A flap was raised with European countries over a "buy American" clause in the Stimulus Bill. Since that bill will become law, it is being revisited. Now, it actually appears that American workers may at least benefit from some American policies. As she should, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended that in Europe.
In Rome, Italy Pelosi told the Italian Parliament that the President is not Protectionist, and America is not becoming a Protectionist country. She addressed the concerns of European countries:
"Somewhere in the mix of things, someone has decided that America has become, is becoming, more protectionist. I don't think that is the case," Pelosi told reporters at the Italian parliament in Rome.
http://www.politico.com/...
However, in a break from recent history Pelosi defended the right of a government to actually care about the workers within its own borders:
"We're looking out for their interest as we look to grow the U.S. economy. I don't think that's protectionism. I think that's what any country would do for its workers," she said. "President Obama is not a protectionist president."
Now, I must give Ms. Pelosi some kudos here. It is about time a leader on the international stage came out and defended these fat, sassy and overpaid workers in this country. Yes, American workers are called all kinds of names when they actually try to stand up for maintaining and growing a middle-class in this country.
I would like to speak on "Protectionism" as someone who doesn't count himself as and expert on the subject. First, I look at the word. "Protectionist". Is this a word like "Liberal" and "Socialist" which is used to demonize a person who would seek a Progressive foundation for the direction of this country??
Then I think of the definition of the word. Since when has it become such a sin to protect something?? When that something is not worth protecting?? What if that something is the lives and livelihoods of the people a government was founded to lift out of the Dark Ages?? Is that worth protecting??
To protect your people from the bondage of serfdom, slavery or commoner status is not something that should be vilified anywhere. To protect the workers in American industry that demand fair wages as compared to profits, safe working conditions, and the same benefits as those who sit in their ivory towers is not an evil idea, it just so happens to be the premise that this country was founded upon. It is why millions flocked into the New World, including eventually my own Norman Irish forefathers.
America should stand in the world for the Enlightened treatment of workers everywhere. While America should not refuse to trade with anyone, America should trade on the guiding principle that all life, including those who work should be valued. Too long have the enlightened workers of this New World been forced to compete against those who would work as slaves, simply because they had no choice in their dark corner of the world.
Trade and Profit should be a good thing for all those involved. Everyone should gain from profits they helped produce and it should lift even the smallest of us at least out of poverty. If not, it is not Trade and Profit, and there is no need in protecting it. When people are working like slaves to make huge profits for other people, and live in hovels and barely having enough food to subsist, that system is not worth protecting.
If our country will just start once again to defend the sacred values it was founded upon we will protect that which is worth it, and refuse to support that which should have long passed from the earth. To me, those parts of the world that object to that should not expect to trade with America anyway.
See my latest musings on Mitch McConnell at Hillbilly Report.