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Durbin (as well as the Rock Island arsenal) is from IL, not PA. I'm all for free trade now because with the globalization the last few years, these jobs are gone and there's NOTHING anyone can do about it without devestating the whole economy. With today's tech, as long as there are people in China who will work for 5 cents an hour, American steel and manufacturing is GONE. So support free trade now because protectionism can only make it worse by isolating us and making other countries angry and hostile towards us. Perhaps the steel workers unions that are left should stop asking for more money and thank God they still exist.

I live in a steel town near the Rock Island arsenal. The plant went down here went down because union people who worked at the mill couldn't get over that other people in other countries don't require 60 grand with full benefits a year for a job with no education required.

With today's tech, as long as there are people in China who will work for 5 cents an hour, American steel and manufacturing is GONE.

This is largely true, but it doesn't have to be true. The cost of running a steel company could be (dramatically) simplified to the following:
1. Cost of materials, +
2. Cost of labor, +
3. Cost of shipping to the customer.

On factor #1, China and the US are essentially tied. We've got iron ore, and they've got iron ore. On factor #2, China has the US beat hollow. On factor #3, the US has China beat hollow (assuming domestic or nearby consumption).

Solution: diminish the extent to which factor #2 is important by using new processes which aren't labor-intensive. You might end up with a steel foundry which had 45 employees instead of 1,200, but you'd also end up with an American company which could produce steel price-competitively with China.

(The successful American mini-mills are competing on both #1 and #2. They use small amounts of labor, and they generally recycle scrap steel instead of using new ore - a cheaper input. Why don't you ever heard about the mini-mills? Because the steel unions hate them and want to pretend that the rusting hulks of Pennsylvania are the entire steel industry.)

"as long as there are people in China who will work for 5 cents an hour"

I think you mean to say as long as the Chinese Labor Board allows their workers to be paid only 5 cents an hour. Remember we are dealing with a communist country here. The people have no rights when it comes to demanding better working conditions or better pay.

Also, it's not just union workers who are losing their jobs. Ask Bush why the tariff on steel at the beginning of the war? It raised prices on the steel itself and further raised costs for those in the industry.

There are many factors at play in this scenario... We also have to keep in mind the red tape associated with even landing a government contract here in the U.S. Rumsfeld said this is not a matter of money...If that's the case then why aren't they seeking out more steel and other metal manufacturers to assist in this production? There are tons of skilled machinists without jobs - here in Colorado and also in Illinois.

So support free trade now because protectionism can only make it worse by isolating us and making other countries angry and hostile towards us.

Of course, and depend on China for our manufacturing/defense needs ... works for you???

Perhaps the steel workers unions that are left should stop asking for more money

Yeah, what's that matter with these greedy a$$holes that they won't work for the Chinese nickel?