NUMBER FIVE PRIORITY - ECONOMIC SANITY

After rebuilding the national defense systems (#1), restoring strength and morality to the armed forces (#2), tax cuts (#3) and tax reform (#4), the next in line is Economics.

Balancing the budget and reducing the national debt is being discussed by the Congress at the present time and we can only hope that the budget can be balanced quickly by cutting the spending programs in all phases of the government. This would be a wonderful campaign issue if any candidate could take the time to research and investigate the budget issues. The national debt is gradually getting reduced, but I haven't been convinced that anyone in Washington DC is serious about a debate on this complicated subject.

Trade Agreements

Researching the trade agreements from 1997 to the present has shown that the better the economy, the greater the deficit. In 1997 the July figures showed that the trade gap grew to 10 billion, which was an increase of 24.7% from June. July of 1999, the deficit jumped to over 17 billion (just in July). Last year's record 169 billion trade gap, could swell to 200 billion by the end of this year.

These figures are ridiculous! How can we be showing a growth in the trade deficit during such a good economy?

If NAFTA and GATT agreements are not working for the USA and are working for the World Trade Organization, we positively need new leadership! These trade agreements should be revised to benefit everyone involved. Somewhere in Washington DC there must be some one person who represents the USA in these agreements. I am not convinced that any candidate, seen so far, can be that someone.

There is another element to these trade agreements that doesn't want to be discussed by Washington DC. Our family stores throughout America are being replaced by the big box stores. A walk through these stores show Asian-made goods that are pure crap! I have been involved in the manufacturing of clothing for years, and the merchandise I find in the K-Mart and Walmart, are inferior starting with the fabrics used, buttons and zippers that need replacement after a washing or two and the thread that dissolves far too soon. I need some smart American to explain to me why the American government would promote the reduction of quality merchandise being imported by issuing corporate welfare money all over the world. The American taxpayer is footing the bill for these foreign companies to give them a "leg up." I want good quality American products back on the shelves for my use.

American Working Force

The unemployment figures look real good to the bureaucrats in power but these low figures represent the reduction of people collecting unemployment insurance and not the actual number of those unemployed. All over my state of California are executives as well as factory workers who have been laid off when their companies moved overseas or closed due to the big box competition. Most of these good people are working the minimum wage jobs just to meet their bills and keep their pride. This is a sad state of affairs and yet no one is discussing it.

I read an article recently that stated that nearly 30% of the American taxpayers owe back taxes to the I.R.S. This does not sound like a good economy to me. There is something terribly wrong in the attitude in Washington DC that disregards the workers that make the country so strong (or did)...

We must get our American companies back in production and if this treads on the toes of the World Trade Organization, then so be it!

Published in the September 1, 1999 issue of Ether Zone. Copyright © 1999 Ether Zone Online. Reposting permitted with this message intact.