Posted on 11/15/2009 2:02:36 PM PST by SmithL
As America's trade with the Far East – principally China – expanded massively during the 1980s and 1990s, California reaped the benefits as the gateway for both exports and imports.
With trade emerging as a major component of the state's very diverse economy, traffic and payrolls blossomed at its major ports.
California now is mired in its worst recession since the Great Depression, and international trade has been seriously damaged. Imports and exports through the state's air and sea ports, the most recent Department of Commerce data show, are running at least one-fifth below last year's already depressed levels.
Exports in September were the lowest since 2005, notes Jock O'Connell, a University of California trade analyst.
Economists who chart the state's future assume that, if and when recovery occurs, California will once again reap the benefits of international trade. But will it?
It's entirely possible that California will never again see the level of international commerce that it experienced during mid-decade.
The flow of international cargo is changing in ways that may bypass California, and the state's politicians seem bent on making shipping increasingly expensive.
East Coast ports have been expanding their ability to handle waterborne shipments directly to and from Asia, without cargoes having to be transshipped by rail or truck.
...Meanwhile, California politicians, especially those representing the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex, have largely adopted the posture that ports are a nuisance, creating noise and air pollution. They have championed new fees to offset the impacts.
Just last week, Sen. Dean Florez, a Democrat who represents the San Joaquin Valley but wants to become lieutenant governor, staged a hearing at the Port of Los Angeles to air local complaints
...Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, meanwhile, is carrying water for the Teamsters union,
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
and the state's politicians seem bent on making shipping increasingly expensive.Birds gotta fly,
Fish gotta swim, and
RATS gotta tax!
Whatever is taxed more is produced less! Moronic liberals never learn unless they hit rock bottom—then its still no guarantee that they trade their insanity for minds of reason!
And as soon aS the new Panama Canal is widened, there wil no reason to deal with the democrat party of California. Just last week, Sen. Dean Florez, a Democrat who represents the San Joaquin Valley but wants to become lieutenant governor, staged a hearing at the Port of Los Angeles to air local complaints ...Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, meanwhile, is carrying water for the Teamsters union,
Moronic liberals never learn unless they hit rock bottom
How liberal are the unions at Long Beach Port??
They went on strike 2 years ago at Long Beach and they blamed the union strike on...THE IRAQ WAR.
Including signs to impeach Bush et al. These unions are morons.
No IQ but lots of brawn and big mouths.
Vincente Fox’s ex-president of Mexico’s Plan Puebla Panama, was going to make southern Mexico into the immense shipping hub of the western hemisphere. That alone would have reduced California’s ports to secondary or tertiary ports.
Just more of our ongoing war on business.
While making an average of $117,000.00 a year.
“Mexico’s Plan Puebla Panama, was going to make southern Mexico into the immense shipping hub of the western hemisphere.”
There is much truth in that. Interestingly, many Asian exporters are now becoming bi-lingual in Spanish rather than English because it is so much cheaper and easier to ship to Mexico and South America than the US. The freight is then sent by rail or truck through San Diego or Laredo.
The inability for the US to develop decent West Coast shipping port facilities is a MAJOR failing that has cost this country vast numbers of jobs and wealth.
But hey, some unions did well and the enviro-whackos are happy.
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