My belief is that by truly empowering small business, maintaining intelligent protections from big corporations and foreign entities intent on controlling commerce, that we can crate and explosion of jobs, regain the pride we once had in the label made in America. If we couple intelligent trade policy, with health care reform and real small business empowerment, we can unleash thousands of entrepreneurs, who will create millions of jobs, and eventual create products for the future which we can only imagine today.
In turn, those new innovative products can be vanguard of a new era of trade, FAIR trade, that will allow the world to access our innovation, while not disenfranchising American workers in the process. Indeed, done well, this process will make our immigration problems all but disappear, and provide basis for a process for citizenship, as well as opportunity for more immigrants in the future.
ELIZABETH CARL, Episcopal Priest, Resident of Washington D.C.
Leaving aside the cheeky answers (Establish a Center for Extraterrestrial Trade in Roswell or Las Cruces, and restore his own reputation in Washington for being a person who understands what personal loyalty is), it seems to me that, if he plans to be effective, Gov Richardson might, first of all, raise the awareness of U.S. citizens about what the Department of Commerce is and does. The number of us who are clueless about that is kind of shocking, and it is generally a lot easier to get a job done in any arena if whatever larger entity involved has some idea of the leader's function and authority.
Once that basic identity task is done, it might come naturally to Gov Richardson to initiate cooperative efforts with the Dept of Education and the Department of Transportation. His interests and accomplishments as governor and candidate might equip him well to encourage partnerships between businesses and public schools, and also to convene the "playahs" who can help brainstorm solutions to our nation's increasing dilemma of how to
get from point A to point B without rendering our planet scorched and useless.
Finally, the level of trust in American businesses seems to me to be at a low ebb, and renewed emphasis on ethics is overdue when so many corporate execs seem to lack even basic cognitive skills at discerning the difference between right and wrong.
______________________________
Maurice Webster, Retired High School Mathematics Teacher, Santa Fe, NM
Governor Richardson as Secretary of Commerce: A Layman's Thoughts
Governor Richardson's greatest gifts to the nation are his well honied skills and temperament as a negotiator. He will be working in an administration directly responsible to the then President Obama and after eight years of a dual presidency this is hopeful. President-elect Obama has made it clear there can only be one president and he will be
that president, but one that will listen. A welcome shift from a government of ideologues to an more pragmatic administration. Bill Richardson is a good fit but will carry unusually heavy responsibilities during his tenure.
All our problems, both internal and external, are completely interrelated. that any attempt to rank order them is missing the point. The responsibility of dealing with national problems in an integrated way is the responsibility of the new administration. Bill Richardson will have to work within that integrated effort to change the direction of long established, but failing policies. His suggestions and persuasive abilities can make an important difference.
The United States' "Open Markets"- has been notoriously unbalanced for many years. All other markets must be "-open' to the U.S. interests but we protect our large corporations. This is no longer working on many levels. South and Central America is beginning to react against what they see as usury by the United States. The U.S. insistence that Africa and Asia accept our genetically modified seeds which require a lot of fertilizer and don't produce usable seeds forcing them to purchase new seeds each year from U.S. corporations. This is backfiring. The United States no longer has the power to dictate to the world. The present Secretary of Commerce has successfully blocked all attempts to form international commerce agreements and with the rapidity of climate change this is no longer tolerable. Bill Richardson will have to carve out a new and fairer commercial policy with the rest of the world.
As Secretary of Commerce immigration policy, coming under the "Home Land Security,"- is not directly his problem. But, as Governor of New Mexico he has had to look long and hard at the problem. The underlying causes of the problem are mostly related to commercial policy, both internal and external, which is his problem. The solutions to immigrating
problems will not be found in a "Wall Around The World"- but in solutions to commercial problems. His judgment, knowledge and negotiating skill will be vital if solutions are to be found.
In the United States unions are collapsing along with major corporations and small businesses. The United States is deeply in debt in many areas: national debt, balance of trade, corporate solvency, and private debt over savings. Outsorcing has disrupted many industries with job dislocations. I grew up during the "-29 depression, loosing my savings in 1932 when my bank failed. I think the leverage today is greater and more spread out than it was in 1929. A depression takes several years to "bottom out."- Here Richardson will be working without a tested model and will make mistakes. He will need our patience and support if he is to help us pull out of the mess we are in.
