Do you know what's wrong with America? This kind of crap!

[bobevenson]

"Becoming a taxicab owner-operator lies within the grasp of many, but in New York City, one must be able to get a license (medallion), which costs $700,000."
- Economist Walter Williams column

[Ginkgo]

"Becoming a taxicab owner-operator lies within the grasp of many, but in New York City, one must be able to get a license (medallion), which costs $700,000."
- Economist Walter Williams column

Too many rent-seekers.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent-seeking.

Or, as we say in my country. "Too many bludgers in the top end of town"

[bobevenson]

Another expression for rent-seeking is crony capitalism, which is all too prevalent in the United States, and would come to a screeching halt under the American Energy Party (AEP), which is only in the idea stage at this point.

[Blaggard]

America just fell for its own propaganda, they won't be the first or the last to do so, but it seems it always ultimately leads to a humiliating realisation that just because you are more powerful than everyone else, does not mean any one should give a shit what you think, for your ideals, for your goals. Look at England's historically, the largest Empire on Earth, and then in a century one of the smallest Empires on Earth. We've seen it before pride cometh before the fall and a haughty spirit before destruction, the Bible may not be right in many things, but on that historically it is batting a thousand.

There's a capitalism that can work out there, but it is not going to work if it alienates too many cultures. America along with its foregin policy is now reaping the whirlwind, of failed overseas policy and failed hard line conservatism. Will it learn, well I hope so. But pride is one long winded fall.

I realise this is only vaguely related, but meh. It's indicative of a failed monetarist policy the OP, mind you Europe has no room to talk we followed the pied piper blindly too and look at the countries that did not follow so slavishly and did not fall over so hard...

[bobevenson]

But pride is one long-winded fall.

Also a description of the so-called Statue of Liberty as it tumbles over.