Day: June 24, 2008

New Path For US Trade

This is a new approach offered by Sen Brown and others.

WASHINGTON – United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today was joined by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME), Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-Lakewood), and other members of Congress at a Capitol Hill news conference to introduce the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment (TRADE) Act.

Endorsed by more than a dozen fair trade groups, the TRADE ACT is a first of its kind pro-trade bill that would revamp U.S. trade policy. The bill would mandate trade pact reviews, establish standards, protect workers in developing nations, and would help restore Congressional oversight of future trade agreements.

“The TRADE ACT will help Congress and the White House craft a trade agreement that benefits workers, business owners, and our country,” said Brown. “We want trade, and we want more of it. The TRADE Act is a critical first step on a new path for trade.”

Brown, who led the bipartisan House opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, was also joined by International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James Hoffa, Communication Workers of America President Larry Cohen, and fair trade advocates from faith-based, farm, and environmental groups.

“Trade done right means new jobs and new industry at home – and means lifting up workers in developing nations,” Brown said. “For too long our nation’s trade policy has exploited workers, betrayed middle class families, and destroyed communities. It is time for a trade policy that works for everyone, not just a few.”

The TRADE ACT would:
• Require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive review of existing trade agreements with an emphasis on economic results, enforcement and compliance, and an analysis of non-tariff provisions in trade agreements;
• Spell out standards for labor and environmental protections, food and product safety, national security exceptions, and remedies that must be included in new trade pacts;
• Set requirements with respect to public services, farm policy, investment, government procurement, and affordable medicines that have been incorporated in trade agreements;
• Require the president to submit renegotiation plans for current trade pacts prior to negotiating new agreements and prior to congressional consideration of pending agreements;
• Create a committee comprised of the chairs and ranking members of each committee whose jurisdiction is affected by trade agreements to review the president’s plan for renegotiations; and
• Restore Congressional oversight of trade agreements.

If any of my readers have an opinion on this “new” approach please feel free to comment.  I woulod like to hear what others have to say on this turn.  Personally, I see this as a small step forward, but in no way is it a solution to the problems facing the American worker.

McCain’s Media Free Ride

First, Michelle Obama made the statement the , “for the first time in her adult life, I am really proud of my country….” To begin with most media outlets and pundits leave out the words “adult” and “really”. Why? Without the words “adult”and “really” in the comment it seems to have a more ominous meaning. She is being misquoted and no one wants to correct the error. Why?

Now how about Mccain. It appears that he is getting a free ride on his comment in the past, “…I did not love America until I was deprived of her company……” Why is this not reported? Or how about a recent phone interview where he said, “……that it is tough at times to love the US……” (I paraphrase here).

Where is the pundit outcry over these statements, you know, something in the neighborhood of those aimed at Michelle Obama? There is none that I have seen or heard. Without equal coverage of this then I would think that McCain is getting a free ride from the media. You know the same thing that some are saying that Obama is getting.

Has the media signed on to the McCain campaign? Maybe not all, but most, that is.

Candidates And Autos

republican John MCCAIN

• Would launch a $300-million award for developing a battery for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

• Would provide a $5,000 tax credit to buyers of vehicles that emit no carbon or other pollutants, with smaller credits for other advanced vehicles.

• Would force automakers to expand the number of models that can burn E-85 fuel; speed up the timeline of Detroit automakers who have pledged that 50% of new vehicles by 2012 will be flex-fuel capable.

Democrat Barack OBAMA

• Would set up a $150-billion fund to develop new technologies, including plug-in hybrids.

• Would offer loan guarantees and tax credits for revamping plants to build more efficient models.

• Would set a target for automakers to average 50 miles per gallon by 2030.

You now have the major candidates positions on autos in a nutshell.  McCain’s ideas are to tax cut the way into a brighter future.  Not gonna work.  Has not worked in the past, will not work now.  Obama’s is similar tax cuts and massive government infusion of cash to bring the industry back.

