journalist Bob Herbert farewell to the New York Times this stark description of the state of affairs in America. --------------------------------
Welcome to the United States in the second decade of the century 21. An army of unemployed workers long stretches across the country, the human consequences of the great recession and years of misguided economic policies. Optimism is scarce. The few jobs now being created too often paid a pittance, not enough to open the door to a middle class standard of living.
Arthur Miller, echoing the poet Archibald MacLeish, liked to say that the essence of America with their promises. That was long ago. the unrestrained greed, unlimited corporate power and a fierce addiction to foreign oil have led us to an era of perpetual war and economic decline. Young people today are looking to a future which they will be worse than their elders, a change of fortune that should send a chill throughout the world. The U.S.
Not only has their priorities wrong. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth is it so easy to plunge into the horror of war, but almost impossible to find suitable employment for its people or to adequately educate its young, has lost the plot completely.
Nearly 14 million Americans without jobs and prospects for many of them are grim. Since there is only one job available for every five people in search of work, four of the five are out of luck. Instead of a land of opportunity, U.S. is becoming a place of limited expectations. A professor at the University of Washington said this week that its program graduates were finding jobs, but they were not making much money, certainly not enough to think about forming a family.
There are a lot of economic activity in the U.S., and a lot of wealth. But like greedy children, people at the top are taking virtually all the marbles. Inequality of income and wealth in the U.S. are in a phase that would bring the blush of the third world. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, the richest 10 percent of Americans inconceivable received 100 percent of average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007, the most recent period of economic expansion.
Americans behave as if it is somehow normal or acceptable. There should be, and not before. For much of the post-World War II, income distribution was more equitable, with 10 percent of families who represents only one third of average income growth, and the bottom 90 percent of receive two-thirds. This seems ancient history now.
The current maldistribution of wealth is also scandalous. In 2009, the richest 5 percent said 63.5 percent of the wealth of the nation. The vast majority, the bottom 80 percent, collectively owned only 12.8 percent.
This inequality, in which a huge segment of the population struggles, while the lucky few to ride the gravy train, is a world-class recipe for social unrest. Downward mobility is an ever shortening fuse with profound consequences.
A clear example of the fundamental injustice that is now so widespread was in The New York Times on Friday under the title: "Strategies for Avoiding GE Let It total taxes." Despite profits of $ 14.2 billion - $ 5,100,000,000 of its operations in the United States - General Electric does not have to pay U.S. taxes last year.
As David Kocieniewski The Times reported: "His extraordinary success is based on an aggressive strategy that combines fierce lobbying for tax breaks and accounting innovation that allows you to concentrate their benefits on the high seas."
GE is the largest corporation in the nation. Its chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, is the leader of President Obama's Council on Employment and Competitiveness. You can understand how ordinary workers can look to this cozy business-government agreement and the conclusion that it is fully committed to the best interests of workers.
overwhelming imbalance of wealth and income will inevitably result in large imbalances of political power. So the corporations and the very rich are doing well. The jobs crisis is not counted. Wars never end. And nation building does not get a foothold here at home.
New ideas and new leadership have rarely been more urgent
Not only has their priorities wrong. When the most powerful country ever to inhabit the earth is it so easy to plunge into the horror of war, but almost impossible to find suitable employment for its people or to adequately educate its young, has lost the plot completely.
Nearly 14 million Americans without jobs and prospects for many of them are grim. Since there is only one job available for every five people in search of work, four of the five are out of luck. Instead of a land of opportunity, U.S. is becoming a place of limited expectations. A professor at the University of Washington said this week that its program graduates were finding jobs, but they were not making much money, certainly not enough to think about forming a family.
There are a lot of economic activity in the U.S., and a lot of wealth. But like greedy children, people at the top are taking virtually all the marbles. Inequality of income and wealth in the U.S. are in a phase that would bring the blush of the third world. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, the richest 10 percent of Americans inconceivable received 100 percent of average income growth in the years 2000 to 2007, the most recent period of economic expansion.
Americans behave as if it is somehow normal or acceptable. There should be, and not before. For much of the post-World War II, income distribution was more equitable, with 10 percent of families who represents only one third of average income growth, and the bottom 90 percent of receive two-thirds. This seems ancient history now.
The current maldistribution of wealth is also scandalous. In 2009, the richest 5 percent said 63.5 percent of the wealth of the nation. The vast majority, the bottom 80 percent, collectively owned only 12.8 percent.
This inequality, in which a huge segment of the population struggles, while the lucky few to ride the gravy train, is a world-class recipe for social unrest. Downward mobility is an ever shortening fuse with profound consequences.
A clear example of the fundamental injustice that is now so widespread was in The New York Times on Friday under the title: "Strategies for Avoiding GE Let It total taxes." Despite profits of $ 14.2 billion - $ 5,100,000,000 of its operations in the United States - General Electric does not have to pay U.S. taxes last year.
As David Kocieniewski The Times reported: "His extraordinary success is based on an aggressive strategy that combines fierce lobbying for tax breaks and accounting innovation that allows you to concentrate their benefits on the high seas."
GE is the largest corporation in the nation. Its chief executive, Jeffrey Immelt, is the leader of President Obama's Council on Employment and Competitiveness. You can understand how ordinary workers can look to this cozy business-government agreement and the conclusion that it is fully committed to the best interests of workers.
overwhelming imbalance of wealth and income will inevitably result in large imbalances of political power. So the corporations and the very rich are doing well. The jobs crisis is not counted. Wars never end. And nation building does not get a foothold here at home.
New ideas and new leadership have rarely been more urgent
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This is my last column for The New York Times after an exciting, almost 18 years of ejecución.Me I'll write a book and expand my efforts on behalf of workers, the poor and others who are struggling in our society. My thanks to all the readers who have been so kind to me during these años.Puedo be achieved in future bobherbert88@gmail.com .
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http://tirandoalmedio.blogspot.com/ 
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