老美看美國(四）：美國面臨一場革命

美國人看美國 （四）財富和美國

一個已經破損的體制和即將到來的革命

文/他爹   翻譯/丹奇

革命是一個很強烈的詞語。它令人想起推翻英國建立自己國家的美國革命。我這裡所指的革命是指人民改變政治構成，政府運作及如何選出我們的領導人。

過去30年來，美國的大中產階級已經被毀掉了。周薪，為適應通脹而調整的，沒有提升過，普通家庭的人均財富比30年前還要低。普通家庭更深地陷入債務，平均凈資產在過去的5年裡由於房屋危機而下降了30%。普通家庭的收入在過去4年裡下降了10%。

教育我們孩子的成本已經超過通脹率。健康保險成本長期以來也已經從僱主身上轉移到了僱員身上。進一步讓他們的收入縮水。中產階級怎麼樣也趕不上一樁好事。

我們的政治領導一次又一次地令我們失望。美國很多人指責中國「偷了」我們的製造業工作。我不同意！美國工業把工作送給了中國是因為美國人持續要求低價鞋子，音響，玩具和傢具（還有更多其他產品）。這很明顯是美國消費者的短視行為。但是，一切似乎順理成章直到2006年的房屋泡沫最後破裂。現在，我們的政客們需要有人可以指責—他們不會接受因為他們自己創造的體系導致這個結果而被指責，消費者不會因為他們持續購買便宜產品的樂趣而接受指責。這些沒有過錯的各方最糟糕的一件事就是他們的結局很糟糕。

我們的政客們通過獎勵那些把工作轉移的美國公司而令我們失望。我們允許我們的公司把利潤留在海外而不需要交稅。GE公司去年的利潤避稅就超過50億美元。一個18歲的在麥當勞打工的高中生所交的稅都比GE多。這是不對的！

美國公司目前持有3萬億美元（對，萬億）現金，其中超過一萬億在境外。當我們聽說中國擁有3萬億美元的外幣儲備（大部分是美元和歐元），我們以為他們擁有了所有的錢。但是，我們，美國，其實擁有的更多—我們只是沒有中國管理的當。我們的領導必須好好立法把那些境外的美元搞回來在美國投資。我們必須停止讓美國公司感覺在外國投資比在自己國家投資更有吸引力。

過去30年，1%的人收入提高了275%，而其他99%的人只提高了40%。那個數字，30年內的40%根本趕不上通脹。1%的收入群佔有國民財富的份額也提高了80%。這是一個可笑的數字，這麼多的財富集中在如此少的人手裡。

這是怎麼發生的？我們的領導一直在給富人減稅，並給予他們稅法方面的優惠條件---主要是資本收稅比勞動力要低。也就是說如果你是年薪4萬的秘書，你要交17%的稅，相對於收入來說，你交的稅比那些賺10個億的對沖基金經理交的稅要多。這不是美國！這不是公平！

 「佔領華爾街」行動有許多訴求。其中許多是合理的。並不是說我對他們做的所有事情都同意。但是他們在幾件事情上的觀點是站得住腳的。

美國人已經到了沸點：他們的收入沒有提高，他們在失去自己的房子，失業率非常高—他們從政府得不到救援。但是，政府還在幫助大銀行和富裕的投資商們從他們自己做的壞決定里擺脫困境！！ 問題是，這都是由中產階級和他們的孩子們，他們孩子的孩子們手裡支付的。

美國政治體系，和他們的玩主們，政客們，必須開始聽取人民的呼聲，而不是那些提供給他們資金的1%的人。這個政府的體系本來是建立在一人一票上的。但是，明顯地，已經腐敗了。現在是誰的錢夾肥誰就會得到關注。

選民們將繼續尋找能代表他們利益的領袖，將繼續把那些不能改善經濟的人換掉。

革命不必用槍。下一次革命將會在選舉箱，人民不會用槍，但是會用選票機。街道也不會被鮮血染紅，但是會被那些失去權力的人和那些他們迎合的人的眼淚浸濕。

是人民從那些少數利益集團統治者手裡奪回這個國家的時候了。讓國家開始為那些每天工作，付賬單的人民而有所作為。不這麼做的結果將會是一場真正的革命。只需要問一下利比亞人民，或者埃及人民，或俄國人民吧。權力將會從那些不能好好管理的人手裡稍縱即逝。權力不會永遠被那些不感激其來源的人所掌控。

（附英文原文）

WEALTH & THE USA

A broken system and the coming revolution

By Tadie（November 2nd, 2011)

The word revolution is a strong word. It brings to mind the American Revolution that overthrew the British and established this country. The revolution I refer to here is one that will be one of the people changing the political make up and workings of government and how we choose our leaders.

