Add this Page to Facebook!   Submit to Twitter   Submit to Reddit   Submit to Stumble Upon   Pin It!   Fark It!   Tell A Friend  
Printer Friendly Page Save As Favorite Save As Favorite View Article Stats
8 comments

OpEdNews Op Eds

We Moved from a Manufacturing to a Service Economy under Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush

By (about the author)     Permalink       (Page 1 of 1 pages)
Related Topic(s): ; , Add Tags Add to My Group(s)

Must Read 3   Well Said 3   Supported 3  
View Ratings | Rate It

Headlined to H2 4/20/10

Become a Fan
  (97 fans)

opednews.com

A statement released last week by Obama administration Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer warns that when it comes to the economy we are very far from being OK.

Romer put out a statement concerned that many "observers" are approaching the high unemployment rates in the country without the appropriate sense of urgency. Romer says the unemployment remains high because the economy is producing dramatically below its capacity and the tools and knowledge are available to counteract economic shortfalls and they should be used aggressively.

Let me add a few things to Christina Romer's observation. About 25 percent of all profits being generated in our economy right now are in the financial services sector - the billions in profits and bonuses going to a few thousand banksters, mostly on Wall Street.

Historically this was a tiny slice of our economy, because banks don't actually manufacture any product that adds value to our economy. Additionally, since we moved from a manufacturing to a service economy under Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush we've seen manufacturing fall from about a quarter of our economy to only 11 percent of it. That means we no longer make anything of value here.

Without making things, we don't create true wealth - we just move money around. You wash my car, and I'll mow your law - a so-called service economy - leads to economic disintegration over time, as eventually the car will fall apart and the lawn needs to be re-seeded. We need to reject Reaganomics and Clintonomics, accept Bill Clinton at his word that he was wrong to listen to Rubin and Summers, and go back to an economy that works. And roll back the Reagan tax cuts as a starting point.

 

http://www.thomhartmann.com

Thom Hartmann is a Project Censored Award-winning New York Times best-selling author, and host of a nationally syndicated daily progressive talk program on the Air America Radio Network, live noon-3 PM ET. more...)
 
Add this Page to Facebook!   Submit to Twitter   Submit to Reddit   Submit to Stumble Upon   Pin It!   Fark It!   Tell A Friend
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Writers Guidelines

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

Comments

The time limit for entering new comments on this article has expired.

This limit can be removed. Our paid membership program is designed to give you many benefits, such as removing this time limit. To learn more, please click here.

Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
8 comments
To view all comments:
Expand Comments
(Or you can set your preferences to show all comments, always)

of, by and for the rich by Ned Lud on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 6:38:01 AM
The sad thing is by PrMaine on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 12:55:13 PM
Wrong message, wrong solution by Peter Wedlund on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:27:06 AM
yes, by all means by Ned Lud on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 8:54:59 AM
How do we get there from here? by Kyle Griffith on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:42:16 AM
Get there by looking ahead by Peter Wedlund on Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 8:29:02 AM
Free trade idiocy by Kent Welton on Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 11:45:52 AM
You wash my car, I'll... MOW YOUR LAW by Tobin the Terrible on Thursday, Apr 22, 2010 at 3:08:40 PM