18 posts tagged “politics”

American JOBS- The Solution

First, I would like to thank all of the men and women who serve in our military.

Without you, I would NOT be FREE to write this stuff.

Thank you for your service..!!

American JOBS part 3- “The Solution” (Dream, the impossible Dream)

This is part three of a series of editorials on American JOBS. In the last two editorials, we talked about “what went wrong” and WHY we need to return jobs to America.

THE PROBLEM

America has become a country that doesn’t MAKE anything, anymore.

We service things, and we sell things.

But very few products are actually made here in America.

As a result, many Americans are “underemployed”, and 10% of the American workforce is unemployed. They have no job.

In just a few years, because of republican AND democrat party leadership, we have dropped from 5 % unemployment, to 10% unemployment.

If this trend is allowed to continue and the unemployment rate doubles again; we will be closing in on the 29% unemployment rate of The Great Depression.

It MUST stop now.

Democrats and Republicans are fighting over “words on paper.”

2,000 pages of words on paper, called: “Health Care Reform Act.”

Health Care might be important to some.

Education is at the top of the list for others.

But American JOBS and the economy should be important to all.

I do not claim to have the answers, I only have a single solution.

You may agree or disagree with my solution. However, we should agree that the economy and jobs should be the number one priority for every politician in Washington.

For, without a solid workforce, without a strong economy, there will be no tax money for education, or health care, or newly paved roads.

American JOBS- The solution

To come to this solution that I have, I had to drop a couple of “beliefs” that I held dear.

It wasn’t easy.

(Belief One) Religious-

“..If you give a man a fish, that is very noble, he can eat. However, you will have to give this man a fish tomorrow.

If you teach a man to fish, he can feed himself..”

In essence, that is what we did. We taught the “third world” how to fish.

Ever since I was a child, I remember hearing about the starving people in Asia, Mexico, Africa, and the likes. America has sent billions of dollars in foreign aid to starving nations, only to have to send more the next year.

By allowing our manufacturing to head overseas, we gave the third world a “fishing pole” so they can feed themselves.

However, with our current economic situation and lack of good paying jobs, there should be a third line in that old parable. A line that reads:

“..If the man that you taught to fish begins fishing IN YOUR POND and takes all of your fish, causing you to go hungry. It is time to kick that man in the ass..”

(OK, my “third line” of that parable may not fit into most religious text. But the point is made.)

Yes, God wants us to help the poor.

But God doesn’t want us to be stupid and hungry.

There are many ways to help the poor. But we cannot help anyone, if WE are poor and hungry.

(Belief Two) Strict Conservatism

“..The government cannot interfere in the ‘free Market’. What about the constitution? Every time that the government messes with capitalism, they screw the whole thing up..”

This is a tough one. You hear it on every conservative show. All of the “talk stars” subscribe to the notion that “you cannot mess with free enterprise.”

This idea is simply not true. The free market in America has NEVER been “truly” FREE, and has been “screwed with” by the government, ever since the founding fathers. Sometimes it works very well. Sometimes, it doesn’t work at all.

I can only give a couple of examples of what I am talking about here, and we have to move on:

In 1904, a Socialist named Upton Sinclair was paid $500 bucks to write a fiction series for a newspaper about American workers. Sinclair focused on slaughter houses and the Meat Packing industry in Chicago. In the 1900’s, people were dying from tainted meat. The meat packing industry in America was sickening.

The meat packing plants were unsanitary. Meat was left out in the open for too long, and people were dying.

The goal of Sinclair was to show Americans that capitalism didn’t work, and socialism could protect you.

Sinclair’s work, later packaged as a book called: “The Jungle”, was mostly fiction. (It was never proved that someone actually fell into a meat grinder and was sold for food.) However, Sinclair’s book had just enough truth in it, that it become popular.

The goal of the socialist movement and Sinclair’s idea failed with the American public. Instead of adopting socialism, our government created the “Food and Drug Administration”, which began inspections into America’s food industry.

No one reading this can deny that WE MUST have an independent government agency to watch over our food and drugs. If left unchecked, private business could become “The Jungle”, that Sinclair penned, long time ago.

The second example I wanted to give, before we move on, is based on Thomas Edison.

Back when America was “getting wired” for electricity, Mr. Edison was NOT going to run power lines out to rural areas and farmers.

I will paraphrase what Edison said:

“..I’m not spending hundreds of dollars to run power lines and telephone poles out to some farmer, so I can get a couple of bucks back selling electricity..??”

Power companies were not going to run power lines out to the rural areas.

It took the government to create the REA, which ran power lines, and then bought electricity from existing companies to sell to the farmers.

FACT: There are 6 billion people in the world today, only half of the world’s population has electricity, even today.

The government CAN do some things very well. They can also screw things up.

Unfortunately, we will need the government’s help to return JOBS back to America.

Here is what we CANNOT do

When trying to figure out what we need to do to return jobs back to America, it helps to rule out what we cannot do.

Lower payroll

We cannot ask American workers to work for the same pay as their Mexican and Chinese counterparts. Rule that one out.

Ending OSHA and the EPA.

We all want clean water, fresh air, and safe jobs. So, there is not much that we can do here.

We can pull back on some of the outrageous EPA rules: “the Delta Smelt” cutting off the water supply to California farmers, EPA restrictions on wood burning heaters (our only TRUE renewable source heater), etc.

A “Buy American” campaign

Back in the 1970’s and 80’s, you could have a successful “buy American” campaign because you could still find American TV’s, clothes, and such, to choose from.

Today, you will not find an American made TV sitting on a shelf next to a Japanese made TV. You are not going to find an American made shirt sitting next to a shirt made in India. Even if you wanted to “buy American”, you could not. It has gotten that bad.

The above was a list of things that we cannot do. Let’s move on to:

American JOBS- The Solution

Taxation.

That’s the solution.

(Really, it’s the only thing that we can do to bring back jobs to America.)

Today; American made products are taxed higher than foreign made product ONLY because the government can tax American made products- more.

In America, we can tax a product many times during the manufacturing process and the distribution. Then we can tax that product again during the sale of it, to you.

A foreign made product is taxed when it comes into the country, and again on the resale to you.

(That’s a bit simplified, but you get my drift.)

When you add taxation, and high labor costs, with EPA laws, and OSHA concerns, it is amazing that anything is still “Made in America.”

I propose the removal of ALL taxes on American made products.

All Federal, State, and Local taxes will be removed from any product that is “truly” Made in America.

To compensate for the loss of revenue to the government, an import tax (tariff) shall be placed, therein, or raised, if applies.

Now, I am not an economist. So, I cannot tell you how high the import tax would be. A really good “bean counter” would have to go over the federal budget and figure out “how high” to raise this import tax. (And, I’m sure that this economist would tell me that it is impossible to remove ALL taxes from American made products.)

A very low domestic tax, coupled with a higher import tax, should level the playing field.

The downside: No company is going to move to America “the minute” that this new tax policy is implemented. Companies would wait a year or so to see if we are serious about it.

Which means, the cost of buying goods will be very high, for all of us.

The upside: We grow “most” of our own food. So food cost shouldn’t be effected. We use American lumber to build houses, so housing shouldn’t be effected. We may have to make an exception for heating oil and gasolene.

The downside: China will be pissed off at us..!!

If we were to do this, we would piss off most of the world. We would be breaking trade policies, and we would be kicked out of the “One World Order” club.

The upside: We would be kicked out of the “One World Order” club.

Hey, what’s China going to do? Kick our ass..??

These foreign countries already know that America’s foreign trade laws are screwed up. They laugh at us.

The ratio:

For every (1) children’s toy that is made in America and shipped to China. China makes 1,000 different toys that are shipped back here.

For every (1) GM car that is sold in Japan, Japan sells 400 cars to America.

Folks, these people are laughing at us. And they are getting rich. And we are losing work.

I believe that after a year or two, when companies see that we are serious with this new tax system, they will be moving to America, and hiring American workers.

The timing is right

Many American companies moved to foreign lands in the 70’s and 80’s. Which means that their buildings are going on 30 or 40 years old. They may be thinking about expanding or re-tooling their factories. If we catch them in time, why not build here in America? Get a BIG tax break. Instead of putting a new plant in India or Malaysia..??

We really are not talking about something that is “that” radical. We do this all the time, between the states. One county will offer Wal-Mart a 5 year tax break if they build their new Wal-Mart here, instead of another county, somewhere else.

The State of Pennsylvania will offer a Hollywood movie company BIG incentives to film a movie here, instead of some other state. (Which means another “killer zombie” movie will be made near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania; “Night of the living dead”, “Dawn of the dead”, etc.)

So, this tax plan is not really radical.

Some products are partially made in America. Parts for this product are made somewhere else and shipped here to be assembled. “That’s not good enough.”

I suggest a “Pride in America” label.

This label, (dressed up with a pretty flag) will tell consumers “how much of the product is actually Made in America.”

If 50% of the product is actually made in America, then they get a 50% reduction in tax. This would place an incentive to make MORE of their product here.

Take a car, for example: it would be impossible to make 100% of a car here, right now.

However, let’s say that TODAY: 60% of a Chevy is made in America. You can bet that Honda will advertise 70% of their car is made in America. (And they will display it WITH PRIDE on the “Pride in America” label.) This will cause Ford to relocate a factory from Mexico, up to Detroit, or Cleveland, and advertise 75% “Made in America.” And so on.

