Dobbs begins by pointing out that America has become a society owned by corporations, and its political system is dominated by corporate and special interests. There is no countervailing influence - labor unions are nearing extinction, the media takes the easy way out (equal time to both sides) and doesn't investigate, universities are dependent on the federal government, corporations, and the wealthy, and churches tend to expand their political energy on issues like gay marriage. The middle class is being beaten down by illegal immigration, inability to pay for health care, declining availability of pensions, outsourcing and corporate bankruptcies, an increasing share of taxes, and rising income inequality and federal deficits.
Corporate income taxes made up 1/3 of federal revenues 50 years ago - now it is only 1/8. Washington D.C. has over 34,000 lobbyists. Foreign countries and major corporations take large stock positions in media companies to influence reporting. Nearly 50% of personal bankruptcies are the result of illness; a majority of filers had health insurance. Meanwhile, Congress runs up huge deficits and tries to repeal the estate tax, and business creates numerous new lobbying groups cloaked in deceitful language and nomenclature.
Trade agreements now incorporate large amounts of international law - violations (eg. "buy American," limits on urban sprawl opposed by foreign investors) would be taken to international court.
Corporate taxes are at the lowest level in about 100 years, profits account for the largest share of national income in 40 years, and the share going to workers is at its lowest level in 40 years. We were told that jobs in manufacturing would be replaced by better ones in technology - now white-collar jobs are being outsourced, with technology leading the way.
The top seven jobs forecasted as having increased demand in the next decade don't even require a college degree.
Northwest Airlines received $250 billion in taxpayer aid to bail it out of 9/11 problems, then offshored maintenance, hired 800 foreign flight attendants to replace Americans on international flights, cut everyone's pay, and bought Airbus planes.
The average manufacturing wage in the U.S. is $16.68, vs. $0.57 in China; in addition, there are also benefit and environment savings. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates the direct net cost of illegals at about $45 billion/year. The National Academy of Sciences found over 40% of wage losses incurred by low-skilled workers is due to illegals; another study in the 1990's found over 700,000 low-skill workers were jobless because of illegals. Opponents claim it is too difficult to verify legality; (Arizona's governor has required that be done each month for all state employees, and reports "no problems.")
Dobbs then goes on to report that our success is also hampered by a high rate of high-school drop-outs (about 1/3, often misstated by educators as something less), and a large proportion of education spending goes to overhead. (Dobbs overstates the potential impact of improved education, given the 29X greater costs of American labor vs. China.)
Two of Dobbs' suggested remedies - initiatives (eg. Arizona's requiring an ID to prove citizenship prior to receiving public services) and terminating the President's fast-track trade authority. I would suggest two others 1)Repealing NAFTA would achieve two important benefits - reduce our trade deficit and the incentive for illegal immigration caused by NAFTA's allowing subsidized American farm products into Mexico. 2)Requiring verification of citizenship as a condition for employment, as Arizona state government is now doing.
