Coming - Lower Living Standards and Lower Wages - Leading to a Modest and Equitable Way of Life

!±8± Coming - Lower Living Standards and Lower Wages - Leading to a Modest and Equitable Way of Life

There is no doubt that globalization will benefit more people than it will hurt in the United States and abroad. It is certain that it will also create new challenges, oftentimes quite painful though temporary. Today's harsh economic situation seems to be an example. It has caused a deep economic slowdown already affecting tens of millions Americans with no recovery in sight. Capitalistic globalization has a lot to do with this situation.

Consider the housing bubble which was fueled by extraordinarily cheap money provided by lenders. It caused the prices paid free of any connection to real value of the property in relation to rent or market supply and demand. The abundance of cheap money didn't come from Americans since they haven't been saving for years. It came from other countries known as the "global saving glut," amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars made available in the U.S. market. With money available to borrow, people bought overpriced houses far beyond their financial capability to pay monthly mortgage payments or sell for the price paid for. It is quite clear that without the global saving glut, America couldn't have a housing bubble or the resulting housing collapse.

Employment and jobs have taken also a very important global dimension. The most significant effect seems to be the opening of a huge global labor market. Along with thousands of Americans looking for work, millions of job seekers around the world are able now to compete for tens of thousand jobs offered by the American firms within the country as well as abroad. What is devastating for American workers is the presence of millions of substantially lower-priced foreign workers with the same skills. Even if they are not hired, they hold down the wages of high-priced American workers. Yet worse, instead of creating jobs at home, this immense pool of cheap labor relentlessly induces employers to create new jobs wherever workers with required skills are available for substantially lower wages. In reality, the main problem is not so much the outsourcing of jobs, which is relatively small, but creating them abroad rather than at home.[1]

Under the global free trade agreements, globalization has been causing an enormous societal upheaval- economic, political and social- approaching an inevitable global peaceful revolution tending to substantially upset the status quo in both developed and developing countries. It is causing downward slide in living standards in the advanced countries and upward moves of the same in developing ones. No one country or group of states can control or stop this phenomenal transformation which is taking shape and strength. At the most, any contrary effort by a state may only cause some minor delays in progress which would actually be detrimental to its economy rather than beneficial. The reality is that the world market needs cheap and abundant goods and services and to provide these, producers need cheap labor and favorable environment to maximize profits under a keen and unavoidable competition in global environment.

How is this transformation affecting the United States? Let's see first how much of America is owned by foreigners. The following few examples well illustrates the situation: Mining, 27%; information, 24%; manufacturing, 20%; professional, scientific, and technical services, 20%; and finance, 11%. But these statistics include all production firms large and small, if we look at the major and key firms, the foreign ownership picture is quite alarming. For example, foreign capital controls sound recording industries by 97%; commodity contracts dealing and brokerage by 79%; motion picture and sound recording industries by 75%; metal ore mining by 65%; database directory, and other publications by 63%; cement, concrete, lime, and gypsum products by 62%; engine turbine and power transmission equipment by 57%; rubber product by 53%; nonmetallic mineral products manufacturing by 53%, plastic and rubber products manufacturing by 52%; boiler, tank, and shipping container by 50%; coal mining by 48%, nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying by 47%.

Now, let's look at the percentage of Americans annual consumption of foreign imports. These are goods that come from abroad instead of being produced at home. Here is just a few examples from 2005 showing the percentage and value in billions of dollars: Footwear, 92% [.590]; audio and video equipment, 90% [.967]; computer equipment, 70% [.404]; Apparel, 75% [.576]; miscellaneous manufactured commodities, 57% [.467]; communication equipment, 53% [.137]; semiconductors and other electronic components, 51% [,349]; motor vehicles, 39% [2,842]; pharmaceuticals and medicines, 32% [.613]; motor vehicle parts, 32% [.066]; iron and steel and ferro alloy, 29% [.443]; basic chemicals, 24% [.011]; medical equipment and supplies, 23% [.290], a total of 3.8 billion.[2]

Then there is no wonder that according to a senior administration official, the federal budget deficit for 2008 will set a record high close to 0 billion [3] which the government has to borrow from certain sources abroad more likely from the so called "global saving glut." by issuing government treasury bonds. Considering the past behavior of the lending countries, a good part of this huge amount will be spent to buy more of the American production and communication means, increasing foreign influence over extraction of the natural resources, production of goods and services. According to Fortune Magazine ( February 18, 2008, p. 58) foreign buyers set a record in 2007 by purchasing 4 billion of American assets. Many of the biggest deals were made by Asian or Middle Eastern buyers. Our annual trade deficit remains massive amounting to hundreds of billion dollars each year. It is this enormous amount of money spent abroad that comes back to acquire our means of production, transportation and communication. This trend is troublesome more so now than ever before. 'According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the rest of the world currently owns way more of America (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) than America owns of the rest of the world, by margin of .6 trillion.... Where it leads is grim: As a nation we eventually cease to be capitalists and become simply wage earners.... a country that goes too far down this road can be 'colonized by purchase rather than conquest.'"[4]

