Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

State factory loss a 'crisis,' panel says
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Sunday, February 22, 2004 | Len Barcousky

Posted on 02/22/2004 10:06:22 AM PST by Willie Green

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:35:33 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

About 1,400 factories have closed in the state in the past three years, says the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.

"If this isn't a crisis, then that word has no meaning," said David N. Taylor, communications director for the association. He was one of seven panel members representing an unusual alliance of labor and business who spoke Wednesday at a Trade Sanity Town Meeting at Butler County Community College.


(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: globalism; layoffs; manufacturing; nafta; thebusheconomy; trade
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-159 last
To: Texasforever
The Technology boom is the "culprit", not government.

Partly true, but government has not been at all helpfull in this reguard. There is good reason to believe that government can to nothing about "out sourcing" data entry level jobs. I might make a few suggestions but I think those type jobs are going overseas requardless. But government can and should impose tariffs on cheap imports to level the playing field in the American market for American producers, that is a no brainer.

141 posted on 02/22/2004 10:41:42 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: Veracious Poet
You can tell it's past my bedtime by the spelling....8-)
142 posted on 02/22/2004 10:42:18 PM PST by Joshua
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever
Actually, I do get "it".

Tariffs have been made artificially low in the USA due to excessive income taxes and free-traders like yourself wanting to make it profitable for Global corporations to subjugate slave-labor and/or dirt cheap labor for easy profits...and you think there is any difference between this system of exploitation and having slave-labor within the USA? LMAO

I had a friend who made a fortune doing import/export with China in the early 90s...after witnessing atrocities personally and having to pay bribes to ChiCom representatives (sometimes accompanied by armed troops) he decided it was better to sleep at night than be involved.

Why is it that slave-labor makes you so happy, are you an investor in Global Corporate Imperialist concerns?
143 posted on 02/22/2004 10:42:40 PM PST by Veracious Poet (Cash cows are sacred in America...GOT MILKED???)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever
OK, you do support the IRS, you own me $100 bucks.
144 posted on 02/22/2004 10:42:52 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
Give me an example of "cheap" imports. The reason I ask is that cheap and inexpensive are two entirely different things. We now have an almost default tariff with the weak dollar that is not in any way protectionist.
145 posted on 02/22/2004 10:45:17 PM PST by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
What would you think about getting the hourly wage down enough that manufacturers could produce a product that we could afford. There is a reason Wall-World is open all night and running over with people the rest of the time.I am 74 years, old and my 8 hour a day job pays me $5.76 per hour, and I need to work to make ends meet
146 posted on 02/22/2004 10:45:52 PM PST by BooBoo1000
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
Nice try.
147 posted on 02/22/2004 10:46:04 PM PST by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 144 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever; Veracious Poet
re weak dollar, I agree a weak dollar is not the best way to impose a default tariff, and I too am off to bed, tonight.
148 posted on 02/22/2004 10:48:35 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: BooBoo1000
I think that that is our future and I am happy that I will not have to deal with it. Not quite as old as you but old enough.
149 posted on 02/22/2004 10:50:36 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: Veracious Poet
Why is it that slave-labor makes you so happy, are you an investor in Global Corporate Imperialist concerns?

Just following the example of the Founders. Seriously, there is nothing "moral" about business. The only restrictions on business are legal restrictions and in some cases Union contracts. Those two restrictions have a LOT to do with companies chasing cheap labor along with the fact that they now have the technology to do so. Labor costs are the largest single cost of doing business and the most controllable cost they have. It is simple economics.

150 posted on 02/22/2004 10:50:40 PM PST by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 143 | View Replies]

To: Texasforever
tonight=good night
151 posted on 02/22/2004 10:51:28 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
Good night. Good discussion.
152 posted on 02/22/2004 10:52:17 PM PST by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: BooBoo1000
We would require an extended period of deflation to start that downward trend. We have been on the verge of deflation for a while now. It is not iron clad that standard of living decreases with lower wages assuming that the cost of living also decreases in proportion. That is why an engineer in Texas making 100 grand a year can buy a 4,sq ft house in house for 200k while that same engineer in San Francisco would have to make 300k to even approach the same house.
153 posted on 02/22/2004 11:02:04 PM PST by Texasforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
FYI:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083737/posts?page=4#4
154 posted on 02/23/2004 10:23:34 AM PST by CaptainLou
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
"Glad you have conceded my point that US dominance after WW2 was an aberration and not a vindication of a free trade policy. We are making progress."

The World Economy grew at an unprecedented rate from 1945-73, due to Freer Trade and the repudiation of the economic policies of the early 1930s
155 posted on 02/23/2004 11:55:46 AM PST by raloxk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: Willie Green
"About 1,400 factories have closed in the state in the past three years, says the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association"

Why doesn't PAM have an exact number?

156 posted on 02/23/2004 12:04:14 PM PST by verity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: raloxk
It is not the World ecomony that I as an American am concerned with. It is the American ecomony that is being destroyed by "free trade" that I am concerned with.
157 posted on 02/23/2004 1:41:58 PM PST by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 155 | View Replies]

To: jpsb
your premise that fre etrade is destroying the american economy is flat out wrong!!! I dont even accept your paranoid premise that the economy is being destroyed period.

you are a scared, frightened timid person, as most protectionist/isolationists are. No country ever maintained a decent standard of living for its citizens or ever became a great power by being fearful. Your message of fear and despair would never sell and never has.
158 posted on 02/23/2004 2:27:22 PM PST by raloxk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 157 | View Replies]

To: Joshua
They could have saved those same jobs by throwing the Unions out and giving an American a job instead of moving.
159 posted on 02/26/2004 6:38:19 AM PST by RaceBannon (John Kerry is Vietnam's Benedict Arnold: Former War Hero turned Traitor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-159 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson