Cost of Free Trade

Articles

Louella Reynolds

Cost of Free Trade
Feb 9, 2004

The government's good intentions with prohibition put thousands out of work (breweries - bottle makers - distributors - drivers) and filled the pockets of the unscrupulous. Opening the "free trade gates" to foreign countries started a "manufacturing gold rush" that has slammed the doors on American manufacturing plants; allowing history to repeat itself.

Corporate executives fill their pockets with multi-million dollar bonuses paid for by lost American jobs. Name-brand companies that once helped to build this nation up is tearing it down in the name of profits.

Every week companies lay off hundreds of workers and many close their doors for good; taking their jobs to other countries. Machinery that once roared within the walls of U.S. factories is being torn apart and shipped to buildings in other countries where slave-labor will make the goods that were once the pride of the American workers.

You have to look long and hard to find any clothing or shoes that are made in the United States. Even the uniforms worn by public workers and prisoners, paid for by American tax dollars, come from outside the states.

Family-owned businesses that have provided livelihoods for generations are struggling and being forced out of business. Precious farm land is being cemented over in the name of progress.

How long will it take the U.S. government to realize that no jobs equals no wages, which equals no local, state or federal tax dollars and eventually no retail sales and no need for the foreign goods?

What will it take for them to wake up and limit the percentage of imported goods or raise the import tax so that American companies can put people back to work and compete with these slave- labor countries? Where will the American people be if we have to rely on foreign food?

The U.S. government needs to take a long hard look at industry and farming and start "sharing the wealth" with the American people for a change.

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Email Louella Reynolds: lmreynolds@earthlink.net

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