[TheForge] Second Rate USA?

[Andrew Vida]

ries wrote:

> Where we dont compete is on low priced commodities that are mass 
> produced by unskilled labor.
> But we do very well, especially considering how small our population is, 
> on things that require brains.

	I agree, but we still have a large unskilled labor gap in many areas. 
How much of a problem this really represents is open to question, I 
agree.  It could be that my rare trips to TV land, news in specific, are 
jading my perceptions too deeply.  US media really cannot be trusted.  I 
get news from my cousins and friends all over the globe and am surprised 
at how differently the rest of the world is informed.

	Nevertheless, costs are going up by far greater margins than they have 
been at any time over the past 25 years (save for housing, the market 
for which is stupid in the USA).  Much of this is related to oil, but I 
don't think it is 100% so.

	We have a good workforce - better than anywhere else, but with low wage 
competition and wide-open borders it is difficult to compete.  The rest 
of the world needs to come up to our standards rather than for us to 
devolve to theirs, economically speaking.  I don't think I will be 
holding my breath on  that one.

	OK, enough of this crap.  I have to go sink fence posts.  Thrills.