On 18 Jan 2006 02:29:05 -0800, "kurgan" wrote:


Cliff wrote:

It's a puzzle .... where did the increased productivity GO?




Think about all the stuff that's taken for granted now that even a
billionaire couldn't get his hands on 25 years ago.

Mostly tech.

Mostly *imported*.

Cell phones, computers - 1980 supercomputer processing in a laptop, GPS
systems in cars, cars that last longer than 100,000 miles, plasma TVs,
etc.

Some of the car sare partly made in the US.
But, due to the increases in productivity & cuts in real
wages & bennies, GM & Ford are almost bankrupt, right?

All stuff that the middle class takes for granted. Junior high school
kids w/ cellphones.

That is indeed productive.

Then there's all the food. Enough food to make everyone 300 lbs.

Priced it lately? Even Gunner's kibble is probaby up ...

Etc.

You were saying?

Short term, it's hard to see productivity gains.

Like the last few years?

Long term, it's very evident.

Just import it, right?

thanks,

K. Gringioni.

HTH
--
Cliff