Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons

Minnie Bee's Rant:

     Unless you're a certain cast member of  "The Real Housewives of New York City," you understand that to "make lemonade out of lemons"  means to create something positive out of something negative.  This past week brought the United States some challenging lemons:  earthquakes, storms, hurricanes, and roller coaster financial markets, just to name a few.  Although most of us try our best to avoid problems, some things - such as the acts of nature we have experienced this week -  are beyond our control.  In all tough situations, most of us do what we can to survive with as little damage to ourselves, our family and friends, and our property as possible.   However, as much as I hate to admit it, challenging situations usually also present positive opportunities. 

      In last week's blog post, I ranted that President Obama's jobs plan needs to include a jobs-creating role for the federal government, and ranted about the conservatives who call such federal jobs creation programs "socialism." As a result of the hurricane, earthquake, and storms this week, there are now more opportunities for making lemonade by rebuilding and refurbishing our infrastructure.  These opportunities could be filled by a federal jobs-creating engine that puts Americans back to work.  

     In last week's post,  I also compared the concept of a "socialistic" federal jobs program with the more widely accepted practice, albeit greater evil, of flooding  U.S. markets with products made in the People's Republic of China.  The United States has lost hundreds of thousands of jobs to China, aka the People's Republic, and we are losing more each day.  On top of this, the companies who are outsourcing jobs to China advertise and promote themselves as "American companies," make billions off of U.S. consumers, and pay little back to the United States in taxes.
    
     As a case in point, let's take a look at GE.  General Electric used to be an American company.  It was founded by the esteemed American inventor and businessman, Thomas Alva Edison, inventor of the incandescent light bulb.  In 1876, Edison began exploring electrical devices in a small laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.  By 1890, Edison established the Edison General Electric Company, and in 1892, when Edison merged his company with a competitor, the new business became the General Electric Company.  Electric fans, the first GE appliances, were produced in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1907.  Aircraft engines were added to the company in 1917, when the U.S. government was searching for a company to develop an airplane engine booster.  Plastics were added in 1930.

     To this day, General Electric promotes itself to the American public as an American company.   It proudly chronicles the American story of its history on its web site without mentioning its outsourcing activities, other than stating on one page that it employs over 300,000 people worldwide. GE carefully  cultivates its image to the American consumer, and until recently, most of us, including me, thought that General Electric was an American company.  However, it is one of the largest outsourcers of American jobs to foreign countries.  In the past two years, GE has closed 29 factories in the U.S. and out sourced most of those jobs, mainly to China, which owns about 80% of the U.S . trade deficit.  
    
     Many of these jobs have been necessary to the future, as well as the present well-being of the U.S. economy, such as the  outsourcing of CFL light bulb manufacturing, "green technology" jobs to China. Most recently, GE transferred its "synthetic vision" system to China.  This technology helps pilots to take off and land their planes in adverse weather conditions, and may be worth millions to airlines in the future.  Along with  this system, math, science and technology jobs were outsourced to the People's Republic.

     At the beginning of the year, President Obama appointed Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric Chairman and CEO, to serve as chair of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.  I am bemused by the President's selection of Immelt, and still wonder what the President's motive was.  Did he hope that Immelt would "see the light" and start bringing their outsourced jobs back home?  Was Obama following the advice of Sun-tze, the (ironically) Chinese General and military strategist who said, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer?"   To be sure, GE has cut back on its outsourcing activities - but not enough - and it has brought back some of its IT jobs and created some new jobs at home - but not enough.

     I, for one, think that the appointment of Immelt was just plain wrong.  I don't believe that the CEO of GE should be rewarded for bad, unpatriotic behavior.  In light of GE's recent outsourcing of the synthetic vision system, I think that Obama should fire Immelt, and appoint the CEO, President, or Founder of a company that is trying to remain loyal to his or her country by creating new jobs and maintaining jobs in the United States.  Obama should appoint someone such as Fred Carl, founder of  Viking Range Corporation,  Patrick J. Callaghan, President of Pepperidge Farm, Terry McAuliffe, Chief of GreenTech Automotive, or Tom Chappell, founder of Tom's of Maine.  At least these guys have proven that they are not only patriotic, but they know how to make lemonade out of lemons.
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We create and keep U.S. jobs when we demand, promote, and buy Made in USA goods and products.

