Posted on 01/01/2004 9:04:11 AM PST by Willie Green
TradeAlert.org was founded by the U.S. Business and Industry Council Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research and educational organization dedicated to improving the American people's awareness of critical public policy issues in such diverse fields as trade, taxation, education, health care, foreign relations, defense, and national security, among others. USBICEF is affiliated with the U.S. Business and Industry Council, a 501(c)(6) non-profit business association.
The U.S. Business and Industry Council is a national organization of business owners and executives dedicated to making the U.S. domestic economy the world's leading engine of economic growth. The USBIC Educational Foundation is its research arm. Only a robust national economy, balanced in capabilities and dynamic in operation, can provide the material base for an American society that is stable at home and secure in the world.
The USBIC was founded in 1933 to represent the concerns of America's small and medium-sized business community. Member companies are typically family-owned or privately held, mostly in the manufacturing sector. They are often the major employers in their home communities and the mainstays of the local economy. This membership composition has given the USBIC an outlook on issues more rooted in mainstream America than other national business groups, which are dominated by giant multinational corporations with global agendas and dwindling national loyalties.
Because it does not represent only a single industry, but has approximately 1,000 member companies in 44 states, USBIC has always based its policy positions on a national interest standard -- i.e., the positions that it takes must be good for the country as a whole, both now and in terms of its future strength, rather than reflecting the narrow interests of a particular company or industry. USBIC favors lower taxes, since high hamper economic growth. Government levies on families, estates, and capital gains are particularly burdensome. It also opposes regulations that retard productive activities, especially in the development of new domestic energy sources that are needed to power a strong national economy.
Unlike many other business groups, USBIC is concerned about the impact of "globalization" on American society and independence. The huge and growing trade deficits undermine the country's industrial base -- including its defense industries, reduce personal incomes for most Americans, and threaten the financial system as indebtness to foreign corporations and governments mounts. The result is that the United States grows weaker as its vulnerabilities to overseas events increase.
The so-called philosophy of "globalization" with its emphasis on transnational organizations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, an International Criminal Court, and a web of suffocating agreements like the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty threaten U.S. sovereignty,which is the only firm guarantee of American liberty, values, and standard of living. As has been true since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution a quarter millennium ago, a strong economy and a strong defense go together, safeguarding the country and its people. USBIC is dedicated to keeping this connection in the forefront of American policy-making. If the United States is to maintain its pre-eminent position in the world, while continuing to prosper and advance traditional American values, it must adopt economic policies that focus on improving the productivity, capabilities, knowledge, and the wealth of the people who reside in this country
The United States must also act to advance its interests overseas; to maintain its access to resources and markets; to protect trade routes and allies; and to guard against aggression and adverse changes in the international balance of power. Building a strong national economy does not isolate America from the world, but on the contrary assures that America has the means to shape internatoinal events to its own advantage and deal with them on its own terms.
The USBIC Educational Foundation was founded in 1967 to be the research arm of USBIC and to educate both policy makers and the American public on issues of concern to USBIC member companies. To carry out this task in the area of international trade and 'globalization,' USBIC Educational Foundation started this web site in March 2001.
Happy New Year Willie. If you do carry through with your resolution could you please add me to the list?
Yep, it is seen by everyone.
Damn those blacksmiths and buggy wheel manufacturers for they were part of creating this "demise" we are in.
Willie, I have no doubt that if you were living in the time of their demise, you would be an icon in saving their jobs.
Bush's Brother Has Contract to Help Chinese Chip Maker
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The "buggy whip analogy" is not applicable and merely displays superficial and uninformed ignorance.
Buggwhips were rendered obsolete in the marketplace by introduction of new products.
This is not true for the products that are currently being shed from American manufacturing, many of which are also in the high-tech manufacturing sector.
Toys from China have "chip's" in them. Fear not Willie, for we are the aggressor on terrorism now, and still are proponents of personal freedoms for everyone.
Another false assumption.
Nationwide, only 15% of the manufacturing workforce is represented by organized labor.
In comparison, over 40% of government workers are unionized.
(Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by occupation and industry)
If anything, it is the federal regulatory bureacracy that places competitive utilization of our own domestic resources at an economic disadvantage when compared to nations with lax restrictions.
Forgive me on my history knowledge Willie.
I don't have a vision that shows a difference in regard to this post and what has happened in the past, giving our current financial status with the rest of the world.
Enlighten me as to why we are all at peril NOW and won't overcome it as we have in the past.
Thanks for your intelligent and well-meaning inquiry.
According to the CIA's "Factbook," manufacturing as a percentage of GDP is dramatically higher than the USA's in a number of countries.
Ireland 48%, Austria 33%, Germany, Japan, Spain 31%, Sweden 29%, Australia, Canada, France 26%, India 25%, Belgium 24%, USA 18%, HongKong 13.5%.
Must be that all those other countries are composed largely of stupid, fat, lazy, buggywhip makers, eh?
Now it's our turn: why do you suppose that those other countries make it a national policy to maintain those numbers, and that China is doing anything possible to attain those numbers?
Hmmmmmmm????
Free enterprise to Willie is something that he feels, apparently, that should be laid to rest in behest of manufacturing jobs. However without free enterprise, those high paying manufacturing jobs would have never existed in the first place.
But everyone wants to sell everything in the States. It is not possible to sustain a huge trade deficit for long. Americans with low wages and declining dollar will not be able to afford foreign made goods.
After 31 posts, we have a winner!
EL, your insight is greatly appreciated. : )
What free traders propose is to punish domestic production by placing ALL taxes on it, while abolishing foreign import tax (tariffs).
Huh??
The stronger the tariff, the SMALLER the trade deficit will be, assuming you are in America.
I'm a little concerned about the 'Gummint intervention' proposals, too. OTOH, there's only ONE entity charged with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the USA--and that's the Gummint.
I agree with you that it would be a pleasant change.
Sounds like one o' them there paradigm shift thingees.
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