Canadian's Letter to America

[ShackledNation]

To the OP, yes. The data shows that companies’ profits reached an after-tax, 85-year record level of $1.683 trillion in 2012. That’s 10 percent of the economy, even after companies paid $418.9 billion in taxes. Great right? Not necessarily.

Corproate profits may be up, but people care about their own incomes when they vote. And under Obama, employees’ share of the nation’s annual income has been reduced to the lowest level in 63 years. For most American households there has been no economic recovery. For the first time in American history during a supposed economic expansion, real after tax income has fallen by -5.9%.

There's the number that matters. The Obama Administration's policies have expanded wealth for rich corporations, while wealth for everyone else has declined at a rate unprecedented in modern times. It is no surprise the party in power was voted out.

I take it you are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate that more/all businesses have to unionize and/or create a collective bargaining unit within their spheres.
"Because of deals struck through collective bargaining, union workers have traditionally earned 15% to 20% more than their non-union counterparts, Rodgers said.
But union membership has declined rapidly over the past 30 years. In 1983, union workers made up about 20% of the workforce. In 2010, they represented less than 12%.
"The erosion of collective bargaining is a key factor to explain why low-wage workers and middle income workers have seen their wages not stay up with inflation," Rodgers said."

And-----and are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate public education K thru grad school?
"...the disparity between the wages for college educated workers versus high school grads has widened significantly since the 1980s
In 1980, workers with a high school diploma earned about 71% of what college-educated workers made. In 2010, that number fell to 55%."
.

Please point out where I suggested those things. Oh wait...I didn't. Your response is a total strawman and does not address my points whatsoever. Obama really only bailed out corporations and left the rest of us to suffer historic declines in wages. People vote with their own wallets, not the wallets of mega-corporations and banks in bed with the government.

 

[Spare_change]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Let me guess ... this is a joke, right? Or, are Canadians really that disconnected?

 

[Star]

To the OP, yes. The data shows that companies’ profits reached an after-tax, 85-year record level of $1.683 trillion in 2012. That’s 10 percent of the economy, even after companies paid $418.9 billion in taxes. Great right? Not necessarily.

Corproate profits may be up, but people care about their own incomes when they vote. And under Obama, employees’ share of the nation’s annual income has been reduced to the lowest level in 63 years. For most American households there has been no economic recovery. For the first time in American history during a supposed economic expansion, real after tax income has fallen by -5.9%.

There's the number that matters. The Obama Administration's policies have expanded wealth for rich corporations, while wealth for everyone else has declined at a rate unprecedented in modern times. It is no surprise the party in power was voted out.

I take it you are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate that more/all businesses have to unionize and/or create a collective bargaining unit within their spheres.
"Because of deals struck through collective bargaining, union workers have traditionally earned 15% to 20% more than their non-union counterparts, Rodgers said.
But union membership has declined rapidly over the past 30 years. In 1983, union workers made up about 20% of the workforce. In 2010, they represented less than 12%.
"The erosion of collective bargaining is a key factor to explain why low-wage workers and middle income workers have seen their wages not stay up with inflation," Rodgers said."

And-----and are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate public education K thru grad school?
"...the disparity between the wages for college educated workers versus high school grads has widened significantly since the 1980s
In 1980, workers with a high school diploma earned about 71% of what college-educated workers made. In 2010, that number fell to 55%."
.

Please point out where I suggested those things. Oh wait...I didn't. Your response is a total strawman and does not address my points whatsoever. Obama really only bailed out corporations and left the rest of us to suffer historic declines in wages. People vote with their own wallets, not the wallets of mega-corporations and banks in bed with the government.

LOL - try to pull your head out, you're the one that brought up income: "For the first time in American history during a supposed economic expansion, real after tax income has fallen by -5.9%.
There's the number that matters."
I'm not disagreeing that middle class incomes have declined, I'm pointing out a couple of the reasons why there has been a steady decline in middle class income since Reagan was President, but-----but you'll have to point out to me how Obama policies are responsible for a 30 year decline in income?

Please respond after you wipe the elephant shit from your minds eye.
.

 

[SmarterThanTheAverageBear]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Dear Richard,

You are obviously a liberal plant meant to do God knows what.

Eat a bag of dicks you old niggah,

 

[Star]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Let me guess ... this is a joke, right? Or, are Canadians really that disconnected?

