Green Jobs

Minnie Bee's Rant:
 
     The innovation of green technology and the expansion of green jobs are both important to our economy and significant to the future of a healthy and sustainable environment. However, both of these benefits are cancelled out when we send green jobs overseas by outsourcing and/or by importing foreign-made products.
 
     Obviously, when we outsource jobs, we eliminate those jobs here. For example, we saw this happen in the closing of light bulb manufacturing plants in Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio when Congress passed legislation in 2007 to stop the production of the less energy-efficient incandescent light bulb and switch to the production of the greener CFL light bulb. Instead of converting existing U.S. plants to CFL production, corporations such as GE closed their U.S. manufacturing plants and sent these jobs to China where the bulbs could be made more cheaply. Although Republicans, as well as some American workers, have blamed the government for this, the real blame lies with the greed of GE and other similarly unpatriotic multinational corporations who put profit above the welfare of the country where they have made, and continue to make, billions of dollars.
 
     Similarly, when we import foreign-made products, we not only do away with existing and future U.S. jobs, but due to the unregulated, environmentally-unfriendly manufacturing processes employed by foreign countries such as China, we cancel out many of the benefits of using green technology. This has happened with the manufacturing of CFL bulbs in China; it also has happened when U.S. solar energy companies, including some of those who received Federal loans and grants from the Department of Energy, have used more cheaply-made solar panels manufactured in China.

      Congress needs to toughen up our trade policies with U.S. trading partners. It should level the playing field by passing the China Trade bill, which would levy a U.S. tariff on goods exported from China to the U.S. This trade policy also should be expanded in the future to include all U.S. trading partners who inequitably levy tariffs on goods exported from the U.S. Furthermore, any future loans or grants from the U.S. government to promote green technology should incorporate the retention and creation of jobs in the U.S. by mandating the use of "Made in USA" components. Many corporations and the politicians that receive big campaign contributions from them won't agree, but so what? If they don't, then let's stop buying their products whenever possible, and let's vote those politicians out of office.

     Green technology that originates in the United States and the green jobs that come from this technology should stay in the United States. If corporations that make billions from U.S. consumers and receive billions more from the government in the form of tax breaks and loopholes, subsidies, and loans and grants won't keep green jobs here, then the government needs to do it.

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

Happy Halloween!  Hopefully, you would like to give "Made in USA" candy to the trick-or-treaters at your door, but it's not that easy to do these days.   Most of our favorite "American" candy that is carried nationwide, such as Mars and Hershey's, are now made elsewhere.  Unless you happen to live in a location where our recommended candy is made, with the exception of Necco products, which can still be found nationally, and See's candy, which is carried by most Lord and Taylor stores, you will have to order online. Check labels before buying, and feel free to post your own research to this blog.  Remember, "distributed by" or "manufactured by" does not mean it was made here, regardless of the company address!

 
This week's recommended products:

·         Necco Wafers, Clark Bars, Mighty Malt Malted Milk Balls, Mary Janes, Canada Mints, Valentine Conversation Hearts and other candy products - Made in USA by New England Confectionery Co. (NECCO), Revere, MA

·         AmeriCandy - Made in USA by AmeriCandy Co., Inc., Louisville, KY

·         Bissinger's Candy - Made in USA by Bissinger's, St. Louis, MO

·         Hammond's Candies - Made in USA by Hammond's Candy Factory, Denver, CO

·         See's Candies - Made in USA by See's Candy Shops, Inc., Carson, CA

·         Stewart Candy - Made in USA by Stewart Candy Co., Waycross, GA

·         Sweet's Candy - Made in USA by Sweet Candy Co., Salt Lake City, UT

·         Wolfgang Candy - Made in USA by Wolfgang Candy Co., Inc., York, PA

 

 Blog Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706933.html

http://www.ibew.org/articles/09daily/0908/090810_GEShutdown.htm   

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/28/1020990/-Reid-holding-vote-on-China-trade-bill-before-Obamas-jobs-plan

"Where Solyndra  said yes, others demurred," Steven Mufson & Carol Leonnig, The Washington Post, 9/27/11

Shifting The Balance

Minnie Bee's Rant:

     A few days ago, I happened to catch a TV interview of two participants in the New York City "Occupy Wall Street" movement.  I don't know their names, or if they were movement "leaders."  They were both male - one black and one white -  and both appeared to be in their early to mid-thirties.   Both were articulate and thoughtful.  They were asked by the interviewer why they were there, and both gave similar answers.  They were there because they thought that ordinary people - the 99% -  no longer had a voice in government;  one said we needed to change the balance of power; the other, that he thought there needed to be a paradigm shift. 