I have racked my brains for this editorial, and this series of posts on American JOBS. I wanted to provide solutions, not just talk about it.

We do not want to lower our wages. We do not want to pollute the earth. Our only choice to bring back American JOBS is through taxation.

I truly believe that if we remove ALL taxes from American Made products, and raise taxes on foreign products to compensate for lost government revenue, we can entice manufacturing back into America.

We CAN provide Americans with JOBS.

This concludes the third editorial on American JOBS. I am placing links below, incase you missed the first two editorials.

The forth editorial in this series is really special.

For those of you who still believe that the American government CANNOT interfere with the free market…

Well, we are going to learn exactly what the founding father did, when faced with a similar situation, as we have today.

Also in the next editorial, we will talk about how to implement this new tax policy. (How to get congress on board.)

But, that will be our next editorial. Due out in a week or two.

American JOBS part 1- (What went wrong)

American JOBS part 2- Safety First

American JOBS part 3- The Solution

(You just read that one)

American JOBS part 4- Franklin, Adams, tell us what to do?

(Due out, in about 2 weeks)

Written by AR Babonie for The Angry Republic

Thanks for reading

The Angry Republic

American Jobs- Safety First

(What’s in my chicken..??)

For years, many of us have worried about the job situation in America. It was difficult to bring the issue to the forefront when the unemployment figures hovered around 5%.

5% unemployment is about the best that you can do, right..??

It’s hard to “cry wolf” when most people are employed, and no one wants to listen.

“..What about the under employed? People working less than 40 hours a week, or those making much less than their skills..??”

These cries were not heard.

Today, the unemployment figures are closing in on 10%. In some cities, the unemployment rate is around 13% and for American youths, the rate is 25% unemployed.

1 out of 4 young Americans are out of work.

If the unemployment rate can double from 5% to 10% in a little over a year, it could double again next year, if we do nothing to stop it.

20% unemployment is unacceptable, and we cannot let it slip to that level. Hell, the Great Depression saw unemployment at 29%.

The time to act is now.

Republicans are clearly stuck somewhere between “liberal lite” and conservatism. Many republican politicians seem to think that they can “talk tough” on Fox News about how “conservative” they are. Yet, they head off and endorse a socialistic compromise in congress.

Democrats are stuck in campaign mode. They haven’t stopped campaigning since the election.

The “cure- all” for the democratic party is health care. Health care: that will not take place for 3 years, (which could be too late.)

If you press the democratic party on the economy and American Jobs, their answer is to use taxpayer’s money on “stimulus jobs.”

“Stimulus jobs”.

I saw some “stimulus jobs.”

They came through my town and fixed all of our cities sidewalks and curbs. There was about 100 people fixing curbs.

The sidewalks and curbs are all fixed now. What will these people do next year..??

Maybe next year, we could take MORE tax money and have these “stimulus people” trim bushes and pick up trash..??

This is a band-aid on a broken arm. It looks like we did something because there is a cute little band-aid on there, but the arm is still broken.

We need permanent JOBS. Not a temporary fix.

American Jobs- Safety First

In my last editorial on American Jobs, I talked about a system that has broken down which would allow a “chicken” to be raised in China, butchered, placed on a ship; to sail across the ocean, to then be sold in American stores. AND IT WILL BE CHEAPER than raising the chicken here, in America.

The system is clearly broken, and we have known that for years. Yet, we cannot get the republicans and democrats to do ANYTHING about it.

We the people, are going to have to do it ourselves.

Before we get into the solution, I wanted to talk about safety.

How “safe” is it to rely on other countries for FOOD..??

Currently, we buy fruits and vegetables from Mexico because the labor is cheap, and they have a longer growing period then we do.

We also buy “farm raised” fish from China. Why..?? Because the labor is cheaper and the cost is low because some of these Chinese farms feed the fish a collection of “stuff” that I do not even want to list here. (I will NOT eat this fish.) However, the fish meat from China passes the US- FDA because the meat shows up as being: acceptable.

Soon we will be eating chicken that was raised in China.

You will never know that you are eating this “Chinese Chicken” because the restaurant is not going to list on the menu where it came from. When you buy chicken in the grocery store, the package is not going to say: “Raised in China.”

You will never know.

We know the facts: Baby toys that contained lead in the paint. Poison pajamas that caused people to have allergic reactions. Canned soup that contained e- coli. Babies milk that was contaminated. All products from China.

It is one thing to import a DVD player, however…

Importing food..??

America has some of the most fertile land that the world has ever seen..!! Why are we importing FOOD..??

Food safety is a major concern.

However, there is a deeper, more dangerous concern, as well:

When talking about national security; how “safe” is it to rely on other countries FOR FOOD..??

At any time, China, Russia, and the Arab world could boycott America; for any reason. They could STOP products from coming to America.

