And Bush wonders why we despise him and his cronies? I wonder where they plan to live once they leave the White House, if they ever leave?
We need to OUTSOURCE BUSH NOW!!
Encouraging Job Flight & Benefit Reductions
With millions out of work and U.S. wages stagnating, the Bush Administration has pushed economic policies that are making the situation worse. From touting offshore outsourcing, to encouraging companies to moving jobs to China, the White House has systematically put the interests of working families behind the interests of its largest corporate benefactors.
Encouraging Companies to Terminate U.S. Jobs and Leave America
WHITE HOUSE REPORT CELEBRATES LOSS OF U.S. JOBS TO OUTSOURCING:
Under the headline "Bush Supports Shift of U.S. Jobs Overseas" the LA Times reported that the Bush Administration "embraced foreign outsourcing, an accelerating trend that has contributed to U.S. job losses in recent years." The Administration made the announcement even as analysts predict "as many as 2 million U.S. white-collar jobs" will be exported at a time when millions are already out of work. When asked whether the White House's top economic advisor who touted outsourcing should resign, the Administration said the mere suggestion was "laughable."[Source: LA Times, 2/10/04; Reuters, 12/30/03; Hastert release, 2/11/04; CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight, 2/11/04]
ADMINISTRATION SPONSORS CONFERENCES TO HELP COMPANIES MOVE JOBS TO CHINA:
The Bush Commerce Department actively "sponsors" and "participates in conferences and workshops that encourage American companies to put operations and jobs in China." For one event at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria in New York, the "Commerce Department was described by the Chinese as a co-sponsor." [Source: NY Times, 12/11/03]
ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS NEW TAX BREAKS FOR COMPANIES MOVING OFFSHORE:
After the WTO prohibited a U.S. provision "shielding companies' overseas sales from taxes," the Administration's allies wrote a bill to "make up for the lost tax break by creating others." One of the new tax breaks would have "allowed $70 million in tax breaks for off-shore construction contracts" - a specific incentive to move jobs offshore. [Source: SF Chronicle, 10/31/03; New York Sun, 10/29/03]
ADMINISTRATION ALLOWS COMPANIES TO MOVE OFFSHORE TO AVOID TAXES:
While "President Bush says the Bermuda loophole" that allows companies to move their offices offshore to avoid U.S. taxes "should be closed, he has yet to support any of the bills that would do so." Meanwhile, when Congress passed a bill barring federal contracts from going to such companies, the White House did not support it and the bill died. Because of the loopholes, in 1998, "$155 billion in corporate income literally disappeared." The top Fortune 500 corporations (which include Halliburton) who benefit from the loophole have given Bush and his allies more than $5.2 million since 2000. [Sources: ABC, 7/12/02; AP, 7/31/02; Chrs. Sci Monitor, 5/22/02; Citizen Works; Center for Responsive Politics]
Rewarding Companies That Reduce Worker Protections/Benefits
WHITE HOUSE PROPOSES TO WEAKEN PENSION PROTECTION FOR WORKERS:
Despite a federal court ruling that controversial "cash balance" pension plans which reduce benefits were illegal, the Bush administration unveiled a proposal to "make it easier for companies that operate traditional pension plans to convert them to 'cash balance' plans." In 2003, the Administration similarly "proposed regulations that would help companies avoid the age-discrimination lawsuits" they face when they have forced workers into "cash balance" plans. [Source: AP, 12/11/02, Washington Post, 2/3/04]
ADMINISTRATION ALLOWS COMPANIES TO CUT OFF EIGHT MILLION WORKERS FROM OVERTIME:
The Bush Administration passed new rules that allow companies to shed 8 million workers from overtime protections. When Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) attempted to block the rule changes, he was steamrolled by the White House. When asked why the Administration would cut off so many workers, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said employers are spending $2 billion a year on "needless litigation" by workers trying to receive the pay they were promised. [Sources: CNN, 6/27/03; UPI, 1/21/04]
WHITE HOUSE GIVES TUTORIALS ON HOW COMPANIES CAN AVOID PAYING WORKERS OVERTIME:
In the face of stagnating wages, the Bush Labor Department began "suggesting ways employers can avoid paying overtime to some of the 1.3 million low-income workers who would become eligible this year" for overtime pay. The Administration gave "options for employers include cutting workers' hourly wages and adding the overtime to equal the original salary and making a 'payroll adjustment' that results 'in virtually no, or only a minimal increase in labor costs.'" [Source: AP, 1/5/04]
WHITE HOUSE REPEALS WORKPLACE SAFETY PROTECTIONS:
"President Bush signed his first bill carrying national impact yesterday, repealing workplace safety regulations." Speaking to female business leaders in the East Room, "Bush praised Congress for beginning 'a culture of accomplishment in Washington'" and claimed that "the safety and health of our nation's workforce is a priority for my administration." [Source: Washington Post, 3/21/01]
ADMINISTRATION GIVES TAX BREAKS ENCOURAGING COMPANIES TO CUT WORKER HEALTH CARE:
The Administration added "a little-noticed provision" to the new Medicare bill that allows companies to severely reduce - or almost completely terminate - their retirees' drug coverage "without losing out on a new [tax] subsidy." The major backers of the provision - Lucent Technologies, General Motors, Dow Chemical and SBC Communications - gave almost $140,000 in hard money and $2.5 million in soft money to Bush and his allies since 2000. [Source: WSJ, 1/8/04; Center for Responsive Politics]
The Link
A list of Companies who Outsource from CNN Outsourcing Companies
The Reminder of the results from above. Not that we need the reminder, but it sure explains that we are at Class War-(fare) time. But we won't have any money to fight with.
