For workers, U.S. falls short versus most developed nations

[TU Curmudgeon]

From CBS News

For workers, U.S. falls short versus most developed nations
​

The American labor market by many metrics is doing remarkably well, with businesses continuing to hire robustly in June and unemployment at 4 percent. Still, a large number of U.S. workers aren't feeling the benefits of the nation's economic well being, and a recently released economic report sheds some light on why.

The United States has a higher level of income inequality and a larger share of low-income residents than almost any other advanced nation, according to an annual employment report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an economic organization with 36 member countries.

American workers suffer from longer-lasting consequences when they lose a job, and the majority lack the type of labor protections that workers in other countries enjoy, the group said. About 12 percent of U.S. workers were covered by collective bargaining in 2016, with just Turkey, Lithuania and South Korea having lower figures, the study found.

But the U.S. isn't the only country with problems.

COMMENT:-

Another way of looking at the situation?
​

 

[ataraxia]

Yes, I had a chance to visit Japan about 2 years ago. The tour guide there was talking about similar discontents among the working class there as well. It seems to be a problem for almost all developed world economies. It's a catch-22: you develop your economy to bring prosperity to all, but then you lose all the jobs to developing economies. This leaves only a handful at the top with almost all the vast sums of money being generated by the growing GDP, and still leaves the vast majority of the country in the lurch.

How come there are never any easy solutions?

 

[Gaugingcatenate]

From CBS News

For workers, U.S. falls short versus most developed nations
​

The American labor market by many metrics is doing remarkably well, with businesses continuing to hire robustly in June and unemployment at 4 percent. Still, a large number of U.S. workers aren't feeling the benefits of the nation's economic well being, and a recently released economic report sheds some light on why.

The United States has a higher level of income inequality and a larger share of low-income residents than almost any other advanced nation, according to an annual employment report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an economic organization with 36 member countries.

American workers suffer from longer-lasting consequences when they lose a job, and the majority lack the type of labor protections that workers in other countries enjoy, the group said. About 12 percent of U.S. workers were covered by collective bargaining in 2016, with just Turkey, Lithuania and South Korea having lower figures, the study found.

But the U.S. isn't the only country with problems.

COMMENT:-

Another way of looking at the situation?
​

We, even our poor, are wealthy beyond even a grand utopian conception of 60 years ago.

Income inequality is the modern day whiners vineyard of choice, it seems. We all have too much time to sit a navel gaze, worry too much about what others have rather than enjoying the abundance to which we have ready access and should just, simply, enjoy.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

We, even our poor, are wealthy beyond even a grand utopian conception of 60 years ago.

Income inequality is the modern day whiners vineyard of choice, it seems. We all have too much time to sit a navel gaze, worry too much about what others have rather than enjoying the abundance to which we have ready access and should just, simply, enjoy.

Unfortunately if everyone was content to simply enjoy the stuff that they had and which actually met their actual needs then no one would be buying the latest version of Windows and that would mean that no one would be having to buy a newer and faster computer that could cope with bloatware, and that would mean that hundreds and hundreds of programmers in the on-line game industry would be out of work.

Then there what would happen to the automobile industry if people were satisfied with a vehicle which did what it was supposed to and didn't replace it with one that his **T*H*I*S** **Y*E*A*R*S** collection of chrome geegaws and doodads.

We won't even go into the absolutely life-threatening threat that people would face if they couldn't get 400 channels on their TV set.

 

[Gaugingcatenate]

Unfortunately if everyone was content to simply enjoy the stuff that they had and which actually met their actual needs then no one would be buying the latest version of Windows and that would mean that no one would be having to buy a newer and faster computer that could cope with bloatware, and that would mean that hundreds and hundreds of programmers in the on-line game industry would be out of work.

Then there what would happen to the automobile industry if people were satisfied with a vehicle which did what it was supposed to and didn't replace it with one that his **T*H*I*S** **Y*E*A*R*S** collection of chrome geegaws and doodads.

We won't even go into the absolutely life-threatening threat that people would face if they couldn't get 400 channels on their TV set.

So, its not a real problem ...as evidenced by your post.

No matter the abunance some folks will, cannot help it, complain. Most of those who have ever lived on the planet had short, dirt eating poor, miserable ( especially compared to today) lives.

I listen to the stupid complaints and am glad not to be stuck sinking in the quicksand of such dismal negativity. To get to happiness you need to be at least trying to head in the direction of happiness.

Yano?

 

[ataraxia]

We, even our poor, are wealthy beyond even a grand utopian conception of 60 years ago.

Income inequality is the modern day whiners vineyard of choice, it seems. We all have too much time to sit a navel gaze, worry too much about what others have rather than enjoying the abundance to which we have ready access and should just, simply, enjoy.