One would expect "Americans, in a period of falling home prices, a wobbly stock market and an ongoing war, to be less than satisfied with the direction of the country. It's natural. But Americans are not simply dissatisfied. They are very unhappy. O.K., deeply, pessimistically unhappy. Un-American Dreamy: 85% of respondents in an exclusive TIME/Rockefeller Foundation poll believe that the country is on the wrong truck." [5]

Americans are increasingly feeling that they have become the losers. A majority of 68% of the respondents in a Fortune Magazine survey indicate that free trade benefits the most the U.S. partners rather than the Americans. They fear about jobs lost overseas and wages reduced by global competition and now worsened by the failure of giant financial institutions, housing crisis and credit crunch. It is felt that globalization so far is undermining the middle class and enriching only the economic elite. As opinion polls demonstrate, this disparity seems to be a reason for unprecedented concerns about inequality in income distribution as well as upward economic mobility. According to a Gallup poll nearly 70% of Americans think that there should be a more even distribution of wealth. The earning gap between the highly skilled workers and the rest of the labor force has been widening since 1980s. Particularly, in the last few years the top few percent has seen an accelerating gain while the rest have stood still or fallen back. A huge number of Americans, 80% of them, think it is harder to maintain a middle-class lifestyle now compared to five years ago.[6]

Putting aside the housing crisis, let's see why is this happening to the working class in the United States? The basic reason is globalization of capital, production as well as marketing during the last decade. Availability of cheaper labor abroad, and far favorable production environment such as minimum or no requirements for health care or retirement benefits, minimum or no regulation regarding the work environment, and harshly competitive global market, all together have been causes for strong inducement for American firms to move their production of goods and services abroad. This process is still going on with an increasing pressure to be enlarged further. The first effect of this surge is imposing a cap or reducing wages. This is being seen all over the country from the airline pilots all the way down in nearly all firms involved in global trade. As demonstrated by the studies mentioned above, wages as well as middle class family income has remained nearly the same during the last five years.

Based on the character of the globalized trade and keen competition it creates in global market, the production firms have been pushed to resort to any means which would bring down the cost of production. Unavoidably, when the cost of production at home, despite of all possible reductions, cannot compete in international market, the firms are obliged to move their operation where the cost of labor, health care, retirement benefits put all together leaves some ground for competition and expectation of profits. The outcome has been an accelerating outsourcing the production.

Consequently, based on all the facts presented above, This process of stagnation in domestic production, reduced wages, health care and retirement benefits with increased unemployment, will impose unavoidable pressures on the middle and lower income families to cut down in their spending. As the process continues, these families will end up spending only in basic necessities, trying at the same time to save some for their health care and old age, if at all possible. Purchasing luxury or multiple items such as cars, television sets, cameras, many shirts, pants, shoes and dresses will be gradually reduced to basic needs. As the domestic production of goods and services along with consumer spending declines, so do the government revenues while its expenditures particularly in welfare programs, such as unemployment compensation, food stamp, antipoverty, medicaid etc., increases. There will be no other way but substantial tax increase to balance the budget. Because, we won't be able to borrow money to do so, as we have been doing for years, since presently we are borrowing billion a day to balance our budget and paying over 0 million interest daily on the accumulated national debt of nearly trillion. Since our projection of lover living standards as presented above is about a decade or two away, and if the level of budget deficit stays around to hundred billions per year, the nation will approach to the brink of bankruptcy by then and the United States will lose credibility to borrow particularly that our creditors will be foreign financial institutions as they are now. The imposition of any tax increase, specially a substantial one, would be a great but inevitable burden on the impoverished taxpayers.

The huge unemployment in addition to the new young workers entering the tied job market, will push the nation for substantial transformation in the workplace. One possible and democratic way would be to guaranty equality of opportunity at work place. The concept would require the production firms to hire anyone looking for job in their area of competence. If there is no open positions then those who are employed must let go an hour or two per week of their weekly work to the extent that it will provide employment for everyone. It will cut a little from the weekly or monthly pay of those already employed but will provide work and income for those who were unemployed. This process will guarantee full employment all the time.This concept is not easy to implement but well possible. For details of the process see Technodemocratic Economic Theory: From Capitalism and Socialism to Democracy by the author

Under this system, more likely, most people will work some hours less per week. Accordingly, they will have more time for leisure, enjoyment of life and self-fulfilment. Individual attention to exercise, art, music, poetry and literature will flourish, and necessarily results in creation of thousands of new and meaningful positions.

