Ya opebo, but sometimes it is better that such low value added jobs be done elsewhere. It saddens me that we still have low value added textile sweat shops in Los Angeles, thanks to illegal immigration. The trick for a prosperous society is to focus on high value added jobs, and have an educational system that works well enough to staff them. On the latter front, the US is in serious trouble, but that is another topic.
Wishful thinking.
Yes, it is wishful thinking, I'm afraid. Jobs such as textiles are not so much 'low value added' as they are valued as such simply because there are places were people are enslaved where it is practical to do them. In practice it is less 'education and skill level' that protects a job in the USA than it is physically impractical to move it - like services, construction, etc.
The trick for a prosperous society for most people is to simply distribute the benefits more evenly. The idea that the 'free market' can ever benefit the majority is just plain unrealistic.
Tore and some others actually believe that we can become this great nation of highly skilled workers and all be middle class or better.
Its nice to dream, but reality is that we need low skilled workers to make this economy move... the key is making sure they are employed and paid decent wages.
Oh, once the developing world catches up with the rich countries you will get your low-paying jobs back. You're gonna realize what a bad deal that is then of course.
But, Opebo, I thought you enjoyed exploting the poor of the third world. What's your complain?
