Why the Rust Belt IS Bitter!
What Obama left out. High taxes, highly union, and too much regulation equals bitter!
In the firestorm touched off by Barack Obama’s comments about those who “cling to” guns and religion out of economic resentment, most analysis missed a crucial point: The “bitterness” felt in the so-called Rust Belt is mainly a product of high-tax, highly unionized states. While there are pockets of prosperity in Pennsylvania, upstate New York, Ohio and Michigan, a good deal of this area is economically depressed. That’s not because of Washington’s policies (or lack thereof). These policies aren’t killing Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Florida. While southern states do have problems, their governments generally don’t smother economic growth by layering on ever-rising taxation, regulation and expenses. They don’t permit workers to be forced to join closed-shop unions. No one in D.C. – Obama, Clinton, McCain or Superman – can fix the Rust Belt’s self-inflicted wounds. Western New York offers a prime example. Despite proximity to major markets, a long international border with a major trading partner, a well-developed transport system, untold natural splendors and a well-educated workforce, the Buffalo area’s population shrinks every year. Why? High taxes, high government costs and forced unionization are major factors. Very good article. Over-regulation, over-taxation, and the state of unions do not help American workers, or the middle class at all. The little slices of Marxism are what is creatin bitterness in these areas, not Conservatives. Obama, of course, would try to alleviate these conditions how exactly? By doing even more of what has created the problem. This is the essence of why Liberalism fails. It’s proponents cannot accept failure or learn from it. Instead they just try the same failed ideas over and again.