While this process of lower living standards taking place in advanced countries, developing countries also go through a quite different transformation. This process has already started in many developing countries where wages are extremely low and requirement for a healthy work environment, health care and retirement benefits are minimal. It has already caused outsourcing the production and marketing from the advanced societies and an urge from the part of the global corporations to establish production firms in these countries rather than in their own. China and India are two major examples. Such development of production of goods and services in these countries will gradually cause increase in wages and workers demand for a better working environment, health care and retirement benefits. It will eventually result in a higher living standards in these societies. Ultimately, the income level will be modified in both developed and developing societies and the living standards reach a comparable level under a global standards tending toward an equitable living ways. I estimate this end to be attained within five decades.

References:

1. Geoff Calvin, "A Recession of Global Dimension?" Fortune, February 4, 2008, p18. 2. http://www.economyincrisis.org, July 28, 2008. 3. Andrew Taylor, "Budget Deficit Nearing 0 Billion," Time, JULY 28, 2008. 4. Geoff Calvin, "America for Sale," Fortune, February 18, 200 8, p.58. 5. Bill Sporito, "85% of US Unhappy With Economy," http://www.time.com/ 6. "Workman's Blues," The Economist, July 26, 2008, pp.33-36.

Coming - Lower Living Standards and Lower Wages - Leading to a Modest and Equitable Way of Life

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You Do Have Something To Wear! Shattering The Myth Of Age-Appropriate Dressing

!±8± You Do Have Something To Wear! Shattering The Myth Of Age-Appropriate Dressing

I'm over 30 and I still shop in the juniors department. So why do I feel like I'm standing up in an AA meeting sharing my "problem?" Because once a woman is on the other side of 30, a not so subtle social pressure comes to bear demanding that she suddenly adopt a dour, sedate fashion sense that leads her to shapeless, and often times ridiculous outfits which are meant to de-feminize, marginalize, and desexualize. After all, women of a "certain age" aren't supposed to wade the sexual pool anymore; they're supposed to be nestled comfortably in a marriage, moving and shaking the business world or caring for parents and grandchildren. All this while wearing clothes meant to be all function and no fun, and which unfortunately are often just that. But there are certain of us women, primarily tail-end boomers and leading edge Gen-Xers, who are refusing to go into that good night and become invisible. You know who you are. Like me, you may still haunt the Juniors' department looking for cute outfits or, feeling the need to "look mature," but convinced there's nothing out there, you may have succumbed to the pressure opting for fussy and matronly outfits that don't do you justice. And some of you, horror of horrors, have completely gone over to the dark side and are wearing those terrible offerings from women's, which take into consideration neither shape nor style.

Well I'm here to tell you that you don't have to settle for unattractive shapeless clothes, even if you don't have a twenty year old's body anymore. (By the way, most twenty year olds don't have perfect bodies either). You don't have to dress like June Cleaver, and you don't have to give up fashion after 30, 35, or even 40. I'm going to tell you how to successfully shop in Juniors with confidence, and come away with outfits that are both functional and dare I say it cute, but won't make you appear to the world as that most derided of women, you know her, the mutton who's trying to look like a lamb. Are you ready?

1. Timing is everything. If you're going to haunt the junior aisles without eliciting quizzical looks from teens and twenty-somethings, you have to shop when they're not around. Weekday mornings, when school is in session, are the best times. It goes without saying that you should completely avoid the weekends. If this isn't possible, take a younger woman with you. Many women take their teens shopping in Juniors. Nobody has to know that you're really selecting outfits for yourself.

2. Stay away from extremes to avoid the dreaded "mutton as lamb'' look. Any cutsie T-shirt that reads hottie, cutie, brat, etc., looks ridiculous on a mature woman, as do sparkles, lots of ribbon, lots of fringe, you get the idea. What you're going after in Juniors is the cut or shape of the outfit. Stick with more sedate colors and smaller prints. If you absolutely must have one of those cutsie T-shirts, make sure it's plain and message-free.

