please let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from the ping list.
Posted on 03/03/2004 11:27:49 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton urged the federal government Wednesday to take strong steps to reverse the loss of manufacturing jobs in recent years, charging the Bush administration has a "defeatist" attitude. "What I hear from the administration is not hope, but fear," said Clinton, D-N.Y. "It is un-American... It's that loss of spirit as much as loss of jobs that deeply troubles me." Clinton laid out her alternative in the speech to the Center for American Progress, a think tank run by President Clinton's former chief of staff John Podesta. The speech comes as the Senate is expected to take up a measure eliminating a tax break that led to a tariff penalty from the European Union. "I don't think our country has an economic strategy," she said. House and Senate Democrats, as well as state governors, will meet in April as part of a "manufacturing summit" to discuss the issue and offer their agenda, she said. The senator argued for the creation of an across-the-board 10-percent cut in corporate taxes for American factories in order to retain and attract jobs that might otherwise go overseas. She also proposed the creation of a Manufacturing Research Agency, most likely within the Commerce Department, to oversee and encourage research and development projects in manufacturing. Clinton said the agency would go a long way toward helping the United States make advances in so-called "smart energy," from fuel cells and other sources that would make the country less dependent on oil. Such a strategy could also be a boon to upstate New York, which has lost about 180,000 manufacturing jobs in the past three years, and is home to several research companies working on alternative energy products. Nationwide, 3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since July 2000. Some experts believe that trend is reversing, but others, including Sen. Charles Schumer, fear a fundamental shift in global economics and foreign currency issues threaten to put the United States at a long-term disadvantage. Robert Ward, director of research at the Business Council of New York State, said while changes in federal taxes would certainly help, the worst of the nation's manufacturing job losses appear to have passed. Ward said while Clinton's policies may help manufacturers around the country, the state could do more for local companies by reducing the relatively high costs of local property taxes and worker's compensation. Randall Wolken, president of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, disagreed with Clinton's assessment the current administration has been fatalistic. "I do believe we have a major challenge that we need to address," Wolken said. "We need to be much more proactive and much less reactive." Wolken said a tax cut for U.S.-based production would encourage and protect domestic manufacturing, but he was more skeptical of the creation of a new federal agency, arguing it is more important to get the government to aggressively retain and attract jobs. Clinton said the proposed expanded research effort could be funded by postponing tax cuts supported by the Bush administration. She also warned against the potential abuses to patient and customer privacy by outsourcing work on so many data files to foreign countries, where privacy laws are much weaker or nonexistent. Clinton said she would offer legislation to hold companies responsible for any sensitive personal information subcontracted to foreign firms.
I can think of a couple of FReepers who would make good candidates to head her new department.
Him and lots others-- it doesn't matter how well off we are. For some reason they want the gov't to step in to have us to tightenint bolts at some factory.
Acknowledging that "there's a problem with the manufacturing sector," Bush said he had directed Commerce Secretary Don Evans to appoint an assistant secretary of commerce to focus exclusively on the needs of manufacturers.
Bush vows to help restore lost manufacturing jobs
Reuters -- September 1, 2003
The Administration's Manufacturing Plan Looks Bogus
Where Klinton adores a minuet,
The Ballet Russes, and crepe suzette,
Our Dubya loves to rock and roll,
A hot dog makes him lose control --
What a wild duet!Still, they're cousins,
Identical cousins and you'll find,
They laugh alike, they walk alike,
At times they even talk alike --You can lose your mind,
When cousins are two of a kind.
please let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from the ping list.
Yes, but don't let logic stand in the way of hysteria and emotion, as so well practiced by the DemLibs.
I understand your feelings in as much as you desire that government possess the power to dictate to the market the manner in which they conduct business. Why that makes sense is beyond comprehension.
America is constantly modernizing. No longer do we ride horses to work, thaw meat all day from the freezer, or use film in our cameras. And those who owned stables, were blacksmiths, drove coaches... were put out of work by progress. Sarah no longer connects calls for the town. And processors for microwaves are mass produced by computers.
Employment is now higher than when Clinton left office.
How do you FEEL about trading our modernized employment to foreign countries for manual labor opportunities?
Personally, I think sending our high-tech jobs to Taiwan, China and India in exchange for low-skill "manufacturing" jobs at Mickey-D's sucks...
But for some crazy reason, the White House absolutely LOVES the idea.
Treasury's Snow defends U.S. job outsourcing
WH Considering Reclassifying Fast Food Jobs As 'Manufacturing'
In the event you are unable to locate my statements, go to #55.
If you feel you have responded as best as you are able, certainly don't bother.
These Dims are really nuts and out of touch...grasping at straws. Unemployment is historically very low. Even with expanded globalization (outsourcing has been going on for many years, long before this president took office and it is for the most part A GOOD THING!) the world economies are doing well. As they do well so does the US.
Would Messr. Sowell be kind enough to possibly source that factoid?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.