If we import 60% of our oil, most of our manufactured goods, and now FOOD…

A boycott against America would bring this country to a standstill.

Sure, the Europeans would help us. Canada and Mexico would too. But if China held back manufactured goods and food, if the Arab world held back oil, and Russia provided the “muscle” to enforce this boycott; which one of our friends would cross this “blockade” to help us..??

Safety is a major concern when talking about American Jobs, and that is why I wanted to use one editorial talking about safety.

What is the “safest” product that you have ever owned..??

It is the product that you made, yourself.

Because you were there when it was formed from steal and wood. You watched as it was shaped and molded and transformed into a viable product. You know its weakness, and strength. You know, because you were there.

American Jobs are very important to put people back to work. But you cannot discount safety.

Facts are stubborn things..!!

It is much easier to inspect a factory in America, then it is to inspect a factory in China.

In China, we must get an OK from the Chinese government, which could take days, maybe weeks. By then, the factor will be “cleaned up.”

In America, the only thing that we have to do is get proper documentation from the FDA and a judge, and we can inspect that factory on the same day. We can catch them in the act of doing (whatever it was that they were doing.)

This pretty much concludes this editorial on American Jobs- Safety First. If you folks have anything that I forgot, please comment below.

In my last editorial on American Jobs, I forgot to list “taxes” as playing a major roll in “what went wrong” with American employment. Nobullthinker pointed that out, and I hope that you will add comments on this editorial, as well.

It is real tempting to just roll right into the solution for American Jobs. But I am trying to put together a web site that is fun, entertaining, and interesting; so I am holding “the solution” back, for the NEXT editorial on American Jobs. (Besides, you folks who are reading this are very wise. You already know the solution.)

As I have said before, my site takes a look at current news and politics, and we talk about it with humor (and a tad bit of anger.) However, we also pick a topic each year and focus on that topic.

One year, we focused on “radical Islam.” Last year, because of his idealism, we focused on stopping Barack Obama from becoming president. (Which didn’t work out so good.)

This year, we are focusing on American Jobs.

The editorials that we have lined up are:

American Jobs part 1- What went wrong

LINK- American Jobs part 1

and...

American Jobs part 2- Safety First

(You just read that one.)

and...

American Jobs part 3- The Solution

(Due out in about a week.)

And…

American Jobs part 4- “Franklin, Adams, tell us what to do..??”

Written by AR Babonie for The Angry Republic

Coming soon

To The Angry Republic

Are you a republican..??

Are you lost and confused..??

Are you thirsty..??

Why not try some GOLD water..!!

It’s refreshing, and it no longer smells like goat piss.

“..When you have lost your way, it helps to review where you have been..”

A special editorial, coming soon to this site..!!

Thanks for reading

The Angry Republic

Fairness in Talk Radio

Every so often, the topic of a “fairness doctrine” surfaces, and I feel a need to talk about it because I have a different take on the situation.

CNN has a running series on the topic of “localism”, (which we have talked about before on my web site) and it brings this topic to the forefront again.

Here is the premise:

Democrats would like to break up a conservative “strong- hold” in AM talk radio.

However, no democrat (including President Obama) wants to be the one to get in front of a national audience and PUSH for a “free speech” killing bill in congress.

So, up pops the ugly idea of “localism.”

LOCALISM- using local markets to push an agenda. Not using the national markets or create a federal bill.

Which means..??

Community Organizers (aaahh, ohhh) would rally and petition to change the programming at your local radio station.

This would be done across the country, city by city.

This is, really, the “back door” method in resurrecting the fairness doctrine.

How does it work..??

Say that your local AM radio station’s programming consists of this:

9am to noon- Glenn Beck

Noon to 3pm- Rush Limbaugh

3pm to 6pm- Sean Hannity

6pm to (8 or 9pm)- Mark Levin

(I am just giving a few examples, there are dozens of “Talkers” out there.)

OK, local groups of (liberals) would organize and protest this radio station to add “fair” programming that is more “neutral.”

(The key wording here is “fair” and “neutral.”)

(Free) Radio Stations MUST carry an FCC licence. Within that licence, is a clause that they MUST be fair, in dealing with politics. If they give an hour of air-time to a democratic politician, then they MUST offer an hour of air-time to a republican.

Sorry, folks. But that is the way it is.

Many people believe that when President Reagan dropped the fairness doctrine, this stopped the practice of “fairness” in broadcast. And it did on a nation level. However, on a local level, “public airwaves” (free radio) still MUST abide by this policy, or risk losing their FCC licence, if people complain.

This is where liberals have us. On a local level.

No one could EVER say that presenting 12 hours of conservative talk radio is being “neutral.” Even Rush Limbaugh would slap you in the face if you ever called him a “neutral moderate.”

This is the strategy. This is the plan.

