Country headed on downward course

Harold Wasserman, North Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Labor Day was a good time to reminisce about when more people had jobs and could rely on a long and generally enjoyable employment until they retired. Unfortunately, those days are gone forever.

People have to realize the world economy has changed radically. In this country, manufacturing is virtually nonexistent.

The manufacturing that does occur uses robots to perform tasks with little human resources. If manufacturing requires labor intensity, then it’s outsourced to a foreign country.

The only jobs generally available are service jobs with low pay. People without a college education or a marketable skill will have a difficult time finding any kind of job. Older people who are unemployed, in particular, will likely never have a job again.

The one immediate saving grace, in the short term, would be rebuilding and upgrading the country’s infrastructure — but this would require an agreeable Republican Congress, which I wouldn’t want to hold my breath about.

Small businesses, in particular, will be doomed to a slow death because people will not have enough money to buy anything but necessities.

I’m sorry to be so pessimistic, but I see little to cheer about. With Republican-led efforts to concentrate their attention on reducing the deficit, I think the downward trend will only accelerate.