? ?From 1900 to 1970, America ran trade surpluses every year. We have now run thirty-three straight trade deficits, with the merchandise trade deficit now at $600 billion, or almost 6 percent of GDP. No great power has sustained trade deficits like these for decades without a collapse of its currency and the end of its supremacy.? (Page 163)
? ?Every month of the first thirty-eight of George W. Bush?s presidency, manufacturing jobs disappeared. One is six have vanished since he took his oath, 2.6 million in all.? (Page 160)
? ?Mexico now exports 90% more cars to the United States than we do to the world.? (Page 165)
? ??Boeing Corp., General Dynamics Co., Honeywell International Inc., General Electric Co.?s GE Aircraft Engines are all beginning to make Mexico a base for both parts and assembly.? (Page 165)
? ?If aircraft parts can be made by Mexican workers for $20 a day and computers can be made by Chinese workers for $10 a day, what is ther left that cannot be manufactured more cheaply abroad?? (page 166)
The prevailing thought seems to be, ?It does not make any difference whether a country makes computer chips or potato chips.? --Michael Boskin, chairman of the council of Economic Advisers under Bush I (page 161). This argument falls flat when you consider that the Pentagon opposed a law that would require a 65 percent American content in U.S. weapons (page 164). The reason: our national defense systems will not work, if two-thirds of their components had to be made in the U.S.A.?In other words, America?s ability to protect itself depends on parts made by other countries.
So what am I to think of this unexpected meeting of the minds between Pat Buchanan and me? Have I become a right-wing conservative without realizing it? Or is Pat Buchanan a closet liberal?I don?t think so.
The reality is that there are some things that every concerned American can agree on. Right wing, left wing?liberal, conservative?red state, blue state; it doesn?t matter. No matter how much Karl Rove and the Bush Administration want to keep us divided, there are some things that will always unite us.
We all want America to be a good place to live. We want decent jobs for ourselves and our children. We want to breathe fresh air and drink clean water. We have no desire to be the policeman of the world or rule an empire. We just want to live in peace.
That should be the goal of any good government.
? ?Every month of the first thirty-eight of George W. Bush?s presidency, manufacturing jobs disappeared. One is six have vanished since he took his oath, 2.6 million in all.? (Page 160)
? ?Mexico now exports 90% more cars to the United States than we do to the world.? (Page 165)
? ??Boeing Corp., General Dynamics Co., Honeywell International Inc., General Electric Co.?s GE Aircraft Engines are all beginning to make Mexico a base for both parts and assembly.? (Page 165)
The prevailing thought seems to be, ?It does not make any difference whether a country makes computer chips or potato chips.? --Michael Boskin, chairman of the council of Economic Advisers under Bush I (page 161). This argument falls flat when you consider that the Pentagon opposed a law that would require a 65 percent American content in U.S. weapons (page 164). The reason: our national defense systems will not work, if two-thirds of their components had to be made in the U.S.A.?In other words, America?s ability to protect itself depends on parts made by other countries.
So what am I to think of this unexpected meeting of the minds between Pat Buchanan and me? Have I become a right-wing conservative without realizing it? Or is Pat Buchanan a closet liberal?I don?t think so.
The reality is that there are some things that every concerned American can agree on. Right wing, left wing?liberal, conservative?red state, blue state; it doesn?t matter. No matter how much Karl Rove and the Bush Administration want to keep us divided, there are some things that will always unite us.
We all want America to be a good place to live. We want decent jobs for ourselves and our children. We want to breathe fresh air and drink clean water. We have no desire to be the policeman of the world or rule an empire. We just want to live in peace.
That should be the goal of any good government.
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