3. Get a cool pair of jeans. Let's face it, while the jeans in women's are classic, and classics are great, they aren't sexy and they don't suit everybody. Despite what you've heard, low rise boot cut jeans are a godsend for most mature women. A low rise boot cut is great if you're petite or slightly overweight. This jean gives the illusion of a waist, lengthens the torso, and makes thunder thighs look smaller. Classic jeans, especially straight legs, have a tendency to make a lot of mature and larger women look, well larger. One rule for low rise boot cuts: don't get a rise that is too low (to avoid panty-peek) and opt for a classy dark indigo or black color. Slightly distressed jeans are cool too. Avoid excessive details. The dizzying array of buckles, zippers, etc., that are popular in junior jeans now will make you look as though you're trying too hard. A jean with one detail like a leather laced front is okay if you feel you have the penache to pull it off.

5. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Here's where a mature woman can really have fun. A sexy pair of boots, some strappy heels, an awesome handbag, and fun jewelry are absolute musts. Just remember that less is more. Don't wear too much jewelry or load up on accessories. A good rule of thumb is to wear one to two powerful pieces at a time. Up-to-date accessories are a great way to punch up your classic pieces.

6. Know what shapes look good on you and know what's classic. I mention this because armed with a knowledge of what never goes out of style and what looks best on you, you can choose freely and confidently from those outfits in Juniors that are mere variations on the classics. By sticking with the classic, more conservative junior apparel and avoiding youthful excesses, you can find great contemporary clothes and still look like a woman.

So, I hope you see that if you're 30 and older that you really do have something to wear! You needn't listen to those invisible arbiters of style that say you have to dress a certain way (read matronly) as you age. The trick as you grow older is to become more sophisticated---not dowdy---in what you wear. Avoid the boxy, shapeless clothing offered to mature women. Wearing a tent and thinking it will disguise your faults is a mistake that often backfires. You'll only end up disguising the fact that you're a woman, and isn't part of being a woman having the freedom to flaunt your sexuality should you desire?

You Do Have Something To Wear! Shattering The Myth Of Age-Appropriate Dressing

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Mascot Dog Names Part 1

!±8± Mascot Dog Names Part 1

The mascot represents the universities, colleges, teams, groups, and businesses. The real meaning of mascot is any person, object, and animal that brings good luck. Often, the theme of mascot is a dog. Here are the mascot names with meaning and history.

In this article, we will cover the following mascot dog names. The dog names of mascot are Blitz, Blue, Brian Boru, Bully, Dubs, George Tirebiter, Handsome Dan, and Harvey the Hound.

Blitz which is a Boston Terrier is the mascot of the Wofford College. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the college teaches liberal arts. Blitz is an American dog name which means intensive and fast attack.

Blue which is an English Bulldog is the mascot of the Butler University. Located in Indianapolis, Indian, the Butler University specializes in liberal arts. The university started as a Christian College. It grew to gain a university status. Blue is an English dog name which means the blue color.

Brian Boru which is an Irish Wolfhound is the mascot of the Royal Irish Regiment. Currently, the regiment is the only Irish infantry unit of the British Army. Brian is a name which means noble, strong, and virtuous.

Bully which is another English or British Bulldog is mascot of Mississippi State University. The university specializes in agriculture, horticulture, and mechanical arts. Bully is a name which short for bulldog. Bully also means like to dominate.

Dubs which is an Alaskan Malamute or Husky is the mascot of the University of Washington. Dubs is a real live mascot. The current mascot is actually the 13th of the university. In 2009, Dubs was voted the number 1 mascot of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

George Tirebiter is the unofficial and former mascot of University of South California in 1940. A group of students noticed a stray dog. It looked like the Navy V12 student named George Kuhns. The stray dog likes to chase cars to bite the tires. So, he got the name George Tirebiter. After biting the mascot of University of California Los Angeles, George gained in popularity and fans. George is a Greek dog name which means Earth worker.

Handsome Dan which is another English Bulldog is the mascot of the Yale University. Apparently, Handsome Dan is the first live mascot. In 1892, Graves bought an English Bulldog for sixty five dollars. After he washed the dog, he named the dog as Handsome Dan. Since Graves is a crew team of a football team, Yale students often see Handsome Dan. And, Handsome Dan quickly became the Yale mascot. Dan is a Hebrew dog name which means arbiter.

Harvey the Hound is the mascot of the Calgary Flames NHL team. Harvey the Hound was the first mascot of the NHL. And, the mascot was named after Harvey. He was drafted in the first round in 1983. He was six foot and six inches tall. And, he weights two hundred pounds. Harvey is an English name which means battle or carnage worthy.

The dogs in mascot is long list. We have broken the article into two parts. In the coming week, we will include more mascot dog names. As you had seen, the names had great history and meaning.

Mascot Dog Names Part 1

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