     Lately, media people have been saying that the "Occupy Wall Street" movement has no central message.  I disagree.  The message - loud and clear - is that 1% of the households in this country have most of the money and most of the power, and the rest of us - the 99% - have what's left over;  that this is out-of-whack, imbalanced, and that something has to give.

     In the early to mid 2000's, our financial institutions were imbalanced:  companies and their stocks were overvalued;  houses were overvalued by bank appraisers, and banks made loans to people who, in a more balanced environment, would not have qualified for them.  Something had to give...and, ultimately, it did.  The banks, Wall Street, and the housing market went down like a house of cards.  The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is saying that something has to give...and it does.  The balance needs to be shifted.

     In its usual rush to oversimplify, sensationalize, and sell something, some in the mainstream (and not so mainstream) media have been comparing "Occupy Wall Street" to the "Tea Party" movement.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  While both groups are grassroots movements  of primarily middle class people who are seeking empowerment,  that's pretty much where the similarities end.  The Tea Party is a group of largely white, older Americans who, being political conservative extremists, distrust and dislike "big government,"  and favor the same deregulation mentality that perpetuated the economic imbalance we are now experiencing.   

     On the other hand, Occupy Wall Streeters  (or OWLLS as I like to refer to them  for Occupy WaLL Street and for their wisdom), are a racially, ethnically, chronologically (although primarily younger) and politically diverse group.  While they tend to be more left of center, they are primarily folks who realize that our economic and political systems need fixing,  and think that the ordinary guy and gal in the street should have more of a voice in fixing them  - "one person, one vote," as one of the interviewed men stated -  and that this means, above all else, that the balance of power needs to be shifted back from the 1% and more in the direction of the 99%.

    There are several things that can be done to  enhance the process of shifting the balance.  Of primary importance, of course, is putting more of the 99% back to work.  This is even more urgent in light of the approximately 40,000 troops who will be returning home from Iraq by the end of the year.   The American Jobs Act (AJA) will help to do that.   Like all things fashioned by humans, the AJA is not perfect.  One can always find fault with anything if that is one's focus.  However, it would put Americans back to work, and put them back to work in constructive ways: repairing , renovating, and rebuilding roads, bridges, rail, airports  and  schools.  In addition, more teachers, firefighters, police, and other first responders would be retained or rehired to teach our kids and keep our neighborhoods and families safe;  government loans for small businesses would  be more accessible;  payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits would be extended, and hiring and retraining programs  would help veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars find work.  The AJA, in fact, as forecasted by nonpartisan economists, would create approximately 2 million jobs.

     The AJA is not an end in itself, but a step in the right direction in shifting the balance.  Once it's in place, it can be refined and adjusted as needed.  The AJA needs to be passed;  the balance must be shifted.

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

Is your breakfast choice the quick, convenient, portable toaster pastry?  If it is, choose a competitively-priced "Made in USA" brand for your next purchase.  Check labels before buying, and feel free to post your own research to this blog. Remember, "distributed by" or "manufactured by" does not mean it was made here, regardless of the company address!

This week's recommended products:

      ·         Nature's Path Toaster Pastries - Product of USA by Nature's Path Foods, Inc.,
           Blaine, WA

·         Pantry Essentials Toaster Pastries - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

NOT Recommended (made elsewhere):

·         Kellogg's Pop Tarts

 

Blog Sources:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/reports/american-jobs-act.pdf

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/08/fact-sheet-american-jobs-act

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/the-infrastructure-two-fer-jobs-now-and-future-growth/

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-protests-on-ge-ceos-lawn/

New Trade Agreements - A Deal Or A Steal?