Don't know why you're dissing our good neighbors to the North. Not only do Canadians live longer, healthier lives than we do but;

How America's middle class fell behind its Canadian neighbours

Canadians pay lower college tuition, cheaper medical care and less income inequality. What is the US doing wrong?
27 April 2014

If you’re a proud member of America’s middle class, you may have been startled to learn last week that your after-tax income now makes you worse off than your Canadian neighbors to the north. They can now claim the title of the richest middle class on the planet.

<snip>

Education levels may still be high among those of us over 50, but younger Americans aren’t as competitive. Then there’s the fact that employees get a smaller share of corporate pie than do executives: CEOs are paid more; the minimum wage is lower. That has left American incomes flatlining – and in contrast to European nations and Canada, the government plays very little role in redistributing income.

<snip>

Canada seems to realize this: that’s why the government subsidizes the vast majority of the tuition tab. Today, if a Canadian teenager gets into Queen’s, McGill or Dalhousie, or one of any number top universities, their tuition will still set them back only $6,500 a year or so. Princeton, analogous in status to Queen’s or McGill? Next year’s tuition bill will be $40,170.

Then there’s Canada’s healthcare system. (Remember, the LIS [Luxembourg Income Study] analysis is of after-tax income, and the bill for those education and health benefits are paid from taxes.)

Yes, the state single-payer system (administered through the provinces) means that in some regions and for some kinds of care, pockets of scarcity can emerge. If you want an MRI tomorrow, odds are that isn’t going to happen, unless it’s a medical emergency.

On the plus side, when your turn comes, you won’t be billed for it.

<snip>

Those are two big-ticket items about which most Canadians have to worry much, much less than their American cousins south of the border. Today, they also have to worry less about a third item: mortgage costs. (Here it’s harder to compare apples to apples, since Canadian banks don’t offer 25-year mortgage loans). A five-year adjustable rate mortgage in the US has an average rate of 3.34%, according to Bankrate.com; in Canada, you could get a similar loan for 2.3%.

<snip>

In the United States, individual members of the middle class have seen their after tax take-home pay flatline but still must shoulder the burden for those expenses, which have risen at rates far exceeding the rate of inflation. In Canada, not only is the middle class now better off after paying its taxes, but it is free of a large part of that burden altogether. Now, that’s food for thought – and debate.

Oh, now I see why you're dissing our Northern neighbors - you're the jealous type, why am I not I'm not surprised.
.

 

[Spare_change]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Let me guess ... this is a joke, right? Or, are Canadians really that disconnected?

Don't know why you're dissing our good neighbors to the North. Not only do Canadians live longer, healthier lives than we do but;

How America's middle class fell behind its Canadian neighbours

Canadians pay lower college tuition, cheaper medical care and less income inequality. What is the US doing wrong?
27 April 2014

If you’re a proud member of America’s middle class, you may have been startled to learn last week that your after-tax income now makes you worse off than your Canadian neighbors to the north. They can now claim the title of the richest middle class on the planet.

<snip>

Education levels may still be high among those of us over 50, but younger Americans aren’t as competitive. Then there’s the fact that employees get a smaller share of corporate pie than do executives: CEOs are paid more; the minimum wage is lower. That has left American incomes flatlining – and in contrast to European nations and Canada, the government plays very little role in redistributing income.

<snip>

Canada seems to realize this: that’s why the government subsidizes the vast majority of the tuition tab. Today, if a Canadian teenager gets into Queen’s, McGill or Dalhousie, or one of any number top universities, their tuition will still set them back only $6,500 a year or so. Princeton, analogous in status to Queen’s or McGill? Next year’s tuition bill will be $40,170.

Then there’s Canada’s healthcare system. (Remember, the LIS [Luxembourg Income Study] analysis is of after-tax income, and the bill for those education and health benefits are paid from taxes.)

Yes, the state single-payer system (administered through the provinces) means that in some regions and for some kinds of care, pockets of scarcity can emerge. If you want an MRI tomorrow, odds are that isn’t going to happen, unless it’s a medical emergency.

On the plus side, when your turn comes, you won’t be billed for it.

<snip>

Those are two big-ticket items about which most Canadians have to worry much, much less than their American cousins south of the border. Today, they also have to worry less about a third item: mortgage costs. (Here it’s harder to compare apples to apples, since Canadian banks don’t offer 25-year mortgage loans). A five-year adjustable rate mortgage in the US has an average rate of 3.34%, according to Bankrate.com; in Canada, you could get a similar loan for 2.3%.

