Friday, December 02, 2016

Rupert Murdoch shows his true colors in serving the American people.

I never doubted for a minute the fact Rupert Murdoch is not interested in the best interests of the American people. I was probably one of the some that found the "family values" on FOX News was about corporate profits while giving that "Feel good feeling."

"W" thought the only way Americans could keep their jobs was to become a Third World Company. I suppose that is still a potential under Trump if his executive branch alone handles jobs leaving the USA.


The idea is not just to keep jobs in the USA, but, to keep well paying jobs in the USA. The idea is not to impoverish the employees in order to pay the 35 percent tariffs either. 


There are several methods of taxing the has to go into place before anyone can say the Trump paradigm of keeping jobs in the USA is the American Workers best friend.


December 2, 2016
By Chris Isidore

In an editorial Friday entitled "Trump's Carrier Shakedown," (click here) the newspaper argues that President-elect Donald Trump's pressuring the company not to move jobs is bad for the economy, and for the workers in the long run. It said Carrier wanted to move the line to Mexico to remain competitive in the market.

"As U.S. auto workers have learned the hard way, real job security depends on the profitability of the business," the paper's editorial page said. "If the extra costs of staying in Indianapolis erode that business, those workers will lose their jobs eventually in any case."

The paper argues that Carrier had no choice but to give into Trump's pressure because of the threat of a 35% tariff on goods imported from Mexico, as well as the fact that parent company United Technologies (UTX) gets $5.6 billion a year, or 10% of its revenue, from defense contracts....

The sixteenth amendment to the USA Constitution provides for the collection of income taxes from workers. Before the early 1900s there was no federal income tax. The country was supported by tarrifs.

The Tariff Act of 1789 (click here) insured the treasury of the federal government.

As time went by the American worker became a force to contend with the growth of big business. Women working for Ma Bell were among the first workers to unionize and hold a strike. With the burgeoning power of unions came the definition of what a living wage was and even a good wage, because, Americans were becoming a market place force as well. 

Wall Street did not complain to loudly when the American worker translated into profits with higher demands for products and the improvement of quality of life. Places like restaurants and ultimately hotels and the purchase of trailers became profitable businesses. The fact is when Wall Street opened in 1817 it was the American worker that made it possible. Investors were no longer limited to one company they owned, it was now possible to invest in many companies and receive profits in the way of stockholders. 

For the most part Americans were in a good and fair place for nearly a century. Then came globalization. One can argue globalization started in the 15th century with Columbus, but, there is no indication until the 18th century there was an impact on American workers. But, the indications were the import of foreign workers to replace American workers at a far lower wage. It wasn't until the "Age of GMC's Roger Smith" (click here) did the American worker begin to feel the impact of globalization. 

The car industry is a huge part of the American economy. In the 21st century the car is a part of the culture and finding alternatives to petroleum is important. But, the fact the auto industry was not booming in the '80's and '90's speaks to the stagnant economy within the USA. Corporate American with the burgeoning of the draconian CEO began to destroy the American economy and trapped workers into paradigms now called "The Working Poor."

The salary structure of workers has to improve, not the importing of or the destructive drilling and fracking by the petroleum industry of the land, if there is to be significant growth. When Americans can purchase homes without difficulty and send their children to college without significant debt there will be an economy to match those opportunities. Up to now, the American worker was at the mercy of Wall Street due to the timid nature of the political tone. Politicians actively sought corporate money to run for office and in that came a power to Wall Street; Wall Street exploited and ensnare workers into cheap wages and destroy unions. Then the American worker was made to be grateful for the pittance of a paycheckS they received and thank god for any mercy shown to them.

The idea American workers could be harnessed for poor pay rates and had no power otherwise the ideology of "Trickle Down Economics" has been the bastion of deception by the Republican Party of the USA. Workers grateful for their paychecks became brainwashed that if they demanded better wages and benefits the business would close down and their jobs would be gone. 

Now, today comes Donald Trump and is promises. He wants to closes the porous borders of the USA to illegal immigrants and hike the protections of American jobs. So far, Carrier is the only Wall Street company to experience that, but, it is a bitter sweet reality. Carrier 'got a deal' to leave about half of the planned jobs in the USA while receiving millions over ten years. In addition, the retention of American jobs even cost the employees and they had to accept less pay which returns us to the "Southern Business Style" of praying to god for solace of what is the vast numbers of working poor.

The USA doesn't want the Working Poor. It is a product of another Republican ideology called welfare to work. The USA wants good wages for their workers in recognition of the quality work they provide and the SPRING BOARD to much larger companies that can seek profits in other countries. The American Worker doesn't exist to be exploited, but, to provide an opportunity for profits that can be applied to building outside the USA. 

We'll see. I remain skeptical to the "Trump Effect" in Washington, DC. There is a long and standing ideology of Republicans that panders to corporate profits while abandoning workers to their holy men. That is going to be a challenge and if a tariff is to be retooled to serve the USA's worker it also serves the USA's economy. If a poll was taken today of the Congress, they would say, "What is a tariff and why would I vote for one." 

Mr. Trump has his work cut out for him and the American worker will be watching with expectations. Will those expectations be met or will they fall short of providing real jobs security in the USA?