     With little fanfare, new trade agreements favored by the Obama administration were passed by both houses of Congress this week.  The agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama were dubbed by the media as "the most significant expansion of trade relations in nearly two decades" (The Washington Post, 10/13/11.)  These agreements, particularly the one with South Korea, have the potential to create 280,000 American jobs and boost U.S. exports by more than $12 billion.

     At the risk of sounding like a pessimist, or worse yet, a naysayer, the new trade agreements leave me feeling more skeptical than hopeful.  First of all, although the agreements had been stalled in Congress, both houses suddenly and quickly passed them.  Anything that's passed so easily by the present Congress, especially by the Republicans,  is, in my opinion, automatically suspect.  It usually means that the middle class is getting screwed, while the rich get richer. 
   
     Secondly, the stalled China trade aka "China currency" bill has not been passed, leaving me even more concerned.  This bill would significantly benefit  United States workers because it would levy a U.S. tariff on exported goods from China in order to stop China from manipulating its currency to gain a larger share of the export market.  In my opinion, this measure is long overdue, and would result in leveling the playing field for U.S. exports, thereby decreasing the U.S. trade deficit  with China and potentially creating more U.S. jobs.   

     To be sure, how the new trade agreements ultimately pan out will be decided by how well they are implemented, i.e., how well they are monitored and regulated.   According to the Obama administration, it has included "high standards for protecting labor rights and environmental concerns"  (The Washington Post, 10/13/11) in the agreements with Colombia and Panama.  But what of the agreement with South Korea, potentially the riskier of the agreements for workers in the U.S?  While exports are predicted to increase as a result of all of the new agreements , the amount of imports to the U.S., particularly from South Korea which has the 15th largest economy in the world, will likely increase, possibly cancelling out the positive benefits for American workers. 

      The track record for U.S. trade agreements has not been good news for American workers in recent years.  Take the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), for example.  This agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico created the largest area of free trade in the world, and involves approximately 450 million workers, producing about $17 trillion in goods and services.  However, according to the most recent data (2009), NAFTA has resulted in a total of $397 billion in exports from the United States, while imports to the U.S. total $438 billion - a net trade deficit of $41 billion for the United States.  Former President Clinton, who signed NAFTA, appearing on David Letterman last week, said that the success of a trade agreement depends largely on how well the agreement is regulated, and implied that NAFTA has not been regulated as intended.  

      A significant part of the present Republican plan for creating jobs is to do away with regulation.  Presumably, this would include the regulation of trade agreements, making it even easier for U.S. corporations to outsource U.S. jobs, and import products from foreign countries.    Let's hope that  the Republican plan is not the plan that Congress or  we, the people, support, and that for our sake, all trade agreements are well--regulated.

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

Keep warm in cooler weather with a good, hot, tasty cup or bowl of Made in USA soup.  The best soups, of course, are the ones homemade from scratch with locally-grown or grown-in- the-USA produce, raised-in-the-USA meat, poultry, or seafood, and other Made in USA ingredients. However, if you don't have the time to make your own, these ready-made soups, produced in the USA, are a good option.  If your favorite is not listed here, chances are it is made elsewhere (but being human, I could overlook something.)  Check labels before buying others, and feel free to post your own research to this blog.  Remember, "distributed by" or "manufactured by" does not mean it was made here, regardless of the company address!

This week's recommended products:

      ·         Nature's Promise "Naturals" soup - Product of USA by Foodhold USA, LLC,

            Landover, MD

·         Campbell's Chunky, Select Harvest, and Condensed soups (canned and microwaveable) - Cooked in USA by Campbell's Soup Co., Camden, NJ

·         Maruchan Ramen, Instant Lunch, and Yakisoba soups - Made in USA by Maruchan, Inc., Irvine, CA

·         Shore Lunch soup mix - Made in USA by Sportsman Recipes, Inc., Rome, GA