Throughout history, peoples have been overcome by trends and forces that they were unable to recognize. Could the United States be losing its economy to forces economists mistake for benevolent free trade?
Traditionally, free trade has required a country's workforce to compete indirectly against the workforces of other countries in the markets for traded goods and services. Fears in the post-WW II era that U.S. wages and living standards would be undermined by imports made with cheap foreign labor proved to be wrong. U.S. labor was better educated and worked with more and better capital and technology, which made American labor much more productive. Higher productivity protected U.S. wages and employment from cheap foreign labor.
The collapse of world socialism and the rise of globalism have made U.S. capital, technology and business know-how highly mobile. Today, it is as easy - and far less expensive - for a U.S. firm to produce abroad for U.S. markets. Instead of locating its capital and technology in Ohio, California or South Carolina, the company locates its facility in China, for example.
By locating in China, the firm substitutes a workforce that is paid less than a dollar an hour for U.S. labor that costs $26 an hour. By locating in China, the firm also avoids expensive regulations, torts, employment taxes and discrimination lawsuits.
The mobility of capital and technology means that American labor now faces direct competition in global labor markets. This is a new development.
A Chinese person working with U.S. capital and technology is just as productive as an American. The Chinese worker can be hired for much less, because living standards and the cost of living are far lower in China.
The huge labor surplus in countries such as China and India means that wages are not likely to rise very rapidly in those countries. U.S. firms that substitute Chinese and Indian labor for U.S. employees are building in lower labor costs for years to come.
Eventually, as China and India become fully employed first world economies, wages will be bid up and labor will be paid according to its productivity. By then the U.S. might be a third world country.
A bit more:
The loss of high productivity jobs takes away the ladders of upward mobility and wipes out human capital. A displaced U.S. software engineer cannot move to China or India to seek employment in his profession.
Retraining is not an answer, because almost the entire range of knowledge jobs can be outsourced. The Internet permits U.S. employers to hire people in India, China and the Philippines as stock analysts, accountants, researchers, designers, engineers, radiologists - any occupation that doesn't require a hands-on, face-to-face, local presence.
Economists assume that the substitution of foreign labor for U.S. labor is the benevolent workings of free trade. But what is being traded when U.S. employers move jobs out of the country? Many of our imports are products made for American markets by U.S. firms.
U.S. corporations have made a strategic decision to move jobs abroad. What corporations will employ the displaced U.S. employees?
The Complete Article
So, that leaves us with....absolutely NOTHING!!
And my next curiosity question, If all these jobs are going overseas, why is Bush pushing for easier Immigration laws? This contradiction concerns me. Anyone know the answer to this?
Some Obvious Immigration Contradictions that should concern us.
Fact Sheet: Fair and Secure Immigration Reform
Serve America's Economy by Matching a Willing Worker with a Willing Employer:
When no American worker is available and willing to take a job, the program should provide a labor supply for American employers. It should do so in a way that is clear, streamlined, and efficient so people can find jobs and employers can find workers in a timely manner.
American Workers Come First:
Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending job offers to foreign workers.
Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws:
Enforcement against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers will increase.
Economic Incentives to Return Home: The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries.
Benefits to America of the Temporary Worker Program
A more prosperous economy -- for America. The program would allow workers to find jobs and employers to find workers, quickly and simply.
A more secure homeland -- to improve the efficiency and management of all people who cross our borders. It is in the interest of the Nation, and each community, to identify foreign visitors and immigrants and make clear the nature of their intentions.
A more compassionate system -- to protect all workers in America with labor laws, the right to change jobs, fair wages, and a healthy work environment.
Full Fact Sheet