If You Think Things Will Get Better.

       Ours is a very strange economy. Some few are prospering greatly while many more are struggling enormously. Some jobs that had left and then returned, as a result of high transportation costs, have returned at far lower wages. Now that we're enjoying low gas prices, even that flow of jobs is slowing. This too will pass. Anyone out there think gas prices won't go up again?
       When the price for oil returns to the stratosphere, jobs will once again begin to slowly return. But as sure as the sun rises in the east, wages will be lower and lower. Why can't we get better paying jobs? Well, if you listen to the experts, they'll tell you the better paying jobs are strictly in hi-tech fields. That certainly is partially true, but it's not the whole answer, and eventually those high wages will shrink into low paying jobs.
       Part of the problem, part of the reason for low paying jobs that were once high paying is because, with the complicity of our government, industry was able to rid itself of strong unions. Now I'll admit that many unions were riddled with corruption and shortsightedness, but it was unions that built a safe working environment for workers and made for high wages in the first place. By weakening unions over time, corporations were able to reduce wages by several means. The simple act of shipping jobs overseas allowed them to reintroduce those same jobs back home at greatly reduced wages. And unions are far weaker in negotiations because of greatly reduced numbers.
       And lets not forget government. Either by outright force such as in Wisconsin or by legislation that strengthened corporations while weakening union options, governments have willingly sold good jobs for corporate campaign support. And make no mistake, both political parties are fully immersed in this policy. Republicans outright admit their favoritism claiming their support for corporations will create jobs. Meanwhile Democrats find fault with corporate power and influence but at the same time they accept that 'influence for dollars' tradeoff. Both know their statements are untrue.
       If you've ever met a politician who does not speak with a forked tongue, you know he or she did not get elected. Even the best become tainted by the stench of Washington. We need strong unions and weak legislators. We need term limits for both union leaders and legislators.