US Policy Makers: Incompetent, Partisan and Compromised by Self Interest; Mishandle the Economy

1- Politicians serve the interests of the economic or ideological groups that finance their election campaigns before the interest or our nation. The result is bad policy, partisan sound bites and unqualified elected leaders. The solution for the economic crisis is at the mercy of this compromised body of leaders.

2-The economy is uncompetitive and mismanaged. The persistent joblessness points to how out of touch policy makers are with the deep problems in our country starting with we don't make stuff anymore.

3- Post WWII economic theories aren't showing us how to get out of this. After trillions dollars in stimulus and 3 years into a recovery interest rates, jobs and tax receipts should be rising and deficits falling. This is not in the range of normal and indicates how dire the situation really is.

4-Big business has every advantage in today's economy but they only created a net of 20,000 jobs this year. They are still outsourcing jobs overseas. Policy makers turn a blind eye. Not acceptable.

5-Health care costs in the US are $1 trillion too high. For profit health businesses milk Medicare and insured patients, trial attorneys exploit the system adding costs in malpractice insurance and forcing MD's to defend their own liability by prescribing excessive diagnostic procedures. Drug companies don't charge any country what they charge us for drugs.

6-Too many regulations or not enough regulation. Bureaucratic class have failed our economy but saved their careers. The mortgage/housing bubble is the showcase for this issue.

7-Short term business leaders. Short term policy makers.

8-China trade has been a disaster. Ross Perot thought Mexico would be the cause of a great big sucking sound as jobs left America. He was wrong. Trade with Mexico is two way. China is the jobs predator and our smug policy makers have turned a blind eye to their theft of our patents, refusal to buy our goods, pricing below cost to put our manufacturers out of business.

9- US big business is China's best ally. They have outsourced jobs and continue to do so to lower costs boost profit margins to record levels even as the real per capita of US households continue its 10 year long decline. Today's big business leader put themselves ahead of their shareholders and even their country. They are under taxed and overpaid.

10-Education spending in the US per student is almost the highest in the world. What a terrible return on our investment we have received. Is it our culture, self serving education professionals or our families that are at fault? It needs to be addressed or expect our future generation to suffer stagnation under the weight of unproductive, unskilled people mired in real poverty.