A Tone Deaf President: A Hyperventilating Opposition

MND ^ | February 22, 2006 | Will Malven

[wideawake]

Carrix is good, especially in their home region of the Northwest, but they do not have 6.5B in ready cash to undertake a project of this magnitude.

If they had been able or willing to do so, they would probably have put in a bid.

[clawrence3]

I'm sure SSA Marine would appreciate tax breaks, and decreased union / regulatory controls, but I have no problem encouraging other U.S. companies from getting into the business - we simply CANNOT exclude foreign-owned companies from this free market.

[VanDeKoik]

Again, did they offer to do it? No.

What exactly does listing names of companies that made no play for this job going to accomplish?

[clawrence3]

$6.8 billion, but yes, that is probably why they did not bid it. They also have ports in Mexico, Panama, and Chili (I think) which would be immediately nationalized if the U.S. puts through prohibitions like Schumer and Hillary are talking about.

[DJ MacWoW]

Check post 19. I have heard all over these threads that there are no American companies. I never checked.

[wideawake]

Running ports is not exactly a Lockheed specialty. It would take them quite a while to assemble and scale up a team to take on this job - though they certainly have the cash to make the attempt if they wanted to.

[yellowdoghunter]

Why is that? Are Americans mentally incapable of running a port? How about SSA Marine which just won Umm Qasr port in Iraq? "The family-owned and -run company is a private venture which operates in more than 150 locations worldwide and employs more than 10,000 people. The Smith and Hemingway families have owned the company since it was founded, and maintain an active management role."

Excellent point. At first people say there is no money in running a port but then I hear this UAE company is making a killin'. There has to be money to be made in this or why did a British company do it all these years or why does a UAE company want it now if there is no money to be made?

[clawrence3]

None. You?

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

If SSA Marine did not offer to do it, what the hell do you want us to do? Force them?

#1 I don't know that they haven't offered, or that they would decline if invited to bid on the job. Do you?

#2 If they don't, then sweeten the deal or find another domestic company to do it.

[VanDeKoik]

Its BS, but you cant name one. They didnt submit. Do you propose congress make a law forcing them to do it?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

What exactly does listing names of companies that made no play for this job going to accomplish?

It's the old "if you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your B***S*** routine.

[dfwgator]

Of course the reason the Rats are up in arms is because they want the government to do it.

[clawrence3]

Maybe because businesses can make more money TAX FREE in Dubai than here in the U.S.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

None. You?

One of the symptoms of Valium-induced psychosis is a humor-detection flatline, so I just presumed you were taking it.

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Excellent point. At first people say there is no money in running a port but then I hear this UAE company is making a killin'. There has to be money to be made in this or why did a British company do it all these years or why does a UAE company want it now if there is no money to be made?

The UAE is looking for worldwide capital assets like these to jump-start their Sharia financial markets.

[clawrence3]

Only 2 terminals in Long Beach.

[yellowdoghunter]

Was it tax free in Britain also? If that is the case, maybe we should make it tax free so an American company can take over the contracts.

Why do we pay foreigners to do the jobs that Americans and American companies are more than willing to do?

[DJ MacWoW]

Did any American company even submitt a proposal?

According to Pete King, no American company bid on P&O. Now whether they could just purchase the contracts for the now 7 ports (Tampa was added to the 6), I don't know.

[yellowdoghunter]

That is my main point. The UAE government may be an ally or be helping in the war on terror, even though I think that is questionable. But when it comes right down to it, I think they consider us all infidels.

How will we know where the money we are paying them is really going? If you watch the Engligh-translated newscasts that come out of UAE, one might question where their loyalties lie.

I wonder what their feelings on Israel are?

[clawrence3]

Probably not tax free in "Great British" - but that can't be a small incentive for DPW - as for why American companies aren't willing to do the work, the free market system works best when the best companies (regardless of nationality) compete for the biggest gains to the economy.