Post by blueneck on Sept 15, 2007 6:14:44 GMT -6
I have said many of these things before, but I thought it was important to sum them all up.
While we may not be able to completely stop the global race to the bottom there are certainly some things that can slow it down, that are well within the power of our elected officials and not much different from what other countries do to protect there domestic jobs and markets.
First and foremost we can not let people try to turn "protect" into a bad word like the right wing spinmeisters have done to "librul".
If protecting US citizens jobs and protecting our kids from unsafe imported products is "protectionism" count me in! If protecting US technology and infrastructure is protectionism I am all for it. If maintaining our industrial ability to manufacturing the tools we need to defend ourselves is protectionist - count me in.
Here is what needs to be done legislatively in no particular order:
Tax incentives for keeping and creating jobs at home
Tax penalties for sending jobs offshore.
Make corporations responsible for compensating the communities they are leaving for lost tax base revenue, also helping communities to refurbish for new use, sell, or demolition and site clean up as needed for their abandoned facilities
Close the loopholes and eliminate government programs and agencies that use tax payer money to encourage companies to ship jobs overseas
Remove the burden of health care costs from US mfrs that put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Enforcement of intellectual property rights and anti dumping laws.
Enforcement and increased inspection of product safety with the bill to do so sent back to the country of origin in the form of a fee or tariff
Demand punitive action against currency manipulating countries like china
Impose tariffs and VATS on incoming imported goods. The proceeds could be used to pay down the deficits that are held by foreign countries and make us beholden to threats of dumping dollars. Compensation for comapnies and workers hurt by unfair foreign trade as well.
Increase the amount and length of time for unemployment benefits.
Provide health care and educational safety nets for un- and under-employed workers.
Please feel free to add to this list as I am sure there things I have overlooked.
It used to be that offshoring always affected "somebody else" and due to the booming economy of the 90's wasn't noticed much. But now we have the current economy that rides on a knife edge - every new plant that closes is noticeable and ripples through entire communities.
Unless you are living in the uber rich or inside the beltway world, you now are much more likely to know someone - your neighbor, a friend, a relative or even yourself who has been affected by globalization in the for of job loss or wage stagnation, its not just some vague concept of "somebody else" anymore.
While we may not be able to completely stop the global race to the bottom there are certainly some things that can slow it down, that are well within the power of our elected officials and not much different from what other countries do to protect there domestic jobs and markets.
First and foremost we can not let people try to turn "protect" into a bad word like the right wing spinmeisters have done to "librul".
If protecting US citizens jobs and protecting our kids from unsafe imported products is "protectionism" count me in! If protecting US technology and infrastructure is protectionism I am all for it. If maintaining our industrial ability to manufacturing the tools we need to defend ourselves is protectionist - count me in.
Here is what needs to be done legislatively in no particular order:
Tax incentives for keeping and creating jobs at home
Tax penalties for sending jobs offshore.
Make corporations responsible for compensating the communities they are leaving for lost tax base revenue, also helping communities to refurbish for new use, sell, or demolition and site clean up as needed for their abandoned facilities
Close the loopholes and eliminate government programs and agencies that use tax payer money to encourage companies to ship jobs overseas
Remove the burden of health care costs from US mfrs that put them at a competitive disadvantage.
Enforcement of intellectual property rights and anti dumping laws.
Enforcement and increased inspection of product safety with the bill to do so sent back to the country of origin in the form of a fee or tariff
Demand punitive action against currency manipulating countries like china
Impose tariffs and VATS on incoming imported goods. The proceeds could be used to pay down the deficits that are held by foreign countries and make us beholden to threats of dumping dollars. Compensation for comapnies and workers hurt by unfair foreign trade as well.
Increase the amount and length of time for unemployment benefits.
Provide health care and educational safety nets for un- and under-employed workers.
Please feel free to add to this list as I am sure there things I have overlooked.
It used to be that offshoring always affected "somebody else" and due to the booming economy of the 90's wasn't noticed much. But now we have the current economy that rides on a knife edge - every new plant that closes is noticeable and ripples through entire communities.
Unless you are living in the uber rich or inside the beltway world, you now are much more likely to know someone - your neighbor, a friend, a relative or even yourself who has been affected by globalization in the for of job loss or wage stagnation, its not just some vague concept of "somebody else" anymore.