·         Kitchen Basics Vegetable, Chicken, Seafood, and Beef cooking stock - Product of USA by Kitchen Basics, Brecksville, OH

·         Streit's Matzo Ball and Soup mix, and Egg Drop soup mix - Product of USA by Aron Streit, Inc., New York, NY

·         Manischewitz Ball Soup, and Matzo Balls in Broth (canned in glass jars), and

      Matzo Ball and Soup mix - Product of USA by The Manischewitz Co., Secaucus, NJ

·         Annie Chun's soup bowls - Product of USA by Annie Chun, Inc., San Rafael, CA

·         Eating Right soup cups - Product of USA by Lucerne Foods, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

·         Dr. McDougall's soup cups - Product of USA by Dr. McDougall's Right Foods, San Francisco, CA

·         Safeway soup mix - Product of USA by Safeway, Inc., Pleasanton, CA

 Blog Sources:

"Congress approves 3 trade accords," Zachary Goldfarb & Lori Montgomery, The Washington Post, 10/13/11

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/28/1020990/-Reid-holding-vote-on-China-trade-bill-before-Obamas-jobs-plan

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/09/us-economy-global-weekahead-idUSTRE7981XI20111009

http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swGkYPOJJrs&feature=related (link to Letterman interview of Clinton)

      

Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent

Minnie Bee's Rant:

     I'm stealing part of a line from Shakespeare (Richard III) because it seems appropriate to describe what's happening in the United States at this moment.  Americans, or at least the 96 - 99% of us (depending on who and what you read) who are not millionaires, are discontented with the economy,  the job market, the housing market, banks, Wall Street, special interest groups, partisan politics, and congressional gridlock.   As a result,  many  of us "99 percenters" are letting it be known that "we're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!"  We are taking to the streets  in the hopes of lighting a fire under those who have the power to do something to solve our nation's problems. 

     Will it work?  Maybe.  The media is taking notice.  Tough-talking Republican politicians are beginning to sound less tough.   The American public is beginning to feel more empowered as we flex our First Amendment muscles.  Occupy Wall Street; occupy K Street; call or e-mail your congressional representatives and tell them to pass the China trade bill to put us on a level playing field with China, and pass the American Jobs Act to create more U.S. jobs; buy American "Made in USA" products; tell your friends to  buy "Made in USA" products; ask your stores to carry "Made in USA" products, and vote, vote, vote for candidates who will care about and represent the 99%!
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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:

Long weekends are a perfect time to enjoy waffles, French toast and pancakes.  Chances are you'll want syrup with these, but finding a "Made in USA" syrup is nearly impossible, unless you happen to live in or visit Vermont, upstate New York, or northwestern Pennsylvania, where you can buy many delicious, locally-made syrups.  The only nationally-marketed syrups that I could find that come close to being "Made in USA" are two that are products of the U.S. and Canada.  Please feel free to post your own research to this blog!

·         locally-made syrups - Made in USA by farms in VT, NY and PA

·         Archer Farms Pure Maple Syrup - Product of USA and Canada by Target Brands, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

·         Wegman's Organic Maple Syrup - Product of USA and Canada by Wegman's Food Markets, Inc., Rochester, NY

Blog Sources:

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/109083/the-richest-states-in-america

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/09/eveningnews/main20117885.shtml

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/09/us-economy-global-weekahead-idUSTRE7981XI20111009

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/28/1020990/-Reid-holding-vote-on-China-trade-bill-before-Obamas-jobs-plan        

The Power Of One: Part One

Minnie Bee's Rant:

     A recent birthday has caused me to reflect that in the past few months, by focusing on my feelings of discouragement, frustration, and anger over the state of the economy and the failure of our political system,  I have allowed myself to lose sight of the reason I started blogging in the first place:  because I believe in the power of one to make a difference.  Of course, if one happens to have fame, or at least notoriety, plus a lot of money, that power is multiplied tenfold.  That's why I believe that such people should take the opportunity to use their power for positive change.  Yes, I'm an idealist, but it's still a pleasant surprise when one of these people, particularly a business-type, actually does this.  From now on, when an influential person breaks from the pack to act in a public way for the good of the country, I will try to showcase their efforts here.  Hence, the "Part One" part of the title for this week's rant.           

