[m&maz]

A great letter, but it doesn't address the reason that Americans are having a hard time competing with foreign business and the reason, therefore that foreign products can undersell those produced in our country..
1. The plethora of environmental regulations that have made it nearly impossible for us here in America to take advantage of the abundance of natural resources that SHOULD be available right here in our own country.
2. Over-regulation by our own government, resulting in higher cost to Anerican producers.
These are the reasons for so many companies relocating out of the US, they are the reasons that foreign companies can produce for less, and therefore sell for less, and until we address these two situations, things will only get worse..

[harpseal]

A great letter, but it doesn't address the reason that Americans are having a hard time competing with foreign business and the reason, therefore that foreign products can undersell those produced in our country.. 1. The plethora of environmental regulations that have made it nearly impossible for us here in America to take advantage of the abundance of natural resources that SHOULD be available right here in our own country. 2. Over-regulation by our own government, resulting in higher cost to Anerican producers. These are the reasons for so many companies relocating out of the US, they are the reasons that foreign companies can produce for less, and therefore sell for less, and until we address these two situations, things will only get worse..

Every journey starts with a single step. i agree that these are also problems and will work with others on these specific issues when the draft concreate proposals to improve things in this area. Maybe if I live long enough I shall be able to start initiatives in these areas also but I would recommend you start an activism campaign on those issues.

[BlazingArizona]

A great letter, but it doesn't address the reason that Americans are having a hard time competing with foreign business and the reason, therefore that foreign products can undersell those produced in our country.

Certainly, but the first rule for writing any political letter is: stick to one subject. Writing a book about all the negative impacts government regulation can have on business is quite a different proposition from writing a letter sp[ecifically hitting one point.

OPIC is an example of the flip side of government regulation: the use of governmental power and money to promote some businesses over others.

[Tokhtamish]

This has nothing in the least to do with "environmental laws" or "government regulation". It is two things.

1. Labor costs. Wages are so much lower in China and India that workers in the industrialized West doing the same jobs cannot possibly compete.

2. State policy. China and India aspire to be greater powers. Building up their IT industry and manufacturing bases will no more be left to the vagaries of the free market than would a 1900-1940 major power have left its steel and oil industries to the vagaries of the free market. They are protected and subsidized by the state. The Chinese military controls an entire industrial empire financed by Chinese bank loans that never have to be paid back. So it is moronic to talk about free trade competition with state supported enterprises that do not have to pay back their creditors.

Harpseal, I think GWB is far, far too complacent about his reelection chances. We need to puncture that complacency of he is in for a nasty surprise if Gephardt or Lieberman is the candidate.