When factories leave, painful ripples are felt all around town

The Centre Daily Times ^ | Monday, September 08, 2003 | JAMES P. MILLER - Chicago Tribune

[Willie Green]

GALESBURG, Ill. - (KRT) - More than a year remains before Maytag Corp. finally pulls the plug on its 1,600-worker refrigerator factory here.

But already, economic shock waves from the planned shutdown have begun to ripple outward from this prairie town, killing the jobs of hundreds of non-Maytag workers and threatening to claim as many as 2,000 more, including nurses, postal workers, mechanics and schoolteachers whose work has no connection with the appliance maker.

For decades, growth-minded rural towns have vied to attract manufacturers by offering tax breaks and other incentives. The expansion strategy is based on what economists call the "multiplier effect": When a new employer comes to town, the influx of new payroll money creates jobs throughout the local economy, as workers begin buying new homes, cars and other goods and services.

[Texas_Dawg]

I hate populists.

[MonroeDNA]

Further down the article:

"For U.S. workers who lose their jobs to foreign competition, the federal government provides funding to cover training in a new career, says Bevard, the local union official. But with the town's prospects so unpromising, he says bitterly, "guys ask me, `What job should I train for?' "

There's the real problem. Unions kill jobs.

[scottlang]

As more and more jobs leave this country you will see more of this. People are starting to ask why and then they ask what will be done about it. They will vote for whoever promises to bring back the jobs. And for the record when you lose a $20 an hour job at a factory and get 2 $10 hour jobs in service it is not the same. The economy is the only issue the dems have to win next year. But, it may be enough.

[TopQuark]

Yes, but this is the only topic and only material on which Willy Green posts. I think he wants to educated us out of our conservative beleifs; it's his way to do a teach-in on anti-capitalism.

[scottlang]

Free trade is proving to be quite expensive to the average working man in this country.

[familyofman]

"Free trade is proving to be quite expensive to the average working man in this country."

It may also prove to be expensive for any/all elected officials who don't recognize the anger that losing a job creates. The rooster may soon crow in towns/villages & cities all across the country.

[MonroeDNA]

The Idiocy of Protectionism:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/978233/posts

[1rudeboy]

Actually, one of the reasons Maytag is moving the plant to Mexico is because Bush imposed steel tariffs. Sorry.

[scottlang]

The Idiocy of Protectionism:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/978233/posts

This maybe true, but we are all now experiencing the idiocy of free trade. It would at least be a change.

[Lazamataz]

I hate populists.

pop·u·list ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ppy-lst) n.

1. A supporter of the rights and power of the people.

No doubt you do.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Maytag's management has been splintered by one incompetent after another. Galesburg's cost are no different than Newton's.

[Prodigal Son]

Painful nipples?

[STD]

Good Ol' Lane Evans producing dependancy for another generation in the 17th!