This week's recommended products:

Ed. Note:  With school starting, I continue my research on school supplies. Here are some recommended brands of "Made in USA" printer paper.  Unfortunately, my "hands-on" research was limited this week due to Mother Nature's "lemons." (I tried my best to make lemonade - I'll add more info on printer paper in the next blog post.)  Remember to check labels. Please feel free to post your own research to this blog!

·         Printworks Multipurpose Paper - Made in USA by Paris Business Products, Westhampton, NJ

            (http://www.myprintworks.com/)
     
      ·         up & up Multipurpose Printer Paper - Made in USA by Target Brands, 
            Inc., Minneapolis, MN
            (http://www.totallytarget.com/2011/07/11/what-are-you-doing-with-your-1-up-up-coupon/)

      ·         Hemmi Papilio Decal Paper - Made in USA by Hemmi Papilio Supplies LLC, Decatur,
            TX
           (www.papilio.com/)

 Blog Sources:

"GE 'all in' on plane deal with China," Howard Schneider, The Washington Post, 08/23/11

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/01/manufacturing-alliance-chief-obama-turning-to-one-of-countrys-leading-outsourcers-in-immelt.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/immelt-appointment-labor-reaction_n_812278.html

http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2009/07/30/ge-outsourcing-new-%E2%80%98green-jobs%E2%80%99-to-china/

http://www.industryweek.com/articles/ge_expansion_to_bring_250_manufacturing_jobs_to_ellisville_miss-_25291.aspx

http://www.industryweek.com/articles/ge_expansion_to_bring_250_manufacturing_jobs_to_ellisville_miss-_25291.aspx

http://www.tomsofmaine.com/press/releases

http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/bio_callaghan.asp

http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/

http://www.prettyandstupid.com/idiot/176

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/36994.html

Socialism vs. The People's Republic of China

     In his weekly address last Saturday,  President  Obama called for an extension of payroll tax cuts, the creation of jobs to build, improve and maintain the U.S. infrastructure, and job training and placement for American military veterans returning from our most recent two wars as ways to combat unemployment  and stimulate the U.S. economy.   This week, the President also called for adjusting trade agreements to level  the playing field for U.S. businesses.  

     These methods for jump-starting our economy make sense to me,  but I think that the President's plan needs to be even bolder.  I would also like to see federal  incentives for businesses that create and maintain U.S. jobs, the eradication of tax loopholes for corporations who outsource their  jobs or offshore their operations, more federal funding for U.S. entrepreneurs who start or expand their business in the U.S., and the creation of a federal jobs-creating agency and jobs programs for the purpose of building and improving our national infrastructure. 

     Some of these suggestions, particularly the concept of establishing a jobs-creating agency like the WPA and jobs programs like the CCC of President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" would most likely be opposed by conservatives, as they have been in the past.  Hoping to see the federal government shrink (except, of course, in situations involving sex, marriage, family planning, and guns), they believe that it isn't the job of the federal government to create jobs directly; they think that the federal government should only create a "business-friendly" climate by keeping corporate taxes low and doing away with regulation - even if that regulation benefits the health and safety of a community, and limiting the reach of government.  Because federal funding for jobs and federal jobs creation inherently involves expanding the role of federal government, conservatives label this a form of "Socialism."

     Meanwhile, these same conservatives have no problem with most of our goods and products being made in China, even though many of these goods and products are made in places like Zhoucun, People's Republic of China, Shanxi, People's Republic of China, Taiyuan U.S. home textile mall, People's Republic of China, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and Shijiazhuang, Xi’an, and Zhengzhou, all in the People's Republic of China. 

     So, let's see, it's bad for the federal government to put Americans back to work by creating jobs because that's a form of Socialism.  On the other hand, it's okay to keep Americans out of work while buying goods and products made in the People's Republic of China, a Communist country that abuses human rights and befriends countries and groups that are known enemies of the United States because...that's not Socialism?  Perhaps there should be legislation requiring those made in China goods and products to bear the label "Made in the People's Republic of China."  Maybe that would wake up a few people.
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We create and keep U.S. jobs when we demand, promote, and buy Made in USA goods and products.

Ed. Note: Last week, I recommended Made in USA notebooks and notebook paper. A few others I found:

·         Office Depot notebook paper - Made in USA by ???

·         Roselle notebook paper - Made in USA by Roselle Paper Co., Roselle, NJ

·         Top Flight 81/2 x 11 spiral notebooks (only) - Made in USA by Top Flight, Chattanooga, TN

·         Smart Living notebook paper (only) - Made in USA by American Sales Co., Lancaster, NY

With school starting, I continue my research on school supplies. Here are some recommended "Made in USA" pens, pencils, and markers (pretty scarce), and some not recommended, outsourced pens and pencils made by so-called "American" companies.  Remember to check labels. Please feel free to post your own research to this blog!

