The Service Economy

It used to be that you had manufacturing jobs here in this country., from here all kinds of made goods would be shipped all over the world., you quit one job, and next week you landed another job., but now that's all gone., you can't find work anywhere unless you're specialized -"experienced'- in something., that, or have a connection to get you in the company., other than that, it's all service sector jobs., and in the service sector, you have to kiss ass., so-called "customer service" ., what a pain in the ass if you don't know how to kiss ass., kiss the customers ass., kiss your bosses ass., right?

A long time ago, especially after WW2, the US pretty much had no competition around the world. Europe was bombed to hell and was out of the game for a while trying to rebuild. China was still under communism, so pretty much, the US was the only game in town. With no competition, Americans had it good, companies can afford to maintain lifetime jobs with good benefits, unions can demand more, government can tax and regulate more, and it all worked out because these companies had no competition outside the US. But as the rest of the world began to liberalize their economies, the US kept going in the opposite direction of more regulations, more taxes, more overall controls, making US manufacturing uncompetitive and driving out all those jobs overseas. That's partially why the service sector exploded, and with the US dollar being "the worlds reserve currency" all these other countries were willing to make products and ship them to the US, in exchange for dollars. Where as, if things were even, the US would really have to send them something of value in return, but instead, they take dollars. Which leads to the economic imbalances we have now, where this over expanded service sector is all that is left. So when foreigners realize they can't buy very much with those dollars, the US will be in for a rude awakening. The US high standard of living is based on debt, and foreigners willingness to send us goods with very little in return..

The idea that the US can survive a good standard of living by being mostly a service sector based economy is all wishful thinking, its crazy. It can't and won't last.

RC wrote:A long time ago, especially after WW2, the US pretty much had no competition around the world. Europe was bombed to hell and was out of the game for a while trying to rebuild. China was still under communism, so pretty much, the US was the only game in town. With no competition, Americans had it good, companies can afford to maintain lifetime jobs with good benefits, unions can demand more, government can tax and regulate more, and it all worked out because these companies had no competition outside the US. But as the rest of the world began to liberalize their economies, the US kept going in the opposite direction of more regulations, more taxes, more overall controls, making US manufacturing uncompetitive and driving out all those jobs overseas. That's partially why the service sector exploded, and with the US dollar being "the worlds reserve currency" all these other countries were willing to make products and ship them to the US, in exchange for dollars. Where as, if things were even, the US would really have to send them something of value in return, but instead, they take dollars. Which leads to the economic imbalances we have now, where this over expanded service sector is all that is left. So when foreigners realize they can't buy very much with those dollars, the US will be in for a rude awakening. The US high standard of living is based on debt, and foreigners willingness to send us goods with very little in return..

that ^ ^ reads a lot like something i wrote not too long ago
where in order to get the u.s. out of the rut it got itself into back then in the 1930's. the u.s. had to go to war (WWII) and become the mass supplier for the world
~> for all their material needs., and that's what why we came out of WWII as the world's only true manufacturing factory., it was a leave it to beaver america., but the world catched up., and now we're left only with the "service sector" ., not too long ago i had this eye-to-eye small-talk with my big boss at work (who btw hates my ass), and i said and he said., and to make a long conversation short., technology and weapons manufacturing is all that is left for this country., and both of those sectors are heavily intruded upon., the chinese intrude and duplicate everything the u.s. comes up with., and then the chinese re-sell it to us and to the world., the europeans, like germany for instance, are far beyond our tact and skills in dealing with the third world., but then again, the germans always had the brits, the francs, and the americans beat in the world business affairs scene., that's why two world wars where fought to defeat germany., but anyways., back to economics here in the u.s. today., shit is way too expensive to design, to manufacture, to transport, to install, or to keep maintained., therefore, we're on the decline., declining too quick and too fast., exemplified in the world of development, why an India old engineer with fifteen years of study will come cheaper and atop than an 8 year study young american engineer., so think about that whenever you think that you can get ahead., yeah right., might as well get comfortable living as a second class citizen! might as well stay put, you and your children, down as almost got there but couldn't!