Are we agressive enough about jobs? Tax laws will make the difference.

I was talking to an old timer, Clel Sexton. He asked me if I knew about the battle of the bogal? I said that I did not. He the explained to me that the battle of the bogal, back in the 20’s, started when the coal mining executives decided that they were going to import cheap labor from Hungary. These imported Hungarians were referred to as “Hunkies”. The Hunkies had established a shantytown at the edge of Jasonville, In. This stirred up the local miners who gathered at the edge of this shantytown with guns. The miners asked them to come out and talk the situation over. I do not know what type of talking we were going to do with all these guns, Clell chuckled. Clell said, suddenly, guns blazed. During the gunfire, I reached up and wiped my head. It was blood. I made a quick trip to the doctor. The doctor told me mot to worry. A bullet had evidently hit the tree beside me and the bark flew up and grazed my head. Unfortunately, others were not as lucky. The aftermath resulted in seven killed and 14 wounded.

Clell described how about 10 years later, I met one of these Hunkies in Terre Haute, In. He said, “You are one of he Sexton brothers, aren’t you?” We ended up going out and having coffee and enjoying ourselves. It was all about jobs.

The problem we now have is that today’s laborer is not aggressive about jobs. I do not advocate violence, however I do advocate aggressive voting at the polls regarding jobs. The politician promised that NAFTA would reduce the lower paid jobs and bring in higher paid jobs. I have not seen this. I have seen NAFTA being responsible for the area loosing thousands of jobs. There has little or no jobs brought in. Howard Dean has he right idea about NAFTA and jobs, however he does not go far enough. Doctor Dean’s solution is to allow NAFTA only after the playing field is fair. China has unfairly devalued their currency, which makes their job hourly rate a bargain. Furthermore, foreign countries do not abide by the same labor practices or environmental concerns that our country has. Howard Dean’s proposal is to require the same labor practices in foreign countries as this country has; other wise tax the goods that are imported. I myself, in addition, would like to require a trade balance. That means that if we import one billion in goods and services, China has to do the same. Otherwise we tax on an escalating basis. This will not only help our deposit, but will also help the farming industry. That means that the more imbalance the trade is, the more we tax. In addition we still need tax incentives to locate manufacturing plants in the United States. The Toyota plant in Princeton Indiana is an example. The bottom-line that with tax incentives etc. It is more profitable for the Japanese to manufacture cars in the United States.

Tax refunds proposed as incentives do not to do this country a lot of good when about 80% of it ends up in either China or Japan. Mean while we are saddled with a escalating sea of debt which will hinder us for years to come.

We need to volt for smart politicians who know how to bring jobs into this country. We need to vote for politicians who will do what is good for America and not the ones who are bribed with campaign funds for the benefit only of corporations. The question remains, will the voters be smart enough to separate the politicians with selfish desires and the ones who do what is good for America and the worker? So far this has not happened.