·         Pilot Easy Touch retractable pens (only) - Made in USA by Pilot Corp. of America, Jacksonville, FL

(www.pilotpen.us)

·         USA Gold "The Write Dudes" wood case pencils (only) - Made in USA by USA Gold (Mega Brands), Lewisburg, TN

(www.megabrands.com)

·         General's wood case pencils - Made in USA by General Pencil Co., Jersey City, NJ

(http://www.generalpencil.com/index.html)

NOT Recommended (made elsewhere):

·         Smart Living

      ·         Bic
      ·         Paper Mate
      ·         Pilot Rolling Ball
      ·         Uniball
      ·         Locker Culture
      ·         Foray
      ·         Sharpie
      ·         Crayola
      ·         Scholastic
      ·         Ticonderoga
      ·         Whirly Bug
      ·         Expo
      ·         Rose Art
      ·         Essentials
      ·         Dixon
      ·         up & up
      ·         The Write Dudes ballpoint pens

Blog Sources:

http://www.chinese-manufacturers.org/

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcYq6vcMsE7D8sUP_-XvQA-TmCbg?docId=CNG.421a0f4006328079f8ee28fe1438ee9e.171

"Going to the heart of 'Texas Miracle'," Michael A. Fletcher, The Washington Post, 08/21/11

What's More Important: Patriotism Or Greed?

     I was going to write about a different subject this week,  but then I watched the segment on "60 Minutes" about U.S. corporations who are renouncing their U.S. citizenship.  These corporations  are moving their headquarters "offshore," i.e., to a foreign country, in order to avoid paying corporate taxes to the U.S.,   and in favor of paying lower corporate taxes to their new country.   In some cases, the offshore "headquarters" is nothing more than an address with a post office box.  In other cases, it may be a receptionist and a conference room;  still in others, it may be hundreds of thousands of employees. 

    At one time, the unpatriotic act of renouncing one's citizenship would have been unthinkable to most  self-respecting American businessmen, regardless of the corporate tax rate.  But not now.  American leaders  - business leaders, and even some elected leaders- have exchanged the accountable attitude of  "the buck stops here" for an attitude of no accountability, an attitude of "show me the money."

     As a middle class, taxpaying American, I find this new attitude disgustingly greedy.  These corporations, who got their start in the United States, and who make millions, even billions, of dollars from the United States and U.S. consumers, are whining about paying a tax rate of 35%, while most of us middle class Americans are taxed on our less than six-figure incomes at a rate of about 28%. 

     The CEOs of these corporations justify their unpatriotic actions by saying they must satisfy their shareholders.  But as we all know, moving offshore makes little difference to the value of the few shares in the 401Ks and IRAs of most middle class investors; the real beneficiaries are those stockholders who own thousands of corporate shares - namely the CEOs themselves, as well as their corporate directors.

    American jobs are being held hostage by greed.  Some corporate  and elected leaders want to blame our government.  But it's really not our government.  Our government needs tax revenue to pay for our transportation, our parks, our safety and security.  The very things that create a climate in which business, as well as our families, can grow and prosper. corporate  and elected leaders want to blame the labor unions.   But it's really not the unions.  Labor unions simply try to bargain for better wages and benefits for working class employees.   

      Should the corporate tax rate be lowered?  I don't believe that it should be.  Not while greed is holding American jobs hostage, and not while greed is more important than patriotism to many of our U.S. corporations.   If anything, those American businesses who have opted to keep their U.S. citizenship, their headquarters, and their jobs in the U.S. are the ones who deserve financial rewards.  Let's  give those companies financial and/or tax incentives for their loyalty and patriotism, and let's give them financial rewards for creating more U.S. jobs  here.  And finally, let's roll back the tax cuts we've been giving to the wealthiest Americans.  It's time they pay their fair share. 

     Let us know what you think by posting to this blog, and more importantly, let your elected leaders know what you think by calling, emailing, and writing them.

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 We create and keep U.S. jobs when we demand, promote, and buy Made in USA goods and products.

With school starting, many of us are shopping for school supplies. Here are some recommended "Made in USA" spiral notebooks, composition books, and notebook paper, and some not recommended, outsourced paper made by so-called "American" companies. Please feel free to post your own research to this blog!

