Makers and Takers

http://www.futureofcapitalism.com/2011/03/makers-and-takers

Stephen Moore, writing in the Wall Street Journal:

Today in America there are nearly twice as many people working for the government (22.5 million) than in all of manufacturing (11.5 million)....It gets worse. More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined. We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers.

I'm a little skeptical of these occupational categories — they are dreamed up and counted by the same government workers Mr. Moore derides. If American workers design medical devices or write software, they are still "makers," even if the end products are stamped out in overseas factories. Still, it's a sobering piece.

by Editor  |  Mar 31, 2011 at 9:26 pm receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free futureofcapitalism.com mailing list