I'm becoming less a fan of the Chron's anti-business columnist Chris Tomlinson every day. Today's missive is a big reason why.
U.S. Economy fails to deliver on social progress. Chris Tomlinson, HoustonChronicle.com ($$$)
In the piece he goes on and on about healthcare (which he clearly confuses having access to with having insurance for), income redistribution and a host of other progressive wants.
He also ignores some pretty big pluses. This is not to say that everything is perfect, of course it's not. The US economy is too ensnared with politics and the cronyism that it inevitably produces, and the markets are not entirely rational, but to say that the US is 'lacking in the social contract' is just not accurate.
We currently live in a country where the 'working poor' have smart phones, automobiles, housing and access to a wide-variety of goods and services that the poor do not enjoy in many areas of the globe. Is it hard to be poor? You bet. And increasingly, due in large part to unintended consequences from bad regulations and other factors, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the poor to be upwardly mobile financially. The US infrastructure is crumbling due largely to government neglect (public works is a long-game that doesn't fit the political goals of politicians focused on trinkets) and their are some, not all, corporations who are (quite frankly) bad societal actors.
These are things that should be discussed, and are being discussed at length by better writers (including Kevin D. Williamson of the National Review who is Houston based) than Mr. Tomlinson.
America's economy has needs, and things that need to be fixed. Raising taxes and increasing entitlements is not the answer. but Mr. Tomlinson continues to beat that dead horse over and over again.
As such, I recommend you don't pay much attention to him, and find different sources for your economic continuing education. You'll be better off for it, trust me.
As a matter of fact, I'm to the point that I'm checking in on what the Chron has to say less and less. I've been hard on them for years, wishing they would do more local reporting and continually being disappointed by the content they produce (with the rare exception).
At this point I think it's time to let my subscription lapse. Except for Sunday coupons and BBQ grill kindling I really see no use for them.
Which is sad.
