(NYT) A Unified Voice Argues the Case for U.S. Manufacturing

[Omaha Steve]

Source: N Y TIMES

A Unified Voice Argues the Case for U.S. Manufacturing

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
Published: April 26, 2007

United States Steel, Alcoa, Goodyear and other manufacturing companies have formed an unusual alliance with the United Steelworkers, aiming to preserve and promote manufacturing in the United States.

One of the first issues that the group, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, plans to address is how American factory owners and workers have been hurt by what the group says is the Chinese government’s improper currency manipulation and industry subsidies.

The United States has lost one-sixth of its factory jobs over the last six years because of many factors, including automation, imports and relocation overseas in search of lower-cost labor and proximity to developing markets.

“The hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs is hurting America down to the local level,” said Terrence D. Straub, United States Steel’s senior vice president for public policy and government affairs. “Until and unless there is a political understanding of that — and political attention paid to that — our fear is much won’t change and in 10 years the American manufacturing base could be gone.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/business/26alliance.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[brentspeak]

1. This is the most important national economic issue of our time

[lvx35]

6. You are right

and I'm just now understanding how important this truly is. It has ramifications far beyond the normal trade deficit stuff into global warming and sustainable ways of living...In the future we will will not be able to rely on the energy necessary to carry these imports, the future is going to require we manufacture much more locally - and buying American is a great start.

[NYC]

2. Recommended.

Sounds good to me.

http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/07/0206/art1.html

The new group is more than a lobbying organization, according to those involved. It will be a think tank on American manufacturing, conducting its own research, contracting with the academic and economics community to do original research on the impact of trade on companies, workers and communities, and highlighting the importance of manufacturing in the economy. The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) will communicate the results of its research and advocate on behalf of manufacturing by building grass-roots efforts to impact policy and policymakers.

"Two organizations are at work here," explains Terry Straub, senior vice president of public policy and government affairs for U.S. Steel Corp. in Washington, D.C., and a member of the AAM's board. "We have merged management and the union on public policy. This might be unique in the United States. I don't see any other industry doing this. In the last several years, you have seen two parties that have historically been at odds with each other unite over public policy, legislation and politics."

Management and labor realize that "we're all in this together," Straub explains. "This has become an article of faith to engage these issues with the union at our side and us by their side because it dramatically expands our political reach and our political power."

[anotherdrew]

3. we can't control china, we can only control ourselves. so why give them Most-Favored-Nation status?

pulling it now would be insane, we're into them so deep it's going to be hard to change we'll need to balance our budget first and foremost before we even consider fucking with china trade.

[Gregorian]

4. I see only two ways to retain what manufacturing that is left.

We either pay more for goods, or earn less money manufacturing those goods.


The bottom line is, we have competition.

But transportation of goods is also a factor. If we are at peak oil, then shipping materials to China and having finished goods shipped back may become an impossibility.

But I see no alternative other than sacrifice. We've avoided it for a long time already.

[me b zola]

7. I'm willing to sacrifice the CEO's bloated salary

Any sacrifice in the business world in the past 20+ years has been made by the worker. CEO's saleries, OTH, have gone through the roof. Workers have sacrificed enough, now we are reduced to graveling for corps to allow us to work for them. Enough sacrifice already for the person struggling to provide for their family.

[salib]

8. Those are DLC talking points at best

"We either pay more for goods, or earn less money manufacturing those goods."
Only if there are no tariffs, only because there is a tax policy that encourages offshoring, only because those who have enough money to exploit anywhere (and find it easier to do so outside the US) have written all the trade, tax, G8, NAFTA, etc, policies/treaties and are setting the debate. Don't just parrot it!

The "bottom line is", we DO have competition. But it is not from those like us in the rest of the world. It is from those who wish us to be glorified (or not so glorified) "service workers" (read "slaves/servants") along with the rest of the "lessor people" who are much better off WITH ANYTHING. Get it straight! That is the competition. It has been for MUCH LONGER than the history of a liberal revolution in the U.S.

Yes, the alternative is "sacrifice." But it is not economic sacrifice to any degree to a LARGE MAJORITY of the U.S., let alone the rest of the world. It is "sacrifice" (read "prying it from their clutching greedy fingers") for those who OWN. OWN enough to be able to abandon the U.S. ship to Dubai (or whereever).

Again, Do not EVER forget it. It will ALWAYS be our fight.

[salib]

9. OK, so my wife pointed out that I was being arrogant and I was rambling

Let me be succinct. I truly believe that we are NOT in competition on any real level with the rest of the working world. There is SO MUCH to go around if we just make it even half-way close to honest, which we DO have the power to do if we were not deluded into thinking that we cannot.

Almost ALL of the wealth in the U.S. is so unequally distributed, it resembles the world to some extent. We need to act on the real adversaries. Unfortunately, they are the ones we often make into heroes, or at least the ones we want to be, be like, or admire.

[Gregorian]

10. I want to believe that.

And I am not a DLC'er. I'm not parroting anything. I am speaking what I believe to be common sense. And I am totally willing to be wrong. If anything I'm parroting the words my father spoke. A liberal man whose kindness I've never found in another person. Maybe in Vonnegut.

I think tariffs and taxes as just bandaids on the problem. That problem being inequality in the world. The world. Not just America. I don't fly a flag. You could say I'm not a true blooded American. I'm not. I am a citizen of this earth. And there's where I stray from this argument. And that seems to align with corporate thinking, unfortunately. I've run a corporation, and refused military contracts and refused to go overseas for my injection molding. So in practice, I am American. But that's me. For the remainder of those in business, it's all about the dollar. And that transcends borders. I guess it depends upon where one wants to draw lines. I'm very unhappy, and have been for a quarter century, that I see so many Made in China stickers. But it's not because it's made in China. It's because we were unwilling to make it here. We, being the bigwigs. I sound like I'm circular thinking. It depends on where one wants to put the responsibility. Ultimately the responsibility lies with the CONSUMER. The consumer is all of us. It's undeniable that the standard of living in America is extremely high. It's way out of line with the rest of the world. It's not a god given right. It's comfortable. And we want it. And almost no one else on this globe has it. Is that right? I don't think so. And since it's unsustainable that the entire world live like us, it's time to reevaluate. It's time to get real about it. We're living like kings here. This is not what most people want to hear. But it's what is happening now. Tariffs or not. This is why we're killing people in Iraq. It's not just for Bush. We are the ones in charge. The consumers. The one vote Diebold can't take away.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

5. Great news! Walmart and other huge importing companies have dominated US

trade policy way too long. The interests of exporting companies often are 180 degrees opposed to the interests of importing companies, and often are allied with those of organized workers.

It's too bad this development didn't occur BEFORE NAFTA was written and largely implemented.