Rogue Columnist Asks A Few Pertinent Questions

On By southwerkIn Capitalism, ethics

Jon Talton
Rogue Columnist observes the signing of the tax cut bill with contempt for the beltway narrative. He is not overly impressed by the current occupant of the oval office but sees no leadership on the horizon. But the best part of his column is my mind is this paragraph, which I quote below.

From Rogue Columnist –

I’ve been spending time with the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. One harsh fact is that America is a poorer country. Vast swaths of the nation have seen their median family incomes fall from 2000 to 2009. Even the banking center of Charlotte has seen income drop 15 percent. Silicon Valley, off 11 percent. And of course great damage has been done in the areas least able to absorb it, the already lower-income Red States (the exception being counties with fossil fuels or big, subsidized ag). Now, this is a fact. How does one proceed from it? How does one proceed when it is put in the context of stagnant wages for most Americans going back 30 years? Does one change the policies that caused this? Or just keep doing them? Where is the centrist position on union busting? On monopolistic corporations such as Wal-Mart? On the big banks that privatize profits and socialize losses while continuing to have a gun to the world economy? On the loss of so many well-paid American jobs connected to actually making something of value, rather than peddling financial frauds and “the American Dream”?

Do we hear any answers out there? Will we?

James Pilant

2 thoughts on “Rogue Columnist Asks A Few Pertinent Questions”

  1. Andrew's avatar Andrew

    I think I talked about this in another of your blogs, but I believe that part of the solution could come from opening up markets that are currently illegal by the government. The example I used in my other comment was the legalization of marijuana. Dont try to create a fake demand like FDR did with the New Deal. Just legalize some of those activities that actually have a demand. Allow entrepreneurs to capitalize on it. If business is allowed to meet a market demand, then they have to create jobs in their effort to create a profit.

    Another part of the overall solution is to get some common sense back into government. Our government is so far removed from the real world that it doesn’t seem able to effectively govern.

    What about this idea…. In todays world of communications technology, what about having our senators and representatives conduct a lot of its business via a secured internet system? This way, our congressmen can ACTUALLY live and work in their state/district that they represent. If they actually live with their constituents, perhaps they will vote in their best interests instead of the best interest of their party. I know this idea has a few problems, but I think it could solve some of the problems of government transparency and could help keep them honest. Who knows, maybe I’m just optimistic.

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  2. I’ve proposed similar internet use for corporate stockholders but a great deal of power is in the hands of people in my age group and while I enjoy the computer, most fifty years olds still think of them with suspicion.
    You have spoken before of legalization as an economic. Mention it as often as you like. You might catch more attention on one post than another.

    jp

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