There will be no big announcement about it. Localism will just happen. (Because it is “grassroots.”)

You will hop into your car one day, turn on the radio, and Glenn Beck will be gone. You will check the radio dial to see if you have the wrong station. But Beck will be gone. In place of Glenn Beck, will be some local DJ taking calls on a proposed raise in garbage collection.

That’s how it will happen, folks.

One of your beloved conservative talkers will be GONE.

(OK, maybe I did put a little too much drama in there, sorry.)

I want us to do a little experiment right now. Everyone, pull out your AM radios.

What I want you to do is a slow scan of the AM radio dial in your area. Start at the bottom of the AM dial, and scan to the top. Count how many AM stations are in your area.

(OK, so you don’t want to play along, I get it.) I will tell you what you will find: If you are in a big market (big city), you might have 4 or 5 AM stations to choose from. If you are in a small market, you might have 1 or 2 AM stations.

On those AM stations will be a mix of politics, sports, financial, religious, and old music.

There is plenty of room on the AM dial for NEW political radio stations. Even in a big market.

Let’s move into the hypothetical realm for a moment:

Liberal “localism” comes to your town, and they protest your local AM Radio station that is playing 12 hours of conservative talk. If the station is FORCED by the FCC, (or they give in on their own) to the demands of “localism,” they would probably try and hold onto a 6 hour block of conservative talk. (IE- Keep Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh back to back. OR- Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity back to back.) Then, the stations would offer an alterative show(s) in the mix.

Many liberals do not understand what they are fighting for.

I believe that many liberals have a misunderstanding and are ready to pump their fists into the air and proclaim: “..Yea, we will get Limbaugh off the air and get Randi Rhodes on..”

That’s NOT the way it goes.

Localism doesn’t allow you to pick which shows get aired. It only allows you to “protest for fairness.”

Actually, I see very few stations dropping Rush Limbaugh. The fatalities would probably be Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and the dozens of other talkers in the market. (But, that is not necessarily true. And I will explain later..!!)

OK, lets say that our local AM station chooses Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh for 6 hours, back to back- live. (Sorry, Hannity fans, I am just picking an example, here.)

Our local AM station DOES NOT HAVE TO put on a “liberal talk show” in place of Sean Hannity. The only thing that they HAVE to do is offer an alternative that gives the community a voice.

A local DJ- (host), who calls himself: independent, can take calls from your community, on any topic that the community feels is important, would satisfy the FCC’s “fairness.”

Many liberals think that if talk radio drops Hannity or Beck, they must put in someone like: Bill Press, or Ed Shultz, or Randi Rhodes.

Not true..!!

A local DJ- host would work out fine.

(Sorry, liberals. But “localism” may not guaranty that liberal talk is brought to the airwaves.)

Remember when I talked about ” the fatalities might be Beck and Hannity.” Then I said: “that may not necessarily be true..” OK, here is where we get to that part:

Lets say that I am an investor. Lets say that I have wanted to open a talk radio station, BUT, my competition; the “Big Talker AM” has Beck, Rush, Hannity, and Levin.

There is no way that I can compete against that.

If I tried to offer “liberal talk”, it fails every time that it is tried. So, that is no good.

There is no way to start a new political AM station, as long as “Big Talker AM” has Beck, Rush, Hannity, and Levin.

But…

If Liberals push “localism”, and force “Big Talker AM” to drop Hannity and Levin from it’s line up, this is my opportunity to start that new station.

I could start that new AM station with Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. I could play Laura Ingram while “Big Talker AM” is playing Glenn Beck. And I could place a local host on the radio, while “Big Talker AM” is playing Rush.

Folks, this would benefit Talk Radio.

Jobs-

Two political AM radio stations in you community would provide twice the jobs in radio. (Sales, accounting, programming, on-air talent, etc.)

Alternatives-

Hey, I like football. But some people do not. Rush Limbaugh could talk for a half hour on football. You would now have another station to choose from, if Rush was dealing with something that you do not find interesting.

Talent, in general-

How DID Rush Limbaugh get his start..??

How did Glenn Beck get his start..??

Both started in local markets, (one station) and they grew an audience, which led them to syndication, across the country.

Today, with many AM stations playing Beck, followed by Rush, followed by Hannity, followed by Levin…

THERE IS NO ROOM for local talent to get started.

There is no room for a future “Glenn Beck” to get noticed.

Satellite Radio offers an alternative today, but you have to pay money for it.

There is a great amount of entertainment out there, and you do not hear it, because there isn’t enough hours in the day.

There is a great show called “Brian and The Judge”, and you are not going to hear it, because there is no room on the air.

Mike Church puts out a fine radio show. Not enough people get to hear it.

Neal Boortz does a great show. You probably never get to hear it because your station plays: Beck, Rush, Hannity, Levin.