New Mexico's well being is integrated into the national commerce. We can not expect Governor Richardson to extend special favors to the state with the nation in trouble but we can be confident the he will have the best interests of New Mexico in mind as he works for a more stable nation. We are fortunate to have his services working for the nation at this difficult time.
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In turn, those new innovative products can be vanguard of a new era of trade, FAIR trade, that will allow the world to access our innovation, while not disenfranchising American workers in the process. Indeed, done well, this process will make our immigration problems all but disappear, and provide basis for a process for citizenship, as well as opportunity for more immigrants in the future.
ELIZABETH CARL, Episcopal Priest, Resident of Washington D.C.
Leaving aside the cheeky answers (Establish a Center for Extraterrestrial Trade in Roswell or Las Cruces, and restore his own reputation in Washington for being a person who understands what personal loyalty is), it seems to me that, if he plans to be effective, Gov Richardson might, first of all, raise the awareness of U.S. citizens about what the Department of Commerce is and does. The number of us who are clueless about that is kind of shocking, and it is generally a lot easier to get a job done in any arena if whatever larger entity involved has some idea of the leader's function and authority.
get from point A to point B without rendering our planet scorched and useless.
Finally, the level of trust in American businesses seems to me to be at a low ebb, and renewed emphasis on ethics is overdue when so many corporate execs seem to lack even basic cognitive skills at discerning the difference between right and wrong.
______________________________
Maurice Webster, Retired High School Mathematics Teacher, Santa Fe, NM
Governor Richardson as Secretary of Commerce: A Layman's Thoughts
Governor Richardson's greatest gifts to the nation are his well honied skills and temperament as a negotiator. He will be working in an administration directly responsible to the then President Obama and after eight years of a dual presidency this is hopeful. President-elect Obama has made it clear there can only be one president and he will be
that president, but one that will listen. A welcome shift from a government of ideologues to an more pragmatic administration. Bill Richardson is a good fit but will carry unusually heavy responsibilities during his tenure.
All our problems, both internal and external, are completely interrelated. that any attempt to rank order them is missing the point. The responsibility of dealing with national problems in an integrated way is the responsibility of the new administration. Bill Richardson will have to work within that integrated effort to change the direction of long established, but failing policies. His suggestions and persuasive abilities can make an important difference.
The United States' "Open Markets"- has been notoriously unbalanced for many years. All other markets must be "-open' to the U.S. interests but we protect our large corporations. This is no longer working on many levels. South and Central America is beginning to react against what they see as usury by the United States. The U.S. insistence that Africa and Asia accept our genetically modified seeds which require a lot of fertilizer and don't produce usable seeds forcing them to purchase new seeds each year from U.S. corporations. This is backfiring. The United States no longer has the power to dictate to the world. The present Secretary of Commerce has successfully blocked all attempts to form international commerce agreements and with the rapidity of climate change this is no longer tolerable. Bill Richardson will have to carve out a new and fairer commercial policy with the rest of the world.
As Secretary of Commerce immigration policy, coming under the "Home Land Security,"- is not directly his problem. But, as Governor of New Mexico he has had to look long and hard at the problem. The underlying causes of the problem are mostly related to commercial policy, both internal and external, which is his problem. The solutions to immigrating
problems will not be found in a "Wall Around The World"- but in solutions to commercial problems. His judgment, knowledge and negotiating skill will be vital if solutions are to be found.
In the United States unions are collapsing along with major corporations and small businesses. The United States is deeply in debt in many areas: national debt, balance of trade, corporate solvency, and private debt over savings. Outsorcing has disrupted many industries with job dislocations. I grew up during the "-29 depression, loosing my savings in 1932 when my bank failed. I think the leverage today is greater and more spread out than it was in 1929. A depression takes several years to "bottom out."- Here Richardson will be working without a tested model and will make mistakes. He will need our patience and support if he is to help us pull out of the mess we are in.
New Mexico's well being is integrated into the national commerce. We can not expect Governor Richardson to extend special favors to the state with the nation in trouble but we can be confident the he will have the best interests of New Mexico in mind as he works for a more stable nation. We are fortunate to have his services working for the nation at this difficult time.
----- PAGE BREAK -----
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