Labor Day
Posted by SCapozzola on August 29th, 2008
As millions of Americans head for the beach this Labor Day weekend, ManufactureThis thought it important to revisit a recent Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study that found the U.S. losing 2.3 million jobs to China since 2001.
Losing jobs to China is an unfortunate consequence of our mammoth, ongoing trade deficit with Beijing. Not everyone finds the situation troubling, though. Ohio’s Chamber of Commerce tried to spin Ohio’s 102,700 jobs lost to China since 2001 as a mere drop in the bucket compared to an alleged 25 million jobs lost in China over the last decade or so.
EPI’s Rob Scott fired back with a brief paper that rebuts the Chamber’s in accurate assessment of his report. ManufactureThis is happy to present Scott’s rebuttal, which is available here. It should make for relaxing reading as everyone heads off for a long weekend.
A happy safe labor day.
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August 30th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
It’s past time Americans woke up to the fact that foreign interests are controlling way too much in this country, from their imports to their positions on boards such as those mentioned in this article. But, as an average American, I can tell you that you guys really need to get out in the press and among the people. Labor and Manufacturing in this country needs to come together and bring more attention to the problem. And, you need to get into the media at every opportunity and explain that, “Yes, your child can go to college. But will there be a job when he/she graduates?”
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Labor Day. With so much blame to throw around this Labor Day, how about throwing some our way–your way, my way–for a change?
We could hardly be more self-destructive. Americans need to realize how powerfully we ordinary citizens influence the economy, how loudly we speak, every time we go to the cash register and cast yet another vote against ourselves, against “Made in USA.”
How much sympathy are we supposed to have for the union autoworker who made a good living in Detroit, then spent his money on a Datsun?
America’s wealth came from productivity: manufacturing. Manufacturing ultimately pays the bills. By choosing not to support American manufacturers, we’re choosing not to support our own country, our own communities, our own children. The trade deficit with China alone last year was $256 billion, and nobody held a gun to our heads–not yet, anyway, though the prospect of borrowing money from China to Cold War with Russia is more than unsettling.
Nowhere have I seen or heard our subject addressed more effectively than in “Dollar to the Giant,” a video currently on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUj8leZxmK8
This Labor Day, I resolved to wake up and be aware that all these China-manufactured “bargains” are really the most expensive consumer goods the world has ever seen.
It’s our choice. It’s been our choice all along. Please let’s admit at least this much.