In order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a re-read to refresh your memory! The vast majority of you are contributing in a healthy way, keep it up!
NOTE: When providing a source, explain why you feel it is relevant and what purpose it adds to the discussion if it's not obvious. Also take note that unsubstantiated tweets/posts meant only to rekindle old arguments can result in a mod action.
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
The fear of big governments in a time where governments are barely doing anything doesn't make any sense to me. The intelligence sector seems enormous, but they don't really seem to do anything. They don't catch terrorists and they don't seem to kick anyone's door in. Most changes that would be beneficial to the average citizen get changed so long until every big company is fine with it. The whole financial sector can basically produce as much money as they wan't and states have lost their power because they're so in debt and dependent that every decision they make has to be "in line with the markets".
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
The fear of big governments in a time where governments are barely doing anything doesn't make any sense to me. The intelligence sector seems enormous, but they don't really seem to do anything. They don't catch terrorists and they don't seem to kick anyone's door in. Most changes that would be beneficial to the average citizen get changed so long until every big company is fine with it. The whole financial sector can basically produce as much money as they wan't and states have lost their power because they're so in debt and dependent that every decision they make has to be "in line with the markets".
Just think of all the terrorist attacks you don't hear about. Haven't had a 9/11 since 9/11. Big government working as intended.
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
Were they "not great" for their economic performance, or for the social injustices of that time?
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
The fear of big governments in a time where governments are barely doing anything doesn't make any sense to me. The intelligence sector seems enormous, but they don't really seem to do anything. They don't catch terrorists and they don't seem to kick anyone's door in. Most changes that would be beneficial to the average citizen get changed so long until every big company is fine with it. The whole financial sector can basically produce as much money as they wan't and states have lost their power because they're so in debt and dependent that every decision they make has to be "in line with the markets".
Just think of all the terrorist attacks you don't hear about. Haven't had a 9/11 since 9/11. Big government working as intended.
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
The fear of big governments in a time where governments are barely doing anything doesn't make any sense to me. The intelligence sector seems enormous, but they don't really seem to do anything. They don't catch terrorists and they don't seem to kick anyone's door in. Most changes that would be beneficial to the average citizen get changed so long until every big company is fine with it. The whole financial sector can basically produce as much money as they wan't and states have lost their power because they're so in debt and dependent that every decision they make has to be "in line with the markets".
Just think of all the terrorist attacks you don't hear about. Haven't had a 9/11 since 9/11. Big government working as intended.
They're so good at keeping all the aliens off your backs too!
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
[]
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today.
We're still paying for a war and sending massive amounts of foreign aid to europe, I dont see how the situation has changed
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
Were they "not great" for their economic performance, or for the social injustices of that time?
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
[]
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today.
We're still paying for a war and sending massive amounts of foreign aid to europe, I dont see how the situation has changed
The US is at present sending foreign aid to Europe?
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
[]
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today.
We're still paying for a war and sending massive amounts of foreign aid to europe, I dont see how the situation has changed
The US is at present sending foreign aid to Europe?
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
Were they "not great" for their economic performance, or for the social injustices of that time?
Both. Though I think they were related at times.
The US was doing very well economically, and brought about great social changes, in the 60s and the early 70s right up untill the oil crisis, no?
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
[]
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today.
We're still paying for a war and sending massive amounts of foreign aid to europe, I dont see how the situation has changed
The US is at present sending foreign aid to Europe?
On December 27 2013 01:03 oneofthem wrote: nostalgia for the socialism in one country of the sixties was shattered thirty some odd years earlier with stagflation and opec
Typical Cayman Islands comment ! Give me my taxes back
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
Were they "not great" for their economic performance, or for the social injustices of that time?
Both. Though I think they were related at times.
The US was doing very well economically, and brought about great social changes, in the 60s and the early 70s right up untill the oil crisis, no?
Well what do you mean by "very well economically"? Inflation was already rising, the government was scrambling to maintain the monetary system (which ultimately failed), businesses were becoming uncompetitive, pollution was abysmal, and consumers were getting tired of being restricted in the goods and services they could buy. GDP growth may have looked alright, but the wheels were already falling off.
On December 26 2013 13:14 Danglars wrote: That is to say, government power, influence, and size has been trending up almost everywhere. With so much success, it must be a little irking to see it still being resisted by a significant portion of Americans. Short of total surrender and kowtow, I don't see a lot of reconciliation for the future.
As you are so keen on stressing Americas history, do you care if we take a look at Americas tax rates in the past?
You know the good old days, where governments basically didn't exist, but collected 90% of the top income? Firstly the government isn't the arch-enemy of the people, it is the people. And in the past, during which the US did really really well,government was in fact involved and pretty big, compared to today. Economic growth was awesome, wealth inequality was reasonable and, acceptable regulation existed.
It was only later,from the 70's and 80's on, that politicians came to the conclusion that taxing people who are already richer than god didn't seem very appropriate any more and that deregulating everything is really awesome. Wealth inequality went through the roof and economic growth rates declined and are at an all time low now.
It's true that America did really great, but at a time where taxation was exceptionally high and the government was quite heavily involved. Deregulation only really started during the Reagan and Thatcher era and hasn't accomplished anything besides a completely unfair and fucked up system.
The old economy collapsed in the 60's and 70's. It's dead, and there's no going back. Sorry.
The collapse of the Bretton - Woods system and the economy in the 60's and 70's had it's roots in Americas need to fund the vietnam war, recovery of Europe and Japan, negative trade balances and inflation.
That has little to do with what's wrong with our system today. Taxing rich guys doesn't cost you one dollar, and putting reasonable regulations in place(for example in the healthcare sector, with the goal of aiming for a single payer system) would save the US an insane amount of money.
I won't argue with reasonable tax and regulatory proposals. I will argue with nostalgia for the 60's and 70's. Those times really weren't that great.
Were they "not great" for their economic performance, or for the social injustices of that time?
Both. Though I think they were related at times.
The US was doing very well economically, and brought about great social changes, in the 60s and the early 70s right up untill the oil crisis, no?
Well what do you mean by "very well economically"? Inflation was already rising, the government was scrambling to maintain the monetary system (which ultimately failed), businesses were becoming uncompetitive, pollution was abysmal, and consumers were getting tired of being restricted in the goods and services they could buy. GDP growth may have looked alright, but the wheels were already falling off.
This is interesting, do you know of a place where I can read more about this sort of interpretation? I'm particularly interested in your comments about businesses being uncompetitive and consumers being tired of restrictions. It seems quite different from my understanding of this crisis.
EPT![[image loading]](http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2012/09/17/305572.jpg)
