Thank you, Peter DeFazio

[Mary K]

In his latest "Peter DeFazio Reports" mailing, Oregon Representative DeFazio states "Our tax dollars should be used to contract with companies that employ American workers, not to build factories and provide jobs overseas." DeFazio is a proponent of the Buy American Act, which gives preference to American-made goods in federal government purchases. He states "Maintaining a robust domestic manufacturing base is important for both our economic and national security." The report also says in just the last 6 years, 3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost, and since 1999, over 40,000 manufacturing plants have closed. He proposes that we:
1) Enforce and expand the Buy American Act
2) Curtail tax deductions and federal contracts for companies that export jobs
3) Withdraw from and renegotiate trade deals such as NAFTA
4) Enforce laws against dumping foreign products and imposing stiff tariffs in response
5) Increase funding for programs that assist small manufacturers to upgrade their operations

Thank you Pete! Great work! I hope you received my phone message about Pet Food labeling and toxic substances in Pet Foods, too!

[Geff]

Sad, that until this China crap, I was very much a one world kind of person. I have felt that nationalism & patriotism tend to create an unhealthy us vs. them attitude. Being an internet retailer & selling my products world wide has also really changed some of my attitudes towards the one world view.

But then China stepped up tp the plate, & I'm really having to rethink my opinions. Globalization doesn't work if it kills me & my loved ones. Obviously I don't wish to eat anything from China at this time. I personally place equal blame on the Bush administration & the government of China.

[Mary K]

Geff, You just made me think, too. If I were a global trader, I would want what I do for a living to work well. And I, too, was of the mindset of "One planet, one people" philosophy for many years. Rethinking this now, I would say that the old adages "Charity begins at home" and "in your own back yard" are wise. We all need to take care of ourselves and our pets, families and loved ones before we can be happy enough to extend what we have beyond the home boundaries. I learned this as a nurse. And it is more efficient  (energy saving, environment-wise) also, don't you think? Especially for those who feel frustrated that they can't make a difference for whatever reason (not enough money or education or whatever). If everyone in the world just did whatever tiny bit they could, right where they were, it would end up being a collective effort, a snowball effect. Then, on a larger scale, what if the United States spent their resources feeding our hungry and giving medical care to poor and elderly instead of worrying about oil across the world and politics we have no business in? Perhaps then we would be an example instead of a target! Wishful thinking and sometimes not as easy to do as it sounds. Thanks for your comments.