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I will be a bit lazy and largely crib from a reply I made to a similar thread.

I think that we are going through something like the early days of the industrial revolution. That was hugely disruptive for a lot of people. For many it was a frightening and bewildering time. Initially it seemed to create more losers than winners but in the end created a far better world for those countries that embraced (or at least went along with) it. Likewise, I think the end of this "globalization" period will leave a far better world and for far more people than industrialization benefited.
The problem is of course we get to live through the unpleasant disruptive period. It seems we may have a bad time of it but our grandchildren will love us!
Sadly, I have no answers, except to say blaming the "rich", "greedy" corporations is not the answer. Blaming them for outsourcing is like blaming the ordinary family for buying made-in-China stuff because it is cheaper and fits their budget. Both are responding to price incentives.
The "rich" and the "greedy" corporations are responding to macro level forces. I don't think even governments can control these forces. I also know that socialism, communism and other wealth redistribution ideas are not the answer. They would destroy what we have, but put nothing, except barbarism in its place.
I don't want to end on a gloomy note so I will say that the US has been a resilient country. It's people have adapted and grown to many challenges and I am sure they will again. Even in the darkest days of the depression 75% of people had work. It was a tough time but most survived. It laid the ground for the massive expansion that we still enjoy.
To all the doomsayers, you may make money selling-short industrial stocks but you should be careful about selling America short.

It is true that we are over-taxed, but reducing those taxes will mean cuts to "our most cherished" programs. About 45% of federal government expenditure goes on just three programs; Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We spend 20% on defense and general government, and about 15% on interest on debt. In other words, getting rid of public broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts will not allow for *meaningful* reductions in tax. We will have to look to where the money is spent, and that means the big programs. That is something that no *electable* party has the stomach for and something even the conservatives on this board (probably to the right of the "average" voter) do not have the stomach for.

On illegal immigration; it seems strange to be importing (mainly) unskilled labor at the same time we are exporting unskilled jobs. That *is* something government can do something about, it is a pity they don't.

""About 45% of federal government expenditure goes on just three programs; Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We spend 20% on defense and general government, and about 15% on interest on debt. In other words, getting rid of public broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts will not allow for *meaningful* reductions in tax. We will have to look to where the money is spent, and that means the big programs. That is something that no *electable* party has the stomach for and something even the conservatives on this board (probably to the right of the "average" voter) do not have the stomach for.""

Last I checked there was no money in Social Security, was none last year and there will not be any next. Allot of that money went for other gov. expenditures, not even social security.

I believe you are minmizing the problem, it goes beyond just a % break out of expenses. You left out Local,state and federally mandated taxes. 30% federal another 20% State adds 60% to the total for a 50% Tax rate. Here in CT. They tax .42 per gallon on tax. 6% sales tax. Annual car and property Tax on and on. There are fewer services, bad roads, poor education. We are getting nothing of value in return, That's the problem

Americans can handle any demographic upheavel- the politicians, can not, they just waffle and melt under adversity. I think we are Playing into a deeper problem by taking the paths of least resistance is courting suicide.

The question becomes how eff. the monies are utilized. There is a huge amount of waste, total preoccupation with social issues and a failure to deal with anything real import. Our leaders have lost their way.