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]

Well you are right and you are wrong. If we were to fund government with a revenue tariff and get rid of income tax then tariffs would greatly enhance economic activity in the USA. Infact I do believe our economy would take off like a rocket.

[jpsb]

Oh but that is an 19th centrury ideas so it must be out dated.

[raloxk]

"If we were to fund government with a revenue tariff and get rid of income tax then tariffs would greatly enhance economic activity in the USA"

why are you stuck in the 1800s? Do you realise how ridiculous you would sound to the general public advocating policies that havent been used in almost 100 years.


"Infact I do believe our economy would take off like a rocket."
History shows youre wrong, just look at the smoot-hawley tariffs of 1930. In fact after the US moved towards free trade in 1945, is when the economy took off like a rocket.


I dont understand why you want central economic planning and why you want government telling you what you can and cannot purchase.

If you were really concerned about the US Trade Deficit, youd buy US government bonds or better yet foreign government bonds

[CaptainLou]

Infact I do believe our economy would take off like a rocket.

Perhaps you missed the fact that our economy HAS taken off like a rocket, due to the tax cutting of the last few years.

[jpsb]

Are you another Chicom posing as an American? You sure sound like it. You should read a history book sometime.

[jpsb]

LOL, yea, LOL!

[CaptainLou]

I never called on socialism, it is the free-traitors who are going ot get Socialism, due to the sheer numbers of people who are going to be out of work thanks to outsourcing, or underpaid when their company leaves and they cannot replace the wages they made, but still have the same bills!

That is the same logic that was argued by blacksmiths in the early 1900's.

[raloxk]

"Are you another Chicom posing as an American? You sure sound like it. You should read a history book sometime. "


I guess I won the debate. I am afraid youre the one who is ignorant of history. Read about Argentina and Australian trade policies in the 20th century if you want a lesson on the failures of protectionism (govt central planning).

[jpsb]

"In fact after the US moved towards free trade in 1945, is when the economy took off like a rocket.

Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that the USA emenged from WW2 with it's industrail base unharmed while the rest of the world's lay in ruin could it? Na, I didn't think so.

[jpsb]

Cool, comrade raloxk, enjoy your progressive income tax, you deserve it.

[raloxk]

"Couldn't have anything to do with the fact that the USA emenged from WW2 with it's industrail base unharmed while the rest of the world's lay in ruin could it? Na, I didn't think so."

Interesting that you admit that the economic environment that prevailed after WW 2 was unrealistic, yet you cry as nations other than the US are now developing economically.

Germany after WW2 surpassed the UK per capita income in only5 years due to free market and trade policies.

The united states after WW2 actually engaged in unilateral freer trade, yet it didnt destroy the country's industrial base.

[raloxk]

"Cool, comrade raloxk, enjoy your progressive income tax, you deserve it."

I favor a flat income tax. Maybe 12-15% or so. No loopholes

[RaceBannon]

What foreign country replaced Blacksmith's jobs by having American Blacksmiths move all their anvils there?

What foreign country replaced Horse and Buggy driver jobs by moving all the American Horses and Buggys there?

Please bring up a related inference, it will make the debate more lively...

[CaptainLou]

Please bring up a related inference, it will make the debate more lively...

The idea being that when industries are no longer effective in the U.S., invariably some folks want government to step in instead of advising those effected by the change to do something to help themselves.

Dick Gephard, John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton and John Edwards want to errect trade barriers around the United States. What makes you think that they are correct?

[RaceBannon]

Industies ARE effective in this country, it is the fact that HUMAN GREED made the company CEO's move to a slave labor run country that makes American Companies no longer able to compete, and you call it rain on my back??

That is why Tarriffs were created centuries ago, to protect your own countrymen. It is free trtade, without boundries, where goods made at wages we cannot compete against that are going to kill us, and you call it morning dew!

You must have never worked at any manufacturing job, because if you did, you would see your cost of living rise, while your wages plummet to the floor in the last 10 years, and with all the offshoring, you calling it rain on my back, that makes me think you are an idiot.

[KevinDavis]

Maybe less regulation, lower taxes, and tort reform the factories will come back.

[Cacique]

L8R

[brityank]

It's more than one generation; but you are right in calling them 'con artists'. Most of the problems -- IMHO -- can be directly laid at the feet of the passage of the Sixteenth Ammendement and the resultant 'regulations' the bureaucrats have saddled us with. Everyone laughed, but Leona Helmsley was exactly correct -- We don't pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.

[Ciexyz]

I know a man in his early 50's who lost his machinist job in a Washington county (PA) factory, which relocated to China. The man is now retraining as an electrician and doing custodial work at church. The wife is the main breadwinner in the family.

[Ciexyz]

Re: Post 23 - interesting viewpoint you've expressed on the fact that the US is giving away our means of production to slave-labor societies.

The scenario is scary.