I even listen to Bill Press and Stephanie Miller, who do liberal talk shows. You will never get hear them, because your station plays Beck, Rush, Hannity, and Levin.

Hell, former presidential candidate Fred Thompson does a radio show, and it is funny. You will never hear it because your station plays Beck, Rush, Hannity and Levin.

There is a lot of great talkers out there, and you never get to hear them. Because there isn’t enough hours in the day for ONE station to play them.

But if there were 2 stations, or 3 stations in your area, then we could hear all of the BIG talkers.

I find it very ironic that something the liberals are trying to do: use “localism” to break up conservative talk radio, could actually HELP conservative talk radio in the long run.

Folks, when you hear about the “fairness doctrine” or localism, don’t panic. It could actually benefit talk radio.

Localism: “..Bring it on..!!”

Written by AR Babonie for The Angry Republic

CASE IN POINT

Maybe you do not believe what I am saying, with the editorial above? Am I talking out of my ass..??

I have a GREAT “case in point” to prove my editorial.

The Market: Youngstown, Ohio.

The BIG TALKER: AM 570 WKBN

(Because of a programming decision made by the station manager, they help prove what I am saying.)

Years and years ago, 570 WKBN decided to only provide Rush Limbaugh. They use local talent to fill in the time slots before and after Rush. In doing so, they have cultivated some great local talent.

BUT…

Because 570 WKBN was NOT providing Hannity and Levin, they left the door open for another AM station to open.

Which is exactly what took place. AM 1330, Youngstown; began providing Hannity, Levin, and others to that market.

Because of this, Youngstown has two channels of political talk radio.

You are able to “stream” 570 WKBN, if you are interested. However, they cannot play Rush Limbaugh over the computer because of contractual agreements. Their web address is: 570wkbn.com

They provide some great local talent. (Be warned, some of it is liberal talk.)

Or maybe, because of Halloween, you are interested in “ghosts?”

Dan Aykroyd, (the original Ghostbuster) has an editorial on “ghosts.”

It is a, mostly non- political, editorial about the supernatural with hundreds of comments by readers and their “ghost stories.”

LINK: Dan talks ghosts

Or, how about an old post I did 2 years ago about celebrities and global warming..??

LINK: Actions and Reactions

Thanks for reading The Angry Republic

American- JOBS- (What went wrong.)

Like you, I have been following the TOP news stories of the day:

Will the Baucus Health bill get passed..?? It is lurching forward like an old man looking for soup.

And we were PROUD when President Obama brought home the Nobel Prize for Peace. Because NO ONE expels “peace” like America, (and we will beat the crap out of you if you disagree.)

So I was bouncing back and forth between BIG news stories on David Letterman and Iran…

When a “chicken” forced me to take a good look at American jobs.

A “chicken”..??

Yes, a “chicken.”

A news “source” told me that the Chinese have an “exploratory team” in America, searching for a franchise to SELL Chinese raised chicken.

The Chinese believe that they can sell chicken in America. (And do it at a lower cost, then an America poultry producer can.)

OK, let’s stop for a moment. Let’s analyze what we have just learned.

How can it be CHEAPER for a chicken to be raised in China, butchered and processed. Then place on a truck, to be delivered to a large ship. Then shipped across the ocean to America. Then placed in a refrigerated storage facility, to then be loaded onto another truck and delivered to your neighborhood store..??

How can THAT be cheaper than raising the chicken in America, placing it on ONE truck, and delivering it to your store..??

WHAT THE HELL HAS GONE WRONG..??

I mean, even if the chicken farmer in China only makes a dollar a day, still; you have so many costs in delivery of this chicken to America, I cannot believe it is cheaper..??

But it is.

It is, because it is already happening with fish.

When you go out to you neighborhood restaurant to order dinner, you could be eating Chinese raised fish, and you do not even know it. (I know this to be a fact.)

My goal with this series of editorials on JOBS is NOT to name, names.

I am not here to attack the LARGE national grocery chain that “may” sell Chinese chicken in the future.

My goal is not to expose the BIG national restaurant chain that is selling you Chinese raised fish.

I am not interested in pointing a finger at the farmers market that is selling you tomatoes that were grown in Mexico.

No, what good would that do..??

My goal is to talk about a “system”, that has made it CHEAPER to raise, grow, or make these things in other countries, and ship them here to America.

Because this is the HEART. This is the starting point. This is the reason for a lack of JOBS in America.

We do not “make” anything in America, anymore.

We “sell” stuff. (We are VERY good at “selling” you stuff.)

We “service” things. (We fix the stuff that we sell, we help you hook up and operate the things that we sell.)

We “service” people. (With food, movies, doctors, prostitution, etc)

But we do not MAKE anything, anymore.

