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One of the problem with the "market" solving itself is that it assumes that globalization will create harmony in the world and we'll all just get along. History shows otherwise; both with periods of internal strife as well as external. My concern is if the U.S. continues to shift strategic manufacturing and brainpower overseas to supposedly "friendly" countries, who at some point in the future decide not to be friendly, where do we turn in a hurry to provide us with basic manufacturing needs, such as steel, etc. Last time I checked, any country that ends up being reliant on other countries (unnecessarily in our case, given U.S. business is only doing it to maximize it's bottom line without other important goals in mind)for certain strategic and/or basic commodities, well, you are in trouble, it's a matter of degree.

A run amok pure capitalist system is not in everyone's interest; they caused unions to rise and socialism to become attractive. Common sense with a touch of what is best for the common good needs to be also understood by our corporate titans. Otherwise, the short-sighted mentality of what the next quarters earnings report will look like (at any cost) vs. what's the long-term objectives of the company is in relation to the society/country/world it serves, becomes suspect.

A run amok pure capitalist system is not in everyone's interest

Hello ? Are you on Free Republic ? You really think we or anyone else in the world lives in a pure capitalist system ??? Hahahahahahaha, joke's on you. You think living in a capitalist system is bad ? There are lots of people at DU waiting for your insight.

A run amok pure capitalist system is not in everyone's interest; they caused unions to rise and socialism to become attractive.

Capitalism makes the same mistake that socialism does. It attmepts to negate the human part of the equation. In order for true socialism to work it must negate individuality, creativity, the quest for excellence and personal satisfaction from its equation. On the other hand, true capitalism doesn't take into account greed, man's inherent need to dominate, Darwinism and the lack of society.

Each tenet is destructive to a society. They just attack from opposite ends. Neither a truly capitalist society nor a socialist society can survive the needs of humanity. Capitalism has just as many non-human traits as does socialism.

Anyone who thinks that capitalism can solve all problems thinks that he is the biggest bear in the river. He will get all the salmon and survive and to hell with everyone else.

Good points, Long-term vs Short-term takes good leadership, strong education, unified political visions based on a truly understanding the relevance of our Constitution and our history.
Something that current political economics does an extremely poor job with is eliciting long term options and the opportunity costs and unintended consequences of decision and law making.

I somewhat agree with you, except when you say that the economic transition going on now is "unnecessary" and is just fattening the fat cats' wallets. It is necessary, for the reasons I outlined before. Our economy, and hence military strength, depends on being able to transition to this "new economy." National security is a concern, as you say. If all our manufacturing could only be done in China, then we'd have a serious problem. But this isn't the case. There's no monopoly on manufacturing - which is precisely why it's relatively unprofitable. If China decides not to provide us with our manufacturing needs, there's a hundred other countries out there willing to supply us. Also, I don't have statistics on this, but I suspect that the military manufacturing needs are a tiny fraction, as a percentage of total manufacturing.

Exactly. The problem with the uS business model is it has become obsessed with quarter to quarter performance, and this has harmed the long term performanmce of many US based companies from Union Pacific Railroad, to GM to HP. There has to be a change in the very corporate culture of US companies, or the bad long term implications of this system will come home to roost from a "health security" payroll tax down the road enough new rules and regulations to make even the Carter era seem quaint by comparison when the US electorate has no more economic ground to give, votes in those people who promise to ease their economic burden.

"A run amok pure capitalist system is not in everyone's interest; they caused unions to rise and socialism to become attractive. Common sense with a touch of what is best for the common good needs to be also understood by our corporate titans. Otherwise, the short-sighted mentality of what the next quarters earnings report will look like (at any cost) vs. what's the long-term objectives of the company is in relation to the society/country/world it serves, becomes suspect."

I trust the long term thinking of a Corporation which seeks to exist beyond the next election cycle more than the Congress with a built in term expiration.

"a touch of what is best for the common good"

So you are advocating doing the work of Unions and Socialism now to spare us from it later?