I will hazard a hypothesis that as America has lost jobs during that period. More and more were forced into a lower economic level which might contribute to more feelings of being dispossessed by this country and an increased willingness to generate an income regardless of means. Black Market economies are always popping up as more citizens are disenfranchised by the country. So I propose the high rates of prisoners is the last level of unemployment benefits. Better to throw these Americans in prison then share the wealth which also has during that period increasingly gone more and more to fewer at the top. Simply history tells you this, debtors prisons, Jim Crow laws, indentured servants. Old ploys of the top.
I assume this is in response to the article about the US’s high imprisonment rate? It really helps the discussion to let everyone else know what you’re talking about (especially when you post starts off by talking about things like “that period”).
I will hazard a hypothesis that the numbers about employment and everything else are available online. Maybe the OP could go find some and back up that rant.
We can look at many countries that were once the centers of economic power and see what they devolve into.
We are going the same route.
As technology advances, it is more economically viable to seek out the lowest labor and social costs. You can set up the technology and ship the materials and finished product at low enough initial cost, to turn an excess profit.
Initial cost? Excess profit? Social costs? Those are the key terms to understand why the scheme ultimately fails.
There are several wealthy, advanced, powerful countries in this world. High living standards, etc. They built that over long periods of time. Built it. They did not buy it, ready made, from somewhere else. ( I exclude some dirty deeds )
The countries have resources, labor, knowledge, infrastructure, built up to a high level. Internal taxes and commerce are the main drivers of building such a country. The people work for each other. Pay each other, buy from each other, pay the rent and maintenance on the country.
It is the most basic, obvious math that when you pay people somewhere else, buy from somewhere else, you lose a huge amount of wealth. Jobs go away. We borrow instead of earn. Taxes drop, so the country is not kept in shape.
Wages get cut. For everyone. But you have to eat. Get out of the weather. You cut corners in all things. Ethics and morals as well. Government pays less as well. So government workers corrupt along with the rest of us.
You eventually become one of those third world countries, that used to rule their worlds.
All the while, the gap between rich and poor increases. The percentage of poor increases. Even the rich become poorer, but not as fast as the poor. So they still think they are winning.
The rich with shreds of decency, forward thought, are even devoured by the more corrupt rich.
That is why you see maniacs running poverty stricken countries. Everything is broken and corrupt.
Free trade.
Trade everything that was built here, for ultimately, nothing.