[Marxism] "1873, not 1929"

[johnaimani]

Message: 22
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 21:46:09 -0400
From: "Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Marxism] "1873, not 1929"

<<I was under the impression that the United States was still the largest
industrial and agricultural producer in the world.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Joaquin>>

That may be so.  It is entirely possible that a decreasing workforce may 
produce
a greater amount than a (substantially larger) workforce had previously 
done.
This is history as shown in the below:

Number (in millions) of workers employed in the United States

      YEAR
     1932
     1945
     1950
     1970
     1975
     1980
     1985
     1990

      Agricul
     10.2
     8.6
     7.2
     3.5
     3.4
     3.4
     3.2
     3.2

      Goods
     8.6
     17.5
     18.5
     23.6
     22.6
     25.7
     24.9
     25.0

      Service
     15.0
     22.9
     36.7
     47.3
     54.3
     64.7
     72.7
     85.0


Source:  1992 Information Please Almanac.  Houghton Miflin.  Boston.  p59.

You will note that as GDP was growing (save for the Great Depression 
interregnum) the workforces in
agriculture and in Goods showed declines or at dbest stasis in the face of a 
growing population.  You will also
see that the service sector has, in th emain, swallowed these up (albeit in 
positions at a lesser wage).

And yet the effects of deindustrialization are pronounced (esp in urban 
areas.
In addition to the citations and aphorisms below it is also of note that US 
wages have, adjusted for inflation,
not yet recovered from the highs reached in the early 1970's.

But please see the note below the evidentiary notes below: