State factory loss a 'crisis,' panel says

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Sunday, February 22, 2004 | Len Barcousky

[Willie Green]

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.

[jpsb]

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.

[Joshua]

You can tell it's past my bedtime by the spelling....8-)

[Veracious Poet]

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?

[jpsb]

OK, you do support the IRS, you own me $100 bucks.

[Texasforever]

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.

[BooBoo1000]

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

[Texasforever]

Nice try.

[jpsb]

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.

[jpsb]

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.

[Texasforever]

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.

[jpsb]

tonight=good night

[Texasforever]

Good night. Good discussion.

[Texasforever]

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.

[CaptainLou]

FYI:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083737/posts?page=4#4

[raloxk]

"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

[verity]

"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?

[jpsb]

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.

[raloxk]

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.

[RaceBannon]

They could have saved those same jobs by throwing the Unions out and giving an American a job instead of moving.