Replies

"This all started January 21st, 2009."

New territory for Rush Limbaugh, eh? If he is tutored a few more years, he might learn sufficiently about the causes of the decline and how far back they really go.

In 1973, most favored nation trade status for a foreign nation was a ripe political issue, having been pushed by VIP constituents from behind the politicians (beginning with Nixon) for several years before. Gasoline prices doubled overnight. Retail employees were advised of new business practices beginning then (e.g., shelves in supermarkets faced-up instead of filled, downsizing, layoffs). The volume manufacturing and distribution model was effectively abolished. So was the old paradigm of encouraging and praising the atmosphere of open business competition ("healthy for business, good for the economy").

Just before and after 1980, many US manufacturing jobs were shut down, and soon after, moved to poorer areas of the USA and out of the USA (south of the border and other directions). Temper tantrums were thrown over trivial matters, such as belt guards being required on machines to prevent losses of limbs and requirements for machines to be painted bright colors instead of Navy gray (bump, skull fracture, etc.). A little later, many manufacturing jobs were moved to east Asia and other areas. The trend has continued since then.

On regulations, there are zoning laws against new, small manufacturing shops in extremely sparsely populated areas--in the middle of nowhere, so to speak. What entities do such anti-competition laws benefit? The contemporary business regime is steeped in and bragging, along with its government partners, about radical environmentalism, animal worship and anti-family social pathologies. Anti-family social pathologies also prevent new competition from rising in business.

Moral bankruptcy is the general problem, and it's happening in all kinds of political factions. Another problem is that of tighter connections between business and government. Maybe the continued economic decline caused by political correctness, etc., is part of the sad and uncomfortable answer.

Have fun. Enjoy the slide. It's been in process for much longer than most of us know. Oh, and don't look so much at the politicians. Look at their more influential constituents and constituent groups. As some say, follow the money.