By Charles Payne
Friday, February 01, 2013
This week Japan announced its intention to cut welfare
payments by a billion dollars over the next three years because people live too
comfortably.
Imagine that, a government would actually tell its
citizens you are getting fat and lazy and have no incentive to work because
someone else pays your bills. We just found out you can't get government work
by telling citizens they're takers. But after its economy derailed, Japan
slipped into a two-decade slumber marked by people giving up on old beliefs and
traditions like Japan's legendary work ethic. When we thought Japan would
conquer the world, including the United States, we marveled at their four hours
of daily commuting and loyalty to a single employer.
During the past twenty years, Japan and its warrior
culture faded. It failed to conquer the world militarily, and then
economically. Sure, it's a rich nation, but that has also worked against them
as the youth take those riches for granted. But debt and policies based on
bailing out and propping up failed businesses sapped that eagerness and drive
from the country. Consider Sony (SNE), was there any way it should have lost
out on music devices that propelled Apple? What about televisions? All I used
to buy was Sony, now it's Samsung.
In the midst of fading glory is a generation of children
that probably only heard about the samurai spirit of the nation, but certainly
haven't experienced it firsthand. It's resulted in a bunch of young men that
won't even make the first move on dates. They live in cushioned cocoons that
include very small circles of friends and visits to beauty salons and no desire
to put in the kind of work that leads to an extraordinary life. They have no
clue how to put in the kind of extraordinary work that builds a military
machine that almost toppled America and an economy that almost bought America.
New leadership in Japan recognizes this, and they're
taking action. Don't get me wrong, the samurai attitude resulted in inhumane
acts of aggression against its neighbors and a fierce war with America. Yet, I
long for leadership in America that doesn't lower the bar of achievement to the
point where mediocrity is the goal. I fear the idea of everyone getting a
trophy in school will muffle the inner seeds of innovation and competitiveness
that historically blossomed into the leaders that changed the world.
Japan is correct. Poverty shouldn't be so comfortable you
don't want to work.
The dole is more than just a handout, it's a way of life
for those that get sucked into it long term. It's an insidious trap, and the
longer one gets stuck, the more difficult it is to get un-stuck.
The promotion of welfare, food stamps and even higher minimum
wage as birthrights rather than temporary aide afforded citizens is really
disgraceful. Poverty sucks, I know this, but nothing is worse than being an
American that never takes advantage of the opportunities this nation provides.
There is a fine line between down-and-out and comfort.
It's too attractive in America to drop out of the job market. The goodies are
like anchors to incentive and desire.
So, Japan has it right, and it only took twenty years to
figure it out. How long will it take for America to get this right? The Great
Society delivered by LBJ, picked up from FDR, put entitlements on steroids and
created the modern welfare and food stamp society. It was supposed to erase
poverty and make all Americans prosperous. It didn't work.
Speaking of Work
The Center for College Affordability and Productivity
produced "Why Are Recent College Graduates Underemployed?" which
pointed out several thorny issues with the economy and employment reality. Here
are some highlights:
> 48% of employed US college grads in jobs that
require less than four-year college education
> Five million college grads in jobs that require less
than high school education
> 24.6% of employees in retail sales have college
degree
> 10.2% of cashiers have college degree
> 115,520 janitors have college degree
It's an exhaustive paper, and I'm still trying to
understand all the implications, but for sure it says this is an economy that's
not generating enough jobs or the right jobs. College grads have to gut it out
and resist the temptation to drop out of the work force. I tip my hat to them
and know it should get better because it can get better. But you can see how
the allure of moving to the sideline must look to frustrated and underpaid
grads.
The irony is a lot of high school dropouts aren't gutting
it out; they don't have to. Portrayed as victims, they get to demand greater
slices of wealth from the rich and not-so-rich. You wonder how long college
grads can hold out before checking out.
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