Think about it!  The industry made billions upon billions for investors, but yet did not expand the capability for the approaching storm, which many economists predicted 10+ years ago.  Sorry, but they should be held accountable for their mismanagement, it should fall on their shoulders to bring the industry into the 21st century.  The taxpayers have done all they should to bail out industries suffering from extreme greed.

More Auto Jobs Loss

Ford Motor Co. has begun dismissing salaried workers as part of an effort to shed 15% of its salaried-related costs by Aug. 1 in the face of a toughening U.S. economy.

The struggling market has resulted in an 11.2% sales decline for the automaker, with a disproportionate amount of the decline, 14%, hitting the profitable truck lineup.

Ford spokesman Mark Truby confirmed Monday that the dismissals have spread to Ford’s regular white-collar workforce. However, the bulk of the dismissals are expected in the weeks ahead, as the Aug. 1 deadline approaches.

In an effort to reach its objectives, the automaker is also forgoing filling many open positions and cutting benefits, such as tuition and scholarship programs for employees.

Ford posted a $100-million profit in the first quarter of this year, but that small gain followed a $2.7-billion loss in 2007 and a record $12.6-billion loss in 2006.

The workers are paying for the mismanagement of a company by its leaders.  Ask yourself, how much will the top managers be losing in their packages?

McCain’s New Energy Proposal–Again

Mr. McCain, of Arizona, alienated some environmentalists last week during a speech in Houston when he dropped his opposition to allowing offshore drilling for oil; this week, in a swing through California, he spoke about trying to wean the nation from its dependence on oil. He called for improving the enforcement of fuel economy standards, building more cars that could run on alternative fuels, dropping the tariff on imports of sugar-based ethanol from Brazil and offering big tax credits for nonpolluting cars.

“I further propose we inspire the ingenuity and resolve of the American people,” Mr. McCain said, “by offering a $300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars.”

He said the winner should deliver power at 30 percent of current costs. “That’s one dollar, one dollar, for every man, woman and child in the U.S. — a small price to pay for helping to break the back of our oil dependency,” he said.

OK my question is will this be paid to anyone who comes up with the technology? If so, then I would guess the Japanese would win the cash. They are about 5 years ahead of the US in electrical technology.

Another question. Does McCain have advisers that actually read the news? This is just plain lame. Back in 1993, I believe, Clinton started a joint venture with the 3 major car makers to come up with a low energy vehicle that was not all that and now McCain has this epiphany on a auto battery deal.

Will someone, anyone, please tell these dorks that the consumer has caused this crisis and the consumer can end it. That should be the starting point of any policy and leave the lies and the pandering in the toilet where it belongs. But please a courtesy flush!

News Of The Absurd

Does anyone remember the Arabic speaking TV station started by the US?  It is called al Hurra.  I believe it was started in 2004 with the purpose of cutting through the BS and the hate of the region and give the listener the truth.

The station has not quite delivered on its promise.  As a matter of fact, it is airing anti-Israeli, anti-American programing; it also does pro-Iranian reports and has even aired a militant that has been calling for the death of an American prisoner.

But all that is not the absurd part, that is that the American taxpayer has paid $500 million for the operation of this TV station.  Now there is money well spent by your government.

Summit On The Oil Crisis

Over the last week, oil producing countries held a one day summit on the world’s oil crisis.  And their conclusion is that something must be done.  But as usual, that something is for another summit in the future.  The Saudis did agree to boost production by 200,000 barrels a day.  A great turn, that should do as little as their last decision.

OK the problems as we all know are the price of crude and the price of gas.  But yet, they think that they can sit down for one day and solve the problem that has been decades in the making.  A summit, a meeting, etc seems to be the mood to resolution that the world is using.  It gives the illusion that something is being attempted and all the while everything remains the same.

Sorry people, but YOU ARE the problem!  You have to make the decision to do something about the crisis.  But as usual, the consumer does not want to take responsibility for their actions.  You have created this problem and you are the cure.