[Speed Gibson,
Friday October 22, 2004 at 2:06pm]
Zip, Zero, Nada
El Rushbo is fond of the "zip, zero, nada" phrase, and I think it succintly describes the Commentary page (A23) in the today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. There were three articles, about moderates, the draft, and outsourcing - zip, zero, and nada, respectively.
I'll save John Gunyou's silly article "Who's a moderate? It's as easy as (a), (b), (c)" for my next post; it merits a full fisking.
"Trust that Bush won't bring back the draft? Bad idea" says Tom Maertens, who fancies himself a local terror expert. Judging by his web site, he's more of a cut and run expert, one who takes Richard Clarke seriously. Frank Gaffney he ain't. This article is just another Bush bash, of course, since only Democrats talk about bringing back the draft.
Finally, we have Patty Wetterling's "Repeal the laws that reward companies outsourcing jobs" article. It's too politically smooth to entirely her work, given this is her first campaign, and clearly in over her head. Don't forget that she bailed out of scheduled debates with her opponent, Rep. Mark Kennedy.
She starts a grim scenario of lost and soon-to-be-lost jobs that "could mean hardship for you and your family." Of course, the even greater number of jobs insourced don't count. But then the standard DFL boilerplate begins. Socially irresponsible corporations, "fair" trade not free trade, labor unions, the environment, federal spending cuts, unfair tax policy, they're all there. So's education, at the end, still underfunded I guess.
This is just stump speech material, not serious thought. If the differences in labor and other costs are dramatic, and the job can be moved, it often will be. The real question is whether some of the jobs go, or the whole company.
Remember those plant closing laws that required several months notice, severance, etc? It forced some struggling companies decide to fold prematurely, uncertain if sales would pick up in time. It also prevented new plants from opening by in effect adding these costs to the start of the project, increasing its risk and reducing that return on investment she claims to value.
Her proposed restraint of free trade will have similar effects.
I'll save John Gunyou's silly article "Who's a moderate? It's as easy as (a), (b), (c)" for my next post; it merits a full fisking.
"Trust that Bush won't bring back the draft? Bad idea" says Tom Maertens, who fancies himself a local terror expert. Judging by his web site, he's more of a cut and run expert, one who takes Richard Clarke seriously. Frank Gaffney he ain't. This article is just another Bush bash, of course, since only Democrats talk about bringing back the draft.
Finally, we have Patty Wetterling's "Repeal the laws that reward companies outsourcing jobs" article. It's too politically smooth to entirely her work, given this is her first campaign, and clearly in over her head. Don't forget that she bailed out of scheduled debates with her opponent, Rep. Mark Kennedy.
She starts a grim scenario of lost and soon-to-be-lost jobs that "could mean hardship for you and your family." Of course, the even greater number of jobs insourced don't count. But then the standard DFL boilerplate begins. Socially irresponsible corporations, "fair" trade not free trade, labor unions, the environment, federal spending cuts, unfair tax policy, they're all there. So's education, at the end, still underfunded I guess.
Finally, we must invest in a first-class education system that is affordable to working families. Investing in our human capital is the best way to make sure that we stay competitive in the global marketplace.
There is no free lunch; you cannot get a return without making an investment. We must invest in our industry, our entrepreneurs, and a good education system to train tomorrow's workers. We must create a global economy that works for our communities. It is the job of Congress to make sure that we create the conditions for jobs to grow in our economy.
This is just stump speech material, not serious thought. If the differences in labor and other costs are dramatic, and the job can be moved, it often will be. The real question is whether some of the jobs go, or the whole company.
Remember those plant closing laws that required several months notice, severance, etc? It forced some struggling companies decide to fold prematurely, uncertain if sales would pick up in time. It also prevented new plants from opening by in effect adding these costs to the start of the project, increasing its risk and reducing that return on investment she claims to value.
Her proposed restraint of free trade will have similar effects.