Free Republic

Before our very eyes, a generation of Americans is losing faith in the American dream and adopting attitudes and behaviors that emphasize living for the day, not planning to take care of their own futures. They clearly see the problems ahead and draw rational conclusions. Most of our problems have been caused by government. The unintended consequences of poorly thought out legislation or legislation designed merely to garner votes for re-election is wreaking havoc on economic opportunity for our country. ..... It is time that we demand that our nation re-establish its moral compass. It is essential that we reward...

ChartOne Inc., a California medical records provider, is closing its San Jose headquarters and shifting its operations to Irving and Massachusetts. (snip) ChartOne joins a growing list of California companies relocating or expanding in the Metroplex. Others include beverage-vending machine manufacturer The Vendo Co., which will relocate to North Texas from Fresno, Calif., by December; Los Angeles-based 21st Century Insurance Group, which will bring as many as 1,300 new jobs to Lewisville by 2009; and Calabasas, Calif.-based Countrywide Mortgage, which plans to hire as many as 2,000 in Fort Worth and 1,000 in Plano over the next several years. According...

New Study Says External Costs Are Primary Competitiveness Challenge to U.S. Manufacturing 03-330 CONTACTS: HANK COX (202) 637-3090; JIM ENGELHARDT (703) 841-9000 Cost Burden Reduces Innovation and Jobs WASHINGTON, D.C., December 9, 2003 – “External, non-production costs add approximately 22 percent to unit labor costs of U.S. manufacturers (nearly $5 per hour worked) relative to their major foreign competitors, and are the primary competitive challenge facing manufacturers and their workers,” said Jerry Jasinowski, President of the National Association of Manufacturers. The finding is part of a new study, “How Structural Costs Imposed on U.S. Manufacturers Harm Workers and Threaten Competitiveness,”...