Posted on 10/29/2004 4:10:14 PM PDT by Willie Green
Spotlighting the Outsourcers: A 2004 Congressional Voter´s Guide (PDF): Overview | Voter's Guide
Manufacturing Policy Scorecard for U.S. House Members: National
The U.S. Business and Industry Council is a national organization of business owners and executives dedicated to making the U.S. domestic economy the world's leading engine of economic growth. The USBIC Educational Foundation is its research arm. Only a robust national economy, balanced in capabilities and dynamic in operation, can provide the material base for an American society that is stable at home and secure in the world.
The USBIC was founded in 1933 to represent the concerns of America's small and medium-sized business community. Member companies are typically family-owned or privately held, mostly in the manufacturing sector. They are often the major employers in their home communities and the mainstays of the local economy. This membership composition has given the USBIC an outlook on issues more rooted in mainstream America than other national business groups, which are dominated by giant multinational corporations with global agendas and dwindling national loyalties.
Because it does not represent only a single industry, but has approximately 1,000 member companies in 44 states, USBIC has always based its policy positions on a national interest standard -- i.e., the positions that it takes must be good for the country as a whole, both now and in terms of its future strength, rather than reflecting the narrow interests of a particular company or industry. USBIC favors lower taxes, since high hamper economic growth. Government levies on families, estates, and capital gains are particularly burdensome. It also opposes regulations that retard productive activities, especially in the development of new domestic energy sources that are needed to power a strong national economy.
Unlike many other business groups, USBIC is concerned about the impact of "globalization" on American society and independence. The huge and growing trade deficits undermine the country's industrial base -- including its defense industries, reduce personal incomes for most Americans, and threaten the financial system as indebtness to foreign corporations and governments mounts. The result is that the United States grows weaker as its vulnerabilities to overseas events increase.
The so-called philosophy of "globalization" with its emphasis on transnational organizations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, an International Criminal Court, and a web of suffocating agreements like the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty threaten U.S. sovereignty,which is the only firm guarantee of American liberty, values, and standard of living. As has been true since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution a quarter millennium ago, a strong economy and a strong defense go together, safeguarding the country and its people. USBIC is dedicated to keeping this connection in the forefront of American policy-making. If the United States is to maintain its pre-eminent position in the world, while continuing to prosper and advance traditional American values, it must adopt economic policies that focus on improving the productivity, capabilities, knowledge, and the wealth of the people who reside in this country
The United States must also act to advance its interests overseas; to maintain its access to resources and markets; to protect trade routes and allies; and to guard against aggression and adverse changes in the international balance of power. Building a strong national economy does not isolate America from the world, but on the contrary assures that America has the means to shape internatoinal events to its own advantage and deal with them on its own terms.
The USBIC Educational Foundation was founded in 1967 to be the research arm of USBIC and to educate both policy makers and the American public on issues of concern to USBIC member companies. To carry out this task in the area of international trade and 'globalization,' USBIC Educational Foundation started this web site in March 2001.
Related thread: A Plan to Save American Manufacturing
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My congressman voted in opposition to this group every time, and for that he's got my vote.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thanks you.
Here's the link to the organization you mentioned: http://www.americaneconomicalert.org/
Then again you may notice that the savings rate is rapidly declining - you'll do this because you're a doom & gloomer. So, Take care of two birds with one stone - buy foreign bonds to reverse the trend of the savings rate and help reduce the trade deficit (maybe even turning into a surplus). Of course this will mean that you'll be spurring investment in the countries of those damned foreigners.
That is all; protectionist peace out!
A collection of non-hacking producers whose business models are failing due to a change in tastes and preferences of the consumer. So they lobby for protectionist measures at the rest of the country's expense because they wouldn't survive otherwise. A tremendous waste of resources and a prolonging of the inevitable shift in factor inputs. Inefficient as all hell - like being in a car that's heading backward!
6 - What kind of country are we going to have when foreigners own all our industry, or what is left of it?
There is a fairly new factor at work that wasn't a major factor before: outsourcing. Disposable income was high during the 1980's and 1990's. But that's going to change. Americans consumers are forced to buy cheap foreign products because their wages are no longer keeping up with the cost of essentials (housing, transportation). Or they have to take lower-paying jobs because of outsourcing. Meanwhile, more and more greedy, unpatriotic C.E.O.'s hire cheap foreign labor to staff their businesses. Thing is, the vast majority of the labor savings are not going to vastly lower pricing, improving their products, or even the shareholders. Most of the savings are going to executive bonuses. The upper eschelons of corporate America really want their country to be a nation of low-wage security guards, tour guides, and hamburger flippers. Organizations like this one are needed to stand up for real Americans.
you didn't answer my question. Up to this point, basically, our own patriotic corrupt corps and politicians have governed US policy.
When foreigners own these sources of their 'grease', what will our government become?
Willie, please pay attention. The more jobs and factories that move to China, the better off America becomes. In fact, if all our jobs and factories were over there, America would be paradise!
As a free trader, I look forward to an America in which we all live in cardboard boxes from Mexico, while eating stale rice from China, and using our meager capital gains from the stock market to buy low quality plastic trinkets from Wal-Mart.
12 - I repeat "11 - "When foreigners own these sources of their 'grease', what will our government become?"
FYI Halliburton, Brown-Root, KBR, (Texas) is one of the few companies in the world also (Slumberje - French), and Bechtel (California) qualified to do the job they are doing.
Interesting enough, Haliburton/Brown-Root is a Democrat company which formed the basis of Lady Bird Johnson's wealth. I don't know if it still is or not, but they certainly made tons of money in Vietnam, doing the same type of work for LBJ.
They also did the support for Clinton's wars in Yugoslavia.
18 - Repeat, What will our country be like when foreigners own all our "means of corruption", or otherwise known as "means of production"?
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