Mark Hatfield: “America's economic future is at risk. For years, I have been deeply concerned that the United States is addressing the…”

“America's economic future is at risk. For years, I have been deeply concerned that the United States is addressing the requirements of its work force in the wrong way and this is posing a tremendous threat to our ability to compete in the emerging global economy. Under our current ``Tayloristic'' system, we have become so overdependent on a small cadre of decisionmakers and managers that our ability to increase our quality and variety of products, processes, and services is diminishing. Therefore, our capacity to adapt to new consumer needs in this global economy and sustain a high standard of living has suffered. If we continue to ignore our frontline workers' abilities, I believe that our folly ultimately will relegate us to second class status in the global marketplace. According to the Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce: ``The world is prepared to pay high prices and high wages for quality, variety, and responsiveness to changing consumer tastes.'' If the United States is to continue as the world's economic leader, we must develop the best educated and best trained work force in the world in order to command those high prices and afford those high wages.”