     My first example of the power of one is Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks. Schultz, who is Brooklyn born and raised, has apparently not forgotten his humble beginnings in the Brooklyn projects.  He has been making the rounds of TV programs in the past month, expressing frustration over the extreme partisanship in U.S. politics these days, and calling on Americans to put concern for their country first.  Schultz believes, as I do, that campaign finance reform is essential to the political and economic health of our country. 

     Schultz thinks that the large amounts of money given to political campaigns by corporations to further their own special interests is a significant cause of the political gridlock preventing lawmakers from moving our country forward.  He has started a program primarily aimed at his fellow corporate CEOs and business owners called "Upward Spiral."   Using his position as a bully pulpit, Schultz is calling on these business leaders to take two pledges. 
    
     The first pledge is geared towards stopping the influence of big business on U.S. politics.  This pledge asks Americans, particularly "business leaders," to withhold political contributions to elected members of Congress and the President until they come together to forge a long term plan that "sets our nation on stronger long-term fiscal footing."  This pledge represents a positive first effort by a U.S. CEO towards campaign finance reform.  However, it fails to include some important components.  First of all, any successful effort at campaign finance reform must include four major ingredients: (1) acceptance by the majority of big business CEOs and owners, (2) acceptance by the majority of members of both houses of Congress, (3) acceptance and approval by the majority of Supreme Court justices, and (4) the mandated public disclosure of individual/corporate contributions over a specified amount (e.g., $500) to political action committees (PACs and Super PACs.)  Through the withholding of campaign contributions, Schultz's "Upward Spiral program attempts to directly address the first ingredient and to indirectly influence the second and third.  However, to date, only 22,291 individuals have taken this pledge, and just 97 "key supporters" aka big business CEOs and owners (of these 97, five are retired.)  Secondly, Schultz's pledge includes contributions to the President and already-elected members of Congress, but does not include giving to political challengers who are potential Presidents or elected members of Congress, or to PACs and Super PACs where wealthy donors typically hide their contributions.     

      The second pledge that Schultz asks fellow business leaders to take in his "Upward Spiral" program represents a positive first effort by a U.S. CEO to publicly organize businesses to put more people to work.  As head of Starbucks, Schultz employees approximately 200,000 people worldwide.  Over half of these jobs are in the U.S.  Schultz has also made it a practice to give benefits to any employee working 20 hours or more per week, and he believes that the U.S. needs to increase manufacturing jobs here. I would feel more comfortable if this second pledge specifically asked companies to hire more "Americans"  and/or to create more jobs in the "United States," although after listening to Schultz and looking at his own track record, I believe that this is his intent.  Furthermore, I would like to see Schultz put his money where his mouth is regarding U.S. manufacturing jobs by establishing a packaged Starbucks coffee or line of coffees that are eligible to bear the label "Made in USA."  At present, I have not discovered a packaged Starbucks coffee that bears this label. As of this blog post, 3,129 companies have taken this second pledge.
    
     As usual, there are some who immediately have criticized Schultz for what he is trying to do.  However, Schultz's activism is refreshing in a culture where money usually matters more than anything else.  In previous posts, I have talked about the need for a new, patriotic business model.  Schultz may be the real deal.
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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:

To jumpstart your morning, there's nothing like a good cup of coffee.  Although all coffee companies, even those in Hawaii, sometimes use coffee beans grown outside of the USA (the only USA coffee beans come from Hawaii), this is the only packaged coffee product on the market that I could find that is always totally manufactured in the USA:

·         New England Coffee - Made in USA by New England Tea and Coffee Co., Inc., Malden, MA

(http://www.newenglandcoffee.com)

Blog Sources:

http://www.upwardspiral2011.org/?gclid=CIzMjdy-yKsCFYiC5QodOyiD5A

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-hold-forum-today/story?id=14452295&page=3

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/14/eveningnews/main20106281.shtml

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-15/starbucks-schultz-urges-fellow-ceos-to-boycott-campaign-giving.html