Now, I know that some of you could comment that: “..We still make train locomotives at GE..” Yes we do, but GE just laid off 1,400 workers related to that industry.

“..We still make American cars..” (Need I even speak to that..??)

You could say- “AR, we still make Boeing planes in America.” You would be correct, but they are experiencing tough competition from Airbus.

Yes, there are a few industries that remain an “American Made” product, and I solute them for it. Being a capitalist, I can understand how tempting it could have been to move your industry overseas and use cheap labor and take advantage of lower environmental standards. But, you stayed here in America, and I thank you for that.

(I just hope that you stick around a while longer, till we get our shit together..!!)

In my series of editorials on “American JOBS”, which I will be presenting this winter Blogging season (2009, 2010), We will talk about what went wrong, exactly what we can do to fix it, and how to start implementing this “fix” today.

(It’s interesting to note that the founding fathers experienced a situation similar to what we have today.) We will talk about what they did, to overcome their dilemma.

But that is for a future editorial on JOBS.

Today, as you may have already guessed, we are talking about:

American JOBS- “What went wrong?”

There are thousands of industries in America. My fingers would get sore, my eyes would get weak, and you would be bored to death, if we dealt with EVERY industry, and what went wrong with each.

It is better to focus on one industry that has similar characteristics to all, and dwell on that.

Let’s go back to our “chicken.”

The Chinese chicken

What went wrong..?? THE PROBLEM

(Problem ONE) Labor

This one is real easy.

If an American chicken producer’s helper wants $12 bucks per hour, while the Chinese chicken producer’s helper (doing the same job) gets $12 bucks per WEEK, that is the problem.

If the American worker wants $480 per week.

And the Chinese worker wants $12 per week…

We cannot compete with that.

There is no way..!!

However, we do not want to lower our standards. We want the American worker to make that, and much more. If we can.

(Problem TWO) Planes, trains, boats, and automobiles

If you cannot “ship” a product into your region, then you have no choice but to make, or raise the product yourself.

HUGE tanker ships have made it possible to ship goods around the world and only add a fraction to the cost of each idem.

This is something that our grandfather’s generation could never have conceived, and never had to deal with…

MASSIVE ocean going ships.

A global semi- tractor trailer system that uses GPS satellites to navigate and guide products to their destinations.

Planes, that can ship things “overnight.”

HUGE warehouses that can accommodate any idem, any time. Regardless of whether it needs to be stored at 70 degrees, or minus 70 degrees. No problem.

Our great- grandfather’s generation would have a small heart attack if they saw this system. For in their day, they had to guzzle down beer as soon as the barrel was tapped. (Because there was no way to keep the beer cold and keep it from going bad.)

(Problem THREE) “Give me liberty (and clean air) or give me death.”

Let’s face it, when we demand clean air, clear water, and undisturbed soil, we make it more expensive to build something in America.

When we demanded that “strip-mining” be stopped, we pretty much nailed the coffin shut on the steel industry in America.

When we restricted the use of mercury and certain acetones, we sealed the fait of the American textile industry. We do not make clothes in America, anymore.

When we beefed up OSHA standards, we crippled the American factory.

(We could go on, and on. But I believe that the point has been made.)

I must state that I do not believe in going backwards.

I love having clean water. I can’t imagine living in a country that you “cannot drink the water, or you will get sick.”

I like the fact that we have clean air, or that I can plant a tomato in the backyard, and not worry if the ground contains mercury, or PCB’s.

We need safe jobs.

No one is saying that we head backwards and lower our standards to compete with China or Mexico.

But, to find solutions to our problems, we MUST know what the problem is.

To provide a safe work environment, that doesn’t pollute the air and water…

To provide a decent wage to the workers…

To allow foreign competition, regardless of an “edge” they have over us, or how they treat their workers…

We have made it impossible to build a new factory here in America, and hire Americans.

We have made it impossible to create American JOBS.

Which leads us back to the Chinese chicken.

“..How can it be cheaper to raise a chicken in China, and ship it to American stores..??”

(We have answered that question.)

When the American worker demands 40 times more money, than the Chinese worker…

When the American poultry farm MUST meet certain EPA, OSHA, and environmental requirements…

When the food that is fed to American chickens can be controlled, and the meat will be inspected at a greater level…

When a boat ride across the ocean is hardly any factor in the cost of the Chinese chicken meat…

That is how it is cheaper to raise a chicken in China.

That, is the problem..!!

This, pretty much, concludes my first editorial on American JOBS.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

American JOBS, I believe, is the top issue facing our country, as we move forward.

The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are important. We cannot lose site of solutions there.

Health Insurance is also important.

However, JOBS are as vital as air and water.

Without JOBS, we cannot pay our taxes. Without taxes, we will never be able to provide health care “for all” and win these two wars.

