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