IN SURVIVAL MODE WHAT WORKS, GLOBALIZATION OR PROTECTIONISM?
It appears the only nations who think globalization will get us out of this economic mess are the United States, Great Britain and a few other nutty countries like New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands. China, India and Japan are the most protectionist industrial nations on earth, and are even becoming more so as the world digs itself into a deeper hole. The leaderships of the “do-gooder” countries I have listed quite frankly care less about their own than and more about political correctness and sucking up to nations who have little respect for the rest of the world but themselves. Japan has practiced the art of dumping their exports with the local market in many instances subsidizing the consequent losses for decades and all the while making it impossible for countries to export manufactured goods to them. China keeps its currency artificially low with all sorts of other barriers to ensure it is all but impossible to ship anything to them. India is not too dissimilar.
I have never been a fan of the Chamber of Commerce because this is one organization that has undermined the American for longer than I care to remember. It was interesting to read just recently they are going to take up the cause of American manufacturers who have been hit by the closed doors of the Beijing government. My father, who was a left wing (Labor Party) Member of Parliament in N.Z. in the fifties and sixties, always referred to the Chamber of Commerce as the “Chamber of Horrors”, and horrors they all were. They represented the selfish and greedy bastards of society then and fifty odd years later by and large this is still the case. The U.S. outfit from day one has been a fervent promoter of NAFTA which in reality for America started the demise of much home-based manufacturing. Until the about face this week, China in the Chamber’s eyes could achieve no wrong and America do nothing right. For me to see this 180 degree turn is literally unbelievable. It will be interesting how successful the United States will be in tackling the thorny trade issues, but quite frankly I hold out little hope. Why? India and particularly China are our enemies, not only in the trade war, but also politically, culturally and economically. Along with Russia they are resting their hopes upon the imminent demise of the United States as a world power and our engine that drives the world.
Last year when oil hit $150/barrel, I decided to look into solar energy for my home. I contacted three firms and each submitted a quotation. Even though I chose the company with the highest quote the decision was based upon another factor. The successful bidder’s representative could actually speak good English and had some technical understanding. The other two, given the benefit of the doubt, if I could have understood their accents, did more to confuse me than answer the technical questions. I came to the conclusion they were more like snake oil salesmen than men with genuine product knowledge of the installation of solar power. In fact they are still hounding me to this very day with I think is better pricing offers. When the successful installer arrived to sign me up, I had only one further question; “Are the panels American-made?” He quickly responded in the negative telling me the three manufacturers his company represented all made their stuff in China. I was aghast at what I firmly believed one industry that the advanced technology and manufacturing would be all American. I subsequently canceled the order. To my benefit shortly afterwards the price of oil started collapsing thus negating the need to make the investment.
The reason for this little story is one of the big deals in the stimulus plan is placing solar panels throughout America on the roofs of government buildings and here is where I see the kicker in just about every project the Obama administration has given the green light to. I bet you “dollars to donuts” not one solar panel will come from an American manufacturing facility and the wherever possible the labor installation pool will come from two sources; illegals or temporary workers from the very generous Bush plan. What benefit will that be to the American taxpayer and those Americans currently out of work? I see just about every dollar of the stimulus plan benefitting everyone else but genuine Americans. President Obama, get a clue here, man. The sooner we act in isolating ourselves and protecting ourselves form those predators and outsiders who have no interest other than to see the fabric of America destroyed, the better. I say once our house is in order and the devastated cities of the country and its inhabitants are restored to good health, then may we look at some philanthropy, but until then my words to China, Russia and India in particular are; “Until you start acting with integrity and begin to level the playing field for America, you can all go to hell!”
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