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