Message 3891 of 9031

The Silent Underground Economy

There's always been a huge underground economy at play in our country, working "under the table", bartering, trading, selling assets for cash, etc.... all unmeasurable by our economy experts and tax collectors. I suspect it's even bigger now with unemployment being up.

But I'm guessing it'll be getting a whole lot larger once we have health care reform, and workers don't need a legit job to obtain health insurance. The unemployment figures and economic indicators won't mean ditty.... could get real interesting. Will we be forced into moving to a cashless society? ..... could get real interesting....
Tripshaft's profile
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You mean there are still jobs out there that provide health insurance? :)
Lizloveslight's profile

over 2 years ago
If we stay with the status quo health care Liz, everyone will wind up on Medicaid....
Tripshaft's profile

over 2 years ago
How have other countries addressed this issue? Germany and France last time I heard were still in working order. And besides it's our job to keep as much of what we earn as we can and it's the governments' job to squeeze as much out of us as it can. Just ask anyone........
JwB58's profile

over 2 years ago
"You mean there are still jobs out there that provide health insurance?" I'm with LizLoveslight. Where are those jobs? Seriously, most jobs in the classifieds are part-time with no benefits.

Most of my state works under the table and always has. Thirty years ago, my ex was a plumbing contractor at a big ski resort. He was the only contractor on site who paid taxes and Social Security.

Next to that, a little bartering is peanuts. Nobody had health insurance, including us.

I think California may finally be taxing pot, at least medical marijuana. Drugs may be the biggest under the table industry.
ZoeCassard's profile

over 2 years ago
Agreed
Charles1950's profile

over 2 years ago
Uhhhh... let's not forget the oldest profession in the world.... HUGE untraceable economy there...
Tripshaft's profile

over 2 years ago
Well now. Of all the under the table workers, those in the oldest profession probably need health care the most.
ZoeCassard's profile

over 2 years ago
Yep.... making clients a lot safer.... creating more traffic.... more wads of cash going to the Mercedes dealerships...

The S.U.E. might even overtake the legit economy at some point.... how's Congress going to deal with that... ya think the census study will take care of it.... :-)
Tripshaft's profile

over 2 years ago
While there is always going to be a certain amount of " off the books" economic activity in any society that taxes income , the percentage of such activity in this country was given a huge boost by our government acting as an accomplice in allowing millions of illegal immigrants to live and work here .

over 2 years ago
How do we manage to be 12 trillion in debt and still function...? ..... Government... & economic times encouraged S.U.E. ....!
Tripshaft's profile

over 2 years ago
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