<snip>

In the United States, individual members of the middle class have seen their after tax take-home pay flatline but still must shoulder the burden for those expenses, which have risen at rates far exceeding the rate of inflation. In Canada, not only is the middle class now better off after paying its taxes, but it is free of a large part of that burden altogether. Now, that’s food for thought – and debate.

Oh, now I see why you're dissing our Northern neighbors - you're the jealous type, why am I not I'm not surprised.
.

Let's not wait ... you can have him now. You deserve him.

 

[ninja007]

I think - no- I know thats a gay guy just looking at his photo. Probably one of Barry's bathhouse lovers from the 90's?

 

[August West]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Dear Richard,

You are obviously a liberal plant meant to do God knows what.

Eat a bag of dicks you old niggah,

A fascinating post combining racism with his gay fantasies.

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Dear Richard,

You are obviously a liberal plant meant to do God knows what.

Eat a bag of dicks you old niggah,

Geez, a ku kluxxer with gay fantasies.

 

[Iceweasel]

I'm not disagreeing that middle class incomes have declined, I'm pointing out a couple of the reasons why there has been a steady decline in middle class income since Reagan was President, but-----but you'll have to point out to me how Obama policies are responsible for a 30 year decline in income?

Please respond after you wipe the elephant shit from your minds eye.
.

Hey, elTardo. Reagan won because of the miserable Carter years, measure in the infamous Misery Index, double digit inflation, gas shortages, etc. The economy went UP under Reagan, what the fuck is wrong with you lefties? I was there, feel free to enjoy your fantasies but when you post it you'll be called on it.

 

[ShackledNation]

To the OP, yes. The data shows that companies’ profits reached an after-tax, 85-year record level of $1.683 trillion in 2012. That’s 10 percent of the economy, even after companies paid $418.9 billion in taxes. Great right? Not necessarily.

Corproate profits may be up, but people care about their own incomes when they vote. And under Obama, employees’ share of the nation’s annual income has been reduced to the lowest level in 63 years. For most American households there has been no economic recovery. For the first time in American history during a supposed economic expansion, real after tax income has fallen by -5.9%.

There's the number that matters. The Obama Administration's policies have expanded wealth for rich corporations, while wealth for everyone else has declined at a rate unprecedented in modern times. It is no surprise the party in power was voted out.

I take it you are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate that more/all businesses have to unionize and/or create a collective bargaining unit within their spheres.
"Because of deals struck through collective bargaining, union workers have traditionally earned 15% to 20% more than their non-union counterparts, Rodgers said.
But union membership has declined rapidly over the past 30 years. In 1983, union workers made up about 20% of the workforce. In 2010, they represented less than 12%.
"The erosion of collective bargaining is a key factor to explain why low-wage workers and middle income workers have seen their wages not stay up with inflation," Rodgers said."

And-----and are suggesting the new Republican legislative branch of government legislate public education K thru grad school?
"...the disparity between the wages for college educated workers versus high school grads has widened significantly since the 1980s
In 1980, workers with a high school diploma earned about 71% of what college-educated workers made. In 2010, that number fell to 55%."
.

Please point out where I suggested those things. Oh wait...I didn't. Your response is a total strawman and does not address my points whatsoever. Obama really only bailed out corporations and left the rest of us to suffer historic declines in wages. People vote with their own wallets, not the wallets of mega-corporations and banks in bed with the government.

LOL - try to pull your head out, you're the one that brought up income: "For the first time in American history during a supposed economic expansion, real after tax income has fallen by -5.9%.
There's the number that matters."
I'm not disagreeing that middle class incomes have declined, I'm pointing out a couple of the reasons why there has been a steady decline in middle class income since Reagan was President, but-----but you'll have to point out to me how Obama policies are responsible for a 30 year decline in income?

Please respond after you wipe the elephant shit from your minds eye.
.

Yes, I brought up income. No, I did not make any of the claims about income you attacked in your argument. The fact I brought up a topic does not mean you attack arguments about that topic nobody ever made. That's called a strawman.

Furthermore, real household income has been stagnant since the late 1960s early 1970s, 10 years before Reagan took office. The decline did not begin with Reagan, so pinning the trend on him doesn't make any sense.

Furthermore, real household income grew under each president prior to obama, albeit at a slow rate. Only under Obama has it actually declined. Obama is not to blame for the slow income growth and stagnation, but he and Congress over the past 6 years have only worsened a that trend. Now incomes are declining, rather than stagnating or growing at a snail's pace.

