client base. Unemployed people don't fly. They stay at home worrying about their mortgage. Sure, the rich people will have more money to spend on goods, but those goods were outsourced, so the working man gains nothing from it. When people stop flying, those orders are going to slow down, Boeing will have fewer orders, stockholders sell, and the Keynesian circle starts to stall out (no pun intended).

Possibly, until they start to manufacture their own medium size aircraft. Let's also not forget that as a very nationalistic people, they would buy Chinese goods even if they cost more than American. Turning backs on a nation's own workforce is an American defect, not a common practice everywhere. China's own growth in GDP is also beginning to cause them problems, so it is likely that the trade deficit will never balance out. Seems that now that China is getting a taste of the good life with their enhanced GDP, they run the risk of losing their own export base. Their own investment in their manufactoring sectors is starting to increase their operating expenses. As a result, some US companies are moving operations out of China to another place that hasn't invested in R&D but has a good source of cheap labor. American companies just keep moving on to the next country to exploit. Soon, manufacturing towns in China will look like Detroit. I doubt that will ever cure the trade deficit.

I doubt you have ever been replaced in your career by outsourcing or an immigrant with an H1B Visa. I am amazed that you think an economy could continue to function without an employed middle-class. Forcing an entire class of people into unemployment by closing factories will stop the circle. I am curious to know how much you understand about Keynesian economics. The whole concept is what has kept this country from having another depression.