[Retric]

The problem is the "gate keepers" who let short term thinking infect their decision making process. I don't think it's the fault of the Auto Worker that they learned how to bargain. I don't think the banker messed up by making 500k. I think the people taking a negative amortization zero down payment loan on a house they can't afford could have made a good decision. Live in a house for 3 years at less than the cost of renting what's not to like?

PS: The Japanese Yen just increased 25% so a lot of these US vs Japan comparisons are not as unbalanced as you might think.

[gravitycop]

I don't think it's the fault of the Auto Worker that they learned how to bargain.

Indeed. It is the fault of the United States for legalizing (through exception in the RICO Act) corrupt organization of labor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union#Criticism

unions are regarded as a form of legalized conspiracy and extortion. American racketeering statutes still include an exemption for union activity.

[captainobvious]

Those same racketeering statutes also do things like say prevent unions from making secondary-strikes, which is why unions in americahave been all but completely neutered for the last 100+ years.