In the past 30 years the great middle class of the USA has been destroyed. Wages, when adjusted for inflation haven』t increased and the per capita wealth of the 「average」 family is now less than it was 30 years ago. The average family is deeper in debt, and their net worth on average has declined 30% in just the past 5 years due to the housing crisis. The income of the average family has declined 10% in just the past 4 years !

The cost of educating our children has increased in cost well above the inflation rate. The cost of health insurance has been shifted over time from employers to the workers, further diminishing their incomes. The middle class just can』t catch a good deal.

Our political leadership has failed us over and over. Many in the USA blame China for 「stealing」 our manufacturing jobs. I disagree. American industry sent the jobs to China because Americans demanded continued lower prices of their shoes, stereos, toys and furniture ( and many other products ). It was an obvious short sighted demand by the American consumer. But, everything was fine until 2006 when the housing bubble finally burst. Now our politicians need someone to blame – and they will not accept their part of blame of how they created a system to allow this, and consumers won』t accept blame for their continued joy earlier of buying cheap products. The only bad thing about good parties is that they always end. Badly.

Our politicians failed us, however, by rewarding US companies for moving jobs. We have allowed our companies to keep profits off shore without paying taxes. GE company avoided taxes on over $5billion in profits last year ! An 18 year old high school kid working at McDonalds paid more in taxes than GE! That』s not right.

U.S. companies currently hold over $3 trillion ( yes, trillion ) in cash, over $1 trillion of that is held outside of the country. When we hear that China has $3 trillion in foreign reserves ( mostly dollars and euro』s ) we think they have all the money. But we, the USA, have significantly more – we just don』t manage it as well as China. Our leaders have to work on legislation to bring those dollars back home and invest in the USA. We have to stop making it more attractive for US companies to invest somewhere else than here !

In the past 30 years the top 1% of income earners in the USA have seen their income go up 275%, while the other 99% have only seen a 40% increase. That number, 40% over 30 years, doesn』t keep pace with inflation. The top 1% of income earners also saw their share of the national wealth increase to 80%. That』s a ridiculous number, so much wealth held in the hands of so few.

How did it happen ? Our leaders have continually reduced the tax burden on the wealthy as well as granting them special provisions under the tax law – mainly that capital is taxed less than labor. What that means is that if you are a secretary making $40,000 and you are taxed at 17% on your last dollar in income you pay more In taxes, as a percentage of income, than a hedge fund manager who mad $1 billion ! That』s not America, that』s not fairness.

The 「occupy Wall Street」 have many complaints, many of them valid. It』s not that I agree with them on everything but they do have a point on several issues.

Americans are near a boiling point that there incomes have not increased, they are losing their homes, unemployment is very high – and they have no relief from the government. But, the government bails out the big banks and the wealthy investors who made bad decisions !! The problem with that is that it is paid for by the middle class and their children, and the children of their children.

The American political system and it』s players, the politicians, must start heeding the calls of the people rather than the 1% who fund them. This system of government was originally founded on 1 person 1 vote. But, it has become obvious the system is corrupt and now it』s a matter of how fat your wallet or purse is for you to get attention.

The voters will continue searching for leaders who represent them and will continue to vote out those who fail to make the economy better.

Revolutions don』t have to be about guns. The next revolution here will be at the ballot box and instead of guns the people will use a voting machine. The streets won』t be blood red but they will be wet with the tears of those who have lost power and those they pandered to.

It』s time for the people to take back this country from the few powerful interests that rule and start making it work for the people who work everyday and pay the bills. Failure to do so could result in a real revolution. Just ask the Libyans, or Egyptians, or Russians.  Power is fleeting for those who can』t manage it. Power is never held by those who fail to appreciate its source.