SSA Blog #009     By Michelle Drew     November 12 2005

Advice Response

Michelle:
I want to join in on the comments by the person who does not understand why we spend billions for oversees military bases while people here cannot get medical care and food.

I am of the America First philosopy myself, but we do have to have a world-wide presence of force for those occasions when it is necessary.  I would much rather keep the fighting on the other side of the world than let it come here again.

What bothers me is that Corporate America is doing even worse than the Government in terms of our economic situation.  Greedy corporations are sending our jobs everywhere to places like Mexico, India, Dominican Republic, and the like.  I am of the position that American goods should be made in America, by Americans, for Americans.  Yet these days most of the significant production of consumer goods is coming from China made by slaves, children and people who are more poor than many of our own.

 I do not for one minute believe that there is any manufactured product of any kind that America cannot make.  If America can make it we ought not be buying it from abroad.   Shame on us as a country!   We should be begging for young couples to have more children so we can produce enough people to fill the jobs and take care of Social Security for the next generation.  The real culprit is greedy corporate America which would rather our goods be made by those who work for peanuts than to pay for American Labor.You can guess I am a union man!
Terry P
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Dear Terry;

I agree with you. You may remember in the 80's when then President Reagan introduced his economic plan of "trickle down economics". The idea was that tax breaks that favor big business would cause some profits to trickle down to the workers. In fact, that never did happen. Democrats called it "voodoo economics". Today there are very few companies that share profits and provide true rewards and incentives to the workers. Outsourcing jobs to foreign countries help corporations to keep their profits high, and not have to deal with workers' rights or unions.

I do hope the US business model will evolve to benefit all of America instead of just a very few. Labor unions may in fact begin to rise again as workers realize that they have no negotiating power. "The man" is not our father. He is not there to take care of his workers. He is there to make money from the labor of others. Workers and unions need to evolve so everyone has a shot at getting ahead. Until I went to work for myself, I was a union gal!!!!

Thanks for writing in. Feedback and comments are welcome.

Michelle

All Good Thoughts
..freedom from fear - which, translated into world
terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point
and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a
position to commit an act of physical aggression against any
neighbor - anywhere in the world.
F. D. Roosevelt

One should guard against preaching to young people success
in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most
important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure
in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the
value of the result to the community.
Albert Einstein

In matters of principle, stand like a rock;
in matters of taste, swim with the current.
Thomas Jefferson


Reader Contribution
Here is one sent in by Jaid...

I am Thankful :

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED.


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS
WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.