So then I am not sure why there is all the this anxiety and drama about rising health care premiums, the rise of clean energy displacing older technology, and too many immigrants taking away jobs. Why dont people just sit back and enjoy? Stupid complaints and modern day whiners. Right?

 

[jnug]

Anybody that does not recognize the issue of income inequality in this country is dead and too stupid to fall over. There is no sense even having some nonsensical discussion on this topic. Either you have a brain or you are useless one cell amoeba banging into the furniture all day long until you bang into a sharp enough corner to be pierced and expunged.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Anybody that does not recognize the issue of income inequality in this country is dead and too stupid to fall over.

I'm not so sure that the degree of economic inequality today is any worse than it was back in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and (possibly) early 1900s.

I have a suspicion that "the problem" is that, back in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s, and (possibly) early 1900s that degree of economic inequality was accepted as normal (and even [possibly] as the "natural basis for society").

Today, of course, it isn't.

There is no sense even having some nonsensical discussion on this topic. Either you have a brain or you are useless one cell amoeba banging into the furniture all day long until you bang into a sharp enough corner to be pierced and expunged.

There is, quite correctly, "no sense even having some nonsensical discussion on this topic".

There is, however, (in my opinion) quite a lot of sense in having some rational discussion on this topic.

Possibly if it were framed as "Do we want a society where less than 10% of the population controls over 80% of the economy - and thus, indirectly, the lives of the other 90%?" that would clarify what the issue is for you.

 

[Ikari]

Yes, I had a chance to visit Japan about 2 years ago. The tour guide there was talking about similar discontents among the working class there as well.

That's interesting because Japan is on the list for one of the wealthiest nations, but doesn't break the top 10 for wealth inequality. So they seem to be doing better than the US.

There are no easy solutions mostly because those who hold all the money and influence and power don't want there to be a solution.

 

[Gaugingcatenate]

So then I am not sure why there is all the this anxiety and drama about rising health care premiums, the rise of clean energy displacing older technology, and too many immigrants taking away jobs. Why dont people just sit back and enjoy? Stupid complaints and modern day whiners. Right?

Pretty much.

Media needs/wants (to continue to exist) to sell such copy. Now, instead of people starving we have a crisis of obesity. Neglect of real problems, like those concerning our mentally ill, cause other problems, mass shootings, drug/alcohol addictions, etc.

Our shared wealth doesnt solve all problems, but people not understanding and appreciating how comparatively well they have it in life, more creates rather than resolves problems. If people were having to scramble every single day just barely eking out an existence, had to use all their energy and concentration just to survive this day, and all their energy and concentration tomorrow just to survive that day...

Nobody would have the time nor extra energy to complain, eh? Besides, if it were that way for practically everyone, nobody would be listening...they wouldnt have the time nor energy to waste on such frivolities.

Yano?

 

[ataraxia]

Pretty much.

Media needs/wants (to continue to exist) to sell such copy. Now, instead of people starving we have a crisis of obesity. Neglect of real problems, like those concerning our mentally ill, cause other problems, mass shootings, drug/alcohol addictions, etc.

Our shared wealth doesnt solve all problems, but people not understanding and appreciating how comparatively well they have it in life, more creates rather than resolves problems. If people were having to scramble every single day just barely eking out an existence, had to use all their energy and concentration just to survive this day, and all their energy and concentration tomorrow just to survive that day...

Nobody would have the time nor extra energy to complain, eh? Besides, if it were that way for practically everyone, nobody would be listening...they wouldnt have the time nor energy to waste on such frivolities.

Yano?

I see. So we should just be happy we have enough bread to eat.

Odd. Considering that all other economically developed nations aim for, and achieve, so much more than that for their people.

 

[Gaugingcatenate]

I see. So we should just be happy we have enough bread to eat.

Odd. Considering that all other economically developed nations aim for, and achieve, so much more than that for their people.

Channeling BBC 4s Cathy Newman?

Why allow your jealousy to push you into such trivial time wasting? Suggest you look into the Pareto Distrbution. Figure out a way to "fix" a natural law without doing even more damage, then get back to us.

 

[ataraxia]

Channeling BBC 4s Cathy Newman?

Why allow your jealousy to push you into such trivial time wasting? Suggest you look into the Pareto Distrbution. Figure out a way to "fix" a natural law without doing even more damage, then get back to us.

“Natural law”? Oh you mean the law of the jungle? Social Darwinism! Is that what we are modeling modern civil society on now? Yeah that works great!:lamo

 

[Gaugingcatenate]

“Natural law”? Oh you mean the law of the jungle? Social Darwinism! Is that what we are modeling modern civil society on now? Yeah that works great!:lamo

Sad contribution.

You ARE channeling Cathy Newman.

Get back to me when you are able to figure out how to use a search engine. Ask someone. Practically anybody.