Social Unrest?

I recently read an article in The Telegraph(UK Newspaper) concerning The Global Unemployment Crises. Note that this is a global issue, and not simply a U.S. issue.

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Global employment crisis will stir social unrest, warns UN agency--For the United States - where persistent unemployment has become one of the main issues in this November's elections - the number of jobs still needed to regain pre-crisis levels is 6.9 million, Steven Tobin, ILO economist, said.

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The extended loss of employment and growing perceptions of unfairness risked increasing social tension, the ILO said.

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In 35 countries for which data exists, nearly 40 per cent of job seekers have been without work for more than one year, running risks of demoralization and mental health problems, and young people were disproportionately hit by unemployment.

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It seems to me that from what else I have read, I gather that much of the problem stems from the fact that the global wealthy and corporate interests are basically hoarding their money and not spending. When they do hire, it is jobs that pay much less than the jobs that were lost when the current recession started. To me, this is also a perception of unfairness. Why should only the wealthy be able to earn money and determine the value of a worker?? Why is global competition between the emerging countries and the current industrial leaders being forced, and, what are the implications of such a clash?? This sort of unrest worries me a lot more than any perceived end of the world scenario from the Christian Right. It portends a coming revolution globally.

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The global economy has started to grow again with encouraging signs of employment recovery especially in some Asian and Latin American emerging economies, the ILO said in its annual World of Work report.
"Despite these significant gains ... new clouds have emerged on the employment horizon and the prospects have worsened significantly in many countries," it said.

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I don't mind working harder, nor even going back to school if I can, but this sort of competition is a bit unfair. America should look out for its own first,...before simply hiring the stranger across the pond.

Dont tell me that we are overpaid. Wages are now dropping, and we are expected to live on less while working harder. Again, I can accept working harder and attempting to further educate myself...even at my age. I do not think, however, that my government should sell out to the corporate interests and the wealthy that have no preference for American labor over foreign labor.What solutions do you propose, Jon?

Dont be trite.you said: I then asked:What solutions do you propose, Jon? (in other words, what measures need to be undertaken?)

Its a bit of a personal rant that we have had. I work at a unionized grocery store and have worked twenty years...making a wage now of $16.00+ an hour.. which still puts me a bit above the poverty line, had I a family of four. Lower wages will not help an economy recover. (A U.S. Economy) but they will help emerging and developing nations grow.

what good does it do to halt inflation if you have to take a 30% salary cut? the point I am making is that we are not helping progress?Why should corporations be allowed to have no allegiance to the country of their origin? If they insist on doing this, we ought double the taxes on them and force them to help protect our way of life.Edited by Phat, : further explanation

First of all, the issue is which resource do you support. The company should help local labor first, in order to help America. Helping India does nothing for anyone but corporate executive paychecks.. You pay your kid to mow the lawn, even if it costs more than hiring the Mexicans.As for inflation, I realize that increasing wages increases prices. We don't seek wage increases...we simply seek to be paid the same, since we already are working harder and contributing more value for our jobs.Americans need to work harder---true---but we should expect this to benefit us and not simply keep us running in place.

and thats the problem. Corporations are impersonal. And like them, I would pay the cheaper wage. We as Americans need to organize and stick together!I fear the war that may occur if Americans are dumped by a competitive uncaring world. We DO have WMD's after all.Not that I would favor using them, but many folks would rather fight than lose.

My point, among other points, is that we are getting less than we used to get. Whether we deserve it or not is open to speculation.. Who determines and/or sets the value scale?

Whats the difference between use and abuse? Utilization versus exploitation?do a fair job and get a fair wage, I say.

Except that many governments around the world are in debt. Evidently, someone decided that debt was not a bad thing, though it makes the borrowers slaves to the lenders.How many people would do enough homework to elect good leaders? I hate campaign ads, by the way.

Good article in yesterdays Denver Post: Many who started in middle class find lifestyle slipping away. Some quotes from the article:

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Nearly three out of 10 Americans, 28 percent, born in the middle class drop out of it as adults, according to a recent study on economic mobility from The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Devastating! In the past year since I started this topic, social unrest has in fact been increasing, as witnessed by the "occupy WallStreet" crowd.

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Nearly one in five people, 19 percent, made less than their parents did at the same age in inflation-adjusted dollars.

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The article notes that this study was done before the economic downturn of the past few years.

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Individual choices are an important influence on a person's economic success in life. But larger societal and economic forces are at work, like a credit crisis and global competition, that can overwhelm them.

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Again, I ask the question--what can we Americans do to reclaim our destiny? If we get educated and work harder yet still make less than Mom and Dad did, can you blame us for being angry?

Is there a way to fix the infrastructure by training and hiring people...putting them to work fixing the roads and bridges rather than cutting these services?Seems that we had enough to fund two wars. Investing in ourselves seems like a wise move.

Isnt it also limited by the willingness of lenders? What if everybody globally decides to stop buying our debt?

Woah...wait a minute, let me get this straight. If our debt is an attractive investment, is this not hooking the U.S. middle class into virtual debt enslavement? And you say that we cant default by law...so we are legally obligated to pay back an enormous and ever growing sum.....but how does debt benefit us? Pay attention, people! It is us that matter first, here. I'll be damned if I shall fore-go my retirement and jeopardize the future of our youth simply to pay interest to China!*war drums pounding in background*I smell another rich people conspiracy here...after all, they benefit by helping foreign investment...not I. Our small time occupation of Wall Street symbolism may one day grow into a national revolution....and when America gets pissed off, the rest of the world has justifiable fear. *sighs*...is there any sane solutions, here?Edited by Phat, : changed subtitle

I remember once when you brought this up, jar: Several hundred billion saved would do much to help our situation.