Your tax dollars at work in
China - novel idea pay taxes to send your job to China
by
Mike Crane
The Georgia State Senate under the direction of Senate Pro
Tem Eric Johnson (R - Savannah) has just voted overwhelmingly (51-1)
to spend your tax dollars to increase trade with China. Now while
that sounds great, but a look at the results of current economic
trade policies with China show a different story.
The Truth is that these economic policies have a devastating
effect on our economy, especially in two areas; 1) Trade Deficit and
2) Jobs. They are in fact not "Free Trade" as advertised, but are
another sad example of the main conflict that is occurring in our
government at the federal, State and local level. This is the
conflict between the interests of the citizens and the special
interests, primarily the large multi-national corporations.
This 51-1 vote gives a strong indication about which side of
this conflict your current elected officials support.
Now some will ask why placing a trade office in China is not a
good thing and that is a very fair question. It does sound good
doesn't it?
If we had FAIR Trade with foreign countries it would be a good
idea. But the facts are that we do not have FAIR Trade with most
foreign countries. What we have are Trade Policies that promote
"globalization." Globalization is promoted by special interests such
as the multi-national corporations to increase their power and
profits without regard for the short or long term impact on either
our country's economy or citizens.
Our economic policies promote globalization and the short term
impact is the continued relocation of productive facilities to
foreign countries. Hence the mushrooming trade deficit, for which
2005 was another record breaking year. Another result is a "soft"
economy. Yes, despite all the claims of economic growth, our economy
is very "soft" considering it is being pumped up by massive
infusions of debt in your name. With a trade deficit in excess of
$700,000,000,000.00, a budget deficit in excess of
$400,000,000,000.00, plus the excess FICA tax paid in of
$100,000,000,000.00 plus the "off-budget" war expense of close to
$100,000,000,000.00 we will accumulate well over
$1,300,000,000,000.00 of debt this year. That is over $4,333.00 per
man, woman and child in our country in just one year.
But back to China, as you are well aware when visiting many
stores, especially Wal-Mart, products made in China are multiplying
like rabbits. In fact your tax dollars are being used to improve our
ports so that they can be shipped into Georgia even faster and
cheaper. Up goes the trade deficit and down go the jobs. Not even a
Georgia State Senator, Republican or Democrat can find an empty
facility in Georgia that employs many people and facilities in China
do not employ many Georgians. But to listen to many elected
officials talk, empty facilities that have moved to foreign
countries are a good thing.
So just as the special interests decided for you what flag the
State will fly, special interests are letting you foot the bill to
expand your march into globalization. Just like the state flag - it
does not matter to them what you think about it!
Your Republican and Democratic State Senators have taken this
opportunity to jump on the campaign contribution bandwagon, perhaps
they have become just a bit too cozy with special interests and
perhaps your interests have become secondary.
There is nothing new about this conflict between special
interests and the citizens. It was a subject that prompted a
Southern man to write a document a couple hundred years ago. That
man was Thomas Jefferson, who would be very unwelcome in today's
Republican and Democratic parties. He recognized this very same
conflict:
"The issue
today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether
man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small
elite."
- Thomas Jefferson
Perhaps we need less Republicans and Democrats in the
State government, but that is up to you - the citizens. If you
want a change - you have to change something - it will not
happen just because you want it to. If you keep sending the same
folks back election after election - guess what - nothing
changes.
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Senate wants
more China trade
Budget fix will open office there
By JAMES
SALZER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/16/06
In a nod to China's economic boom, Georgia senators
approved a spending plan Wednesday that would open a trade
office in that country with hopes of scoring more Chinese
business.
The $250,000 for a new Georgia trade office in China was
included in the chamber's midyear budget, which passed the
Senate 52-1.
The adjusted spending plan for fiscal 2006, which ends June
30, adds $445 million to the state's current $17.4 billion
budget. More than a third of the extra money will go to help
pay for school enrollment increases.
Negotiators from the House and Senate will now begin trying
to iron out the relatively minor differences in each chamber's
version of the budget.
They will be taking a break this weekend, lawmakers said,
because several of the budget conferees are going to Florida
for the Daytona 500.
Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) visited
China last year and was impressed with the growth of the
country's economy. Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams
(R-Lyons) said Georgia's port facilities — the largest of
which are in Johnson's hometown — give it an advantage in the
state's attempt to attract international business.
Read Entire Article at:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0216mettrade.html |
Reference Article:
Failed Economic Policies Get Worse - Another $65,700,000,000 of debt
for December ...
|