Obama has bailed out wealthy banks and corporations, transferring money to the rich and rewarding their corruption. Obamacare has complicated the healthcare system and caused many businesses to hire only part time workers (reducing incomes). Increased military spending under Obama has further distributed income away from the middle and working class. The Federal Reserve also shares much blame, though Obama has no control over that admittedly.

Most people are not feeling economically better off. Obama has had 6 years to change whatever bad policies were to blame. In his first two years of office, he had a large majority in Congress to do so. Yet his policies focused did nothing to help. To say he has no blame is truly partisan dishonesty.

 

[Spare_change]

.

<snip>

You Americans Have No Idea Just How Good You Have It With Obama

Many of us Canadians are confused by the U.S. midterm elections. Consider, right now in America, corporate profits are at record highs, the country's adding 200,000 jobs per month, unemployment is below 6%, U.S. gross national product growth is the best of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. The dollar is at its strongest levels in years, the stock market is near record highs, gasoline prices are falling, there's no inflation, interest rates are the lowest in 30 years, U.S. oil imports are declining, U.S. oil production is rapidly increasing, the deficit is rapidly declining, and the wealthy are still making astonishing amounts of money.

America is leading the world once again and respected internationally — in sharp contrast to the Bush years. Obama brought soldiers home from Iraq and killed Osama bin Laden.

So, Americans vote for the party that got you into the mess that Obama just dug you out of? This defies reason.

When you are done with Obama, could you send him our way?

Richard Brunt
Victoria, British Columbia

<snip>
.

Let me guess ... this is a joke, right? Or, are Canadians really that disconnected?

Don't know why you're dissing our good neighbors to the North. Not only do Canadians live longer, healthier lives than we do but;

How America's middle class fell behind its Canadian neighbours

Canadians pay lower college tuition, cheaper medical care and less income inequality. What is the US doing wrong?
27 April 2014

If you’re a proud member of America’s middle class, you may have been startled to learn last week that your after-tax income now makes you worse off than your Canadian neighbors to the north. They can now claim the title of the richest middle class on the planet.

<snip>

Education levels may still be high among those of us over 50, but younger Americans aren’t as competitive. Then there’s the fact that employees get a smaller share of corporate pie than do executives: CEOs are paid more; the minimum wage is lower. That has left American incomes flatlining – and in contrast to European nations and Canada, the government plays very little role in redistributing income.

<snip>

Canada seems to realize this: that’s why the government subsidizes the vast majority of the tuition tab. Today, if a Canadian teenager gets into Queen’s, McGill or Dalhousie, or one of any number top universities, their tuition will still set them back only $6,500 a year or so. Princeton, analogous in status to Queen’s or McGill? Next year’s tuition bill will be $40,170.

Then there’s Canada’s healthcare system. (Remember, the LIS [Luxembourg Income Study] analysis is of after-tax income, and the bill for those education and health benefits are paid from taxes.)

Yes, the state single-payer system (administered through the provinces) means that in some regions and for some kinds of care, pockets of scarcity can emerge. If you want an MRI tomorrow, odds are that isn’t going to happen, unless it’s a medical emergency.

On the plus side, when your turn comes, you won’t be billed for it.

<snip>

Those are two big-ticket items about which most Canadians have to worry much, much less than their American cousins south of the border. Today, they also have to worry less about a third item: mortgage costs. (Here it’s harder to compare apples to apples, since Canadian banks don’t offer 25-year mortgage loans). A five-year adjustable rate mortgage in the US has an average rate of 3.34%, according to Bankrate.com; in Canada, you could get a similar loan for 2.3%.

<snip>

In the United States, individual members of the middle class have seen their after tax take-home pay flatline but still must shoulder the burden for those expenses, which have risen at rates far exceeding the rate of inflation. In Canada, not only is the middle class now better off after paying its taxes, but it is free of a large part of that burden altogether. Now, that’s food for thought – and debate.

Oh, now I see why you're dissing our Northern neighbors - you're the jealous type, why am I not I'm not surprised.
.

Nice one-sided presentation of an issue ... you fail, I notice, to consider the health care costs PAID by Canadians. You don't honestly consider the tax impacts, nor do you acknowledge that a good portion of Canada's defense costs are paid by the US. In addition, you are not acknowledging the US investment, and subsequent income returning to the US.

If you're going to bring out an issue, bring it ALL out .. not just carefully selected psuedo-facts that seem to support your position.

 

[Toro]

The United States will do better than Canada over the next 5 years, and probably over the next 10.