U.S. Losing Its Competitive Edge

Fox News ^ | Oct. 5, 2006 | Karen Kerrigan

[Imnotalib]

The U.S. dropped to sixth place from its previous first-place position in the 2006-07 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitive Index (GCI) rankings.

The U.S. fares better in this year’s "Ease of Doing Business" report, published by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, where we rank third behind Singapore and New Zealand.

A remarkable story is unfolding around the globe, as the Doing Business study reveals. The report quantifies significant, widespread and aggressive reform activity in countries that aim to improve their economic and business climates. Georgia, Romania and Mexico are the top-three reformers. China and France make the top-ten reform list too, as do Ghana and Tanzania. The U.S. is not a top-ten reformer.

[Imnotalib]

I'm prepared for the salvo accusing me of being a left winger for suggesting the US isn't number one at something, so fire away.

However, take this problem seriously. The reforms mentioned in this article are the ones where we're about to go backward thanks to the Florida pervert Foley. If the Dims get control of both houses, one of their first actions will be to try to undo the tax cuts that have created this economy.

[Wonder Warthog]

"If the Dims get control of both houses, one of their first actions will be to try to undo the tax cuts that have created this economy."

At which point, the economy will "go South", and the Democrats will then lose the next election. I'm not convinced that the "Foley fiasco" is going to translate into victory for the Democrats--I think it's equally likely to backfire on them "Big Time".

[GSlob]

"China and France make the top-ten reform list too, as do Ghana and Tanzania."
Hmm... Statist and corrupt places make top ten? Of course, it is merely a cost of doing business, or they could have finally started suffocating in their own statism and corruption.

[DontBelieveAugPolls]

I thought I read this story in 1983

[donmeaker]

I would suggest that tort law as currently mal-practiced, and Sarbanes Oxley has something to do with a decline in US competitiveness.

Not left wing at all.

[donmeaker]

Tarzania, isnt that a town in Simi Valley, Los Angeles CA?





Oh, you mean Tanzania.....Never mind!

[MNJohnnie]

You need to look beyond the story and read the actual report. They site a number of nations with larger Deficits as a % of their annual GDP then the US Runs as being MORE competitive. They also site the current account deficit as an area of worry. That is NONSENSE. Current Account Deficit growing means our economy is growing and drawing in more and more resource. IF the economy slows or goes into recession THAT number would shrink So using THEIR standard an economic slow down would IMPROVE the US "Competitive" ranking. It utter nonsense.

They also measure a number of things like "Social spending" etc. This group of Euro Socialists realized their propaganda blast would not sell well to Americans so they slapped so pseudo Conservative jargon on to a report writing by Euro Socialists designed to prop up their Big Goverments are better dogma.

One of their "solutions" is we should repeal the Bush Taxcuts to "Rasie revenues and shrink the Deficit". Utter nonsense. As the Deficit figures released Friday showed, the current deficit is $260 billion. Half what it was 3 years ago. Cutting taxes, as Reagan taught us, RAISES revenues by generating a bigger economic pie. Be utterly stupid for us to RAISE taxes in the name of "Competitiveness". It has the exact opposite impact

[muawiyah]

Still, one of the tax cuts the Dems propose reinstating ~ yes REINSTATING is the deduction for education loan interest.

Almost unbelievably, just before the Fed started raising rates, Denny Hastert PERSONALLY led an attack on the deductibility of education loan interest.

This was totally bizarre.

I can assure you that parents with two kids in college, as well as the kids themselves, end up without a lot of income to offset higher interest on student loans.

This is a double whammy ~ interest rates on student loans more than doubled in a short period of time while deductibility for the interest paid was removed.

Why don't the rich suffer in the same manner ~ make them pay more, and then tax them for it.

Sounds like a plan destined to return Hastert and his running dog lackeys to power, and then he has the effrontery to say that after stooping low to catch the working poor in this double-whammy that he simply didn't know his little buddy Foley was fudgepacking with children in the Well of the House.

Yes, Denny has made some enemies ~ and if it weren't for the fact that the United States of America will be put under the yoke of servitude of the Dems get in this time, I'd complain about him a bit more.

[DB]

Take note of the classification "The U.S. is not a top-ten reformer".

Reformer being the key word. While we could use some reforming in many areas, compared to those on the list we are already reformed.

One also has to be very careful of these international organizations that "rate" these things. They have their own ideas on what "competitive" means. Like child care, child leave, high minimum wage, who knows what that may or may not have anything to do with true competitiveness. They simply better fit their view/agenda of what they want to see.

[kinoxi]

Georgia, Romania and Mexico are the top-three reformers. China and France make the top-ten reform list too, as do Ghana and Tanzania. The U.S. is not a top-ten reformer.

I have a hard time ingesting this much BS on an empty stomach. The article holds little credibility in my opinion after this tripe.

[Don Corleone]

I thought I read this story in 1983

Probably in 1984 penned by a fellow named Orwell.

[operation clinton cleanup]

According to the report, the most popular reform in 2005-2006 was “easing the regulations on starting a business. Forty-three countries simplified procedures, reducing costs and delays.” Second on the popular reform list was “reducing tax rates and the administrative hassle that businesses endure when paying taxes.”

DOW at all time high, unemployment at rock bottom but U.S. Losing Its Competitive Edge! I think even FOX needs a new headline writer.

[Proud_texan]

You did but in 1983 the players were different; we were going to be owned lock, stock and barrel by Japan, Inc.

Funny how that didn't work out especially since it was being touted by not only some (not all, certainly!) conservatives but also big goobermint types (in those days dims) who were using it to push government-private industry cooperation.

[Admin Moderator]

I'm prepared for the salvo accusing me of being a left winger for suggesting the US isn't number one at something, so fire away.

Are you prepared for your banning for posting constant negative comments and articles?

[groanup]

The Wall Street Journal took this report apart and shredded it into little pieces about a week ago. According the them Algeria was number one on the list. Tell that to the millions of Algerians living in Europe who will rush to get back home because of this BS.

[Chgogal]

:^ )

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1714970/posts?page=22#22

[oldbill]

Georgia, Romania and Mexico are the top-three reformers.

Soon American workers will be sneaking into Mexico to do the work rich Mexicans won't do.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

But can we survive the next 2-4 years, until they get booted out? Remember that nearly 50% voted for Gore and Kerry. That's beyond *scary*, in and of itself, W.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Check the names;MEXICO??? ROMANIA??? get real! You should have posted this under 'Comedy"

[Herakles]

The answer to this is real simple; US companies do not hire and promote the best any more (note, one goes hand in hand with the other). Nor do universities seek to produce the best and the brightest. Both US companies and universities promote based on diversity. Since in competition, the edge for competitive success is so small, basing a company on diversity and not competition, results in failure to succeed. You will, however, had a happy core of diversity hires sitting on their collective asses clogging the system.

Those of us who base our life on competition have happily left the big business world and shun the biased educational institutions and have become stronger, leaving the weak and stupid to fend for themselves. We only get stronger and smarter with opposition, they cannot!