My future editorials on American JOBS are tentatively titled:

American JOBS- “What went wrong.”

(You just read that one)

American JOBS- “Safety First” (What’s in my chicken..??)

(Due out, in about a week)

American JOBS- “The solution” (Dream, the impossible dream.)

and...

American JOBS- “Franklin, Adams, tell us what to do..??”

Written by AR Babonie for The Angry Republic

Thanks for reading The Angry Republic

President Obama brings the Nobel home, to America

We Americans have been waiting a long time to see “one of ours” bring home the Nobel Prize.

Many of us were beginning to wonder who’s ass we would have to kick, and who’s face we would have to shove in the mud, to win that Nobel Peace Prize..??

But President Obama has solved that problem..!!

The rest of the world can go screw themselves, we got the Nobel Peace Prize.

Now, President Obama’s name will be remembered forever, along with many other Nobel winners from the past.

Of course, we all remember studying the Nobel GREATS when we were children. Many of us children used to sing songs about American Nobel Prize winners.

Children’s songs like this:

“…Lucas, Shull, Carter, and Paul.

Who is the greatest of them all?..”

“…Schwartz, Solow, Wiesel, and Val Fitch.

Which Nobel winner stopped our itch..?..”

(Those were GREAT children’s songs, weren’t they..!!)

President Obama name has been added to that GREAT list of American Nobel Prize winners, never forgotten in time.

Who could forget Fritz Lipmann..??

(Just the mention of his name gives us goose bumps..!!)

Fritz spent his whole life studying: “Co-enzyme A.”

Fritz would jump out of bed every morning and joyfully begin work on Co-enzyme A. Every night, Co-enzyme A was on Fritz’s mind.

Fritz Lipmann LIVED- “Co-enzyme A.”

Then one day, Fritz realized that Co-enzyme A effected intermediary metabolism.

WOW..!!

Fritz Lipmann brought the Nobel Prize home to America. And I couldn’t have been prouder..!!

You cannot talk about GREAT Nobel Prize winners from the past, without mentioning “Linus Pauling.”

(I feel kind of foolish going into detail about Linus Pauling, since everyone reading this already KNOWS all about Linus Pauling. What’s left to tell..??)

However, there may be some “young ones” out there who have yet to study the GREAT Nobel winners from the past.

In 1962, Linus Pauling worked with Russian, American, and British leaders to negotiate the “Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.”

(I’m breaking out in a cold sweat just talking about this.)

Linus Pauling effectively ended the “cold war” in 1962, and never again did America, Russia, and Great Britain have cross words.

Linus Pauling was the ONLY American Nobel Prize winner that year, (1962) and we treated him like a King. We had a big ticker tape parade in Times Square, he was featured on cereal boxes, and little kids dressed up like Linus Pauling on Halloween. (Some people still do today.)

President Obama has now joined this great list..!!

I get offended when people say that Barack Obama has done nothing to deserve this Nobel Peace Prize.

Why, just this week, President Obama showed his pension for peace.

President Obama, this week, bombed the crap out of the moon, instead of bombing Iran.

Look at it this way; say you are really mad at someone, BUT: instead of punching that person in the face, you punch a hole in the wall. (Not hurting anyone.)

That is what Obama did..!!

See, Iran pissed Obama off (by having that secret underground nuclear site.) Instead of bombing Iran, President Obama bombed the HELL out of the moon.

That is the quintessential pinnacle of Peace. (Bombing the moon, instead of Iran.)

Do you need MORE proof that President Obama deserves this Nobel Peace Prize..??

President Obama could have pushed his National Health Plan, he could have closed Gitmo, ended the Iraq War, ended the Afghanistan War, made Gay marriage legal, and ended capitalism.

But he didn’t do any of that stuff.

(Because it would have pissed someone off.)

If you do NOTHING, then you cannot be blamed for anything.

If you make a decision, that decision could hurt someone. If you take one step forward, your foot could kill a harmless bug. If you work TOO HARD, you will breathe out more carbon, and KILL THE EARTH.

However, if you sit real still, in one place and do not breathe much or make any decisions, you are saving the earth and all of the bugs and people on this earth.

President Obama deserves this Nobel Peace Prize BECAUSE he has done nothing.

And “nothing” is better than “anything.”

Because “anything” could hurt a bug, or a tree, or a person living in Upper Ukaghanistan.

President Obama has done nothing.

Which means he has hurt no one. (Except, maybe, the democratic party which wanted him to do certain things.)

For this, President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

(Hey, I feel peaceful..!!)

Written by AR Babonie for The Angry Republic

*******************************************************

Hey, TV Producer Norman Lear, (All in the family, The Jeffersons) wrote an editorial at The Huffington Post on why President Obama should receive the Nobel.

If you are interested in reading, click here.

Thanks for reading The Angry Republican