This week's recommended products:
      ·         up&up spiral notebooks - Made in USA by Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
             (www.target.com)

·         Basic spiral notebooks, Norcom composition books, Basic notebook paper,  

      Norcom notebook paper - Made in USA by Norcom, Inc., Griffin, GA

            (www.norcominc.com)

 

NOT recommended (made elsewhere):

      ·         Horizon Group USA spiral notebooks
      ·         Tops spiral notebooks
      ·         Innovative Designs spiral notebooks
      ·         Sky High spiral notebooks
      ·         Target composition books
  

Blog Source: 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/14/60minutes/main20091720.shtml?tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

FAA - A Long, Long Way To Run

      Oscar Hammerstein II was not referring to the FAA, but to a note on the musical scale in his lyrics for the Sound of Music  song, "Do-Ra-Mi,"  but he might as well have been talking about the FAA.  After the antics of Congress this past week, the FAA does have a "long, long way to run." 

     After finally coming up with a weak debt ceiling deal, Congress adjourned for a five-week summer recess without extending funding for the FAA, causing the furlough of 4,000 FAA employees, increasing potential safety issues, impacting approximately 70,000 additional contract jobs and their associated suppliers and other local businesses, and resulting in the loss of about 1 billion dollars to the federal government in uncollected airline taxes.    

     Why?  Because some of them, namely conservative Republicans, are more concerned about their own agenda:  namely, destroying unions, starting with the unions for public employees, and doing away with federal subsidies to airlines for maintaining service to and from certain regional airports in the Essential Air Service (EAS) program  - targeted airports located primarily in areas represented by Democrats.   In other words, funding for the FAA, just like raising the debt ceiling, has been politicized with no concern for consequences to our country. All this caused by people who are supposedly looking out for the USA, and who say they're concerned about saving and creating U.S. jobs and reducing the federal deficit.

     Subsequently, the President and Congressional leaders were able to get a quick, basic agreement signed to temporarily extend funding for the FAA until Congress reconvenes, meaning we'll have to relive this issue, plus more cost-cutting "negotiations" in the very near future.

     What can citizens like you and me do?  Two big things:  (1) Educate ourselves about candidates for public office - even those who are running for local office (local elections not only impact us locally, but also launch political careers) -  what they say and do, what they believe or don't believe, and who contributes to their campaigns, and vote in every election for the candidates who we believe are the most motivated by a desire to serve, have good ideas and ideals, are qualified to do the job, and will get positive results, and (2) support American businesses who create and maintain jobs in the USA by using the services and buying the goods and products of those businesses and promoting those businesses to your family and friends.  In these two ways, we as individuals can effect change for the good of our country. 
***********
We create and keep U.S. jobs when we demand, promote, and buy Made in USA goods and products.

Ed. Note:  Last week, I recommended Made in USA cereal bars.  Two that I omitted:

·         Annie's Organic Granola Bars - Product of USA by Annie's, Berkeley, CA

            (http://www.annies.com)
      ·         Nature's Path Granola Bars - Product of USA by Nature's Path Foods, Blaine, WA
            ( http://www.naturespath.com/)

Like to eat a "power" bar before or after your run, walk, or workout?  Here are some recommended "Made in USA" power/nutrition bars, and some not recommended, outsourced ones made by so-called "American" companies. Please feel free to post your own research to this blog!

This week's recommended products:

·         Eating Right Nutrition Bar - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc.,

      Pleasanton, CA

            ( http://www.lucernefoods.com/)
 
      ·         Kind and Kind Plus Fruit and Nut Bars - Product of Kind Healthy Snacks,
            New York, NY
           (http://www.kindsnacks.com/)

NOT Recommended (made elsewhere):\

 

·         Clif

      ·         Luna
      ·         Power
      ·         Pure Protein
      ·         Balance
      ·         Lara

Blog Sources:

http://businessjournalism.org/2011/08/04/aviation-woes-the-ripple-effects-of-the-faa-shutdown/

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/04/138968210/unionizing-flight-subsidies-central-to-faa-standoff

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/19/delta.severed.cities/

http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/x-50%20role_files/essentialairservice.htm

http://www.usaspending.gov/search?query=&searchtype=&formFields=eyJQU0NDYXRlZ29yeUNvZGUiOlsiWSJdfQ==

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-08-03/partial-faa-shutdown

http://www.events-in-music.com/