Friday, November 30, 2012

The fix for the economy

       Alexander Hamilton, (Ten dollar bill dude) is credited as being the first American protectionism theorist. Let's look at some of his ideas.

1. "Protecting duties." (Tariffs.)
2. "Prohibition of rival articles or duties equivalent to prohibitions." (Outright import bans.)
3. "Prohibition of the exportation of the materials of manufactures." (Export bans on raw materials needed for industrialization here at home.)
4. "Pecuniary bounties." (Export subsidies, like those provided today by the Export-Import Bank and other programs.)
5. "Premiums." (Subsidies for key innovations. Today, we would call them research and development tax credits.)
6. "The exemption of the materials of manufactures from duty." (Import liberalization for industrial inputs, so some other country can be the raw materials exporter and we can industrialize.)
7. "Drawbacks of the duties which are imposed on the materials of manufactures." (Same idea, by means of tax rebates.)
8. "The encouragement of new inventions and discoveries at home, .and of the introduction into the United States of such as may have been made in other countries; particularly those, which relate to machinery." (Prizes for inventions and, more importantly, patents.)
9. "Judicious regulations for the inspection of manufactured commodities." (Regulation of product standards, as the USDA and FDA do today.)
10. "The facilitating of pecuniary remittances from place to place." (A sophisticated financial system.)
11. "The facilitating of the transportation of commodities." (Good infrastructure.)


       The basic idea here is to make sure American industry was given preference.  We forgot about that in the 80's.  In the 90's the factory workers, who now had no factories to work in, switched to construction jobs.  In the 00's those jobs began to dry up, as an economy that produces nothing cannot support itself.  So far, in the 10's we are seeing crippling unemployment, and the jobs that are being created don't pay as well as what was lost.  What do we do about it?

       Well, we begin by reinstating Hamilton's brilliant ideas.  That action alone will not immediately fix everything, but needs to be done.  Then we begin to assist the growth of companies that make pre-fabricated and modular homes.  Our workers mostly came from factories and switched to construction, and so are uniquely qualified for this.  The homes, or modules, are the same size as a standard shipping container.  This allows easy transport by road, rail, or ship.
       But to whom do we sell?  Our trade partners in Europe have regulations about historic areas, and their own protectionist policies.  But, much of India and Africa have a need.  We could provide them expertly built and wired homes, giving them no need to develop that particular set of skills domestically, and perpetuating the need to import homes from us.
       We would have a great export business for homes going in no time.  It would be a status symbol to have an "American Style" house.  This would set up further demand for American built goods.
       Once these trade partners are cemented, longing for the good stuff America can provide them, we leverage our true strength.  Food Production.  We do it better.  We do it cheaper.  We do it so well, we pay farmers to not grow food, just to keep the prices up.  Those prices are still a fraction of what the same food would cost in Europe.  
   
       I would point out, as well, that protecting American interests should not ever be a partisan issue.  Many say protectionism is something that the right disdains, as it hurts trade; and the left embraces, because it helps unions.  If it helps unions, that is only because they are covered under the broader category of "American".  If it hurts trade, the trade being hurt was not to our advantage anyway, so let it be hurt.  American dollars for sub-standard foreign goods is never a good trade.  

       Of course this idea is expressed facetiously.  Well halfway facetiously.  We do need to protect our interests better.  

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

If you have to say it...


       In life there are many things that need to be said.  "Excuse me", to someone with no situational awareness, "I love you" to your family, "I'm not going to tell you again" has a host of uses.  The point is there are things that need saying, and things you need to say, and there is a difference.  

       "I'm mature"  is never true if you have to say it.  Likewise, if you have to tell someone how tough you are; you aren't.  If you need to remind someone of how respected you are; sorry, you aren't.  If you mention to someone how "enlightened" you are, you clearly don't understand what the word means.  

       The same holds true for spreading your personal beliefs (manure), and yes, I am fully aware that I am doing exactly that, right now.  I am referring more to folks like the evangelical atheist.  The preachy vegan, telling you how wrong it is to eat meat, or use animal products; is completely unaware that they are not convincing anyone, and that the loudest voice is least convincing.  "Christians", you know the ones, they can't pray inside, where only God can see them; are the same as the preachy vegans.  

       One of my favorite points where speech is in direct contradiction to reality has to be "You deserve happiness".  (or a new car, home loan, etc.)  No one deserves anything, unless they have committed a crime.  Almost any encouraging words we have for each other stand with one foot in "lie", and the other in "truth".  Kid Rock had the right of it:  "You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve.

       I will end by letting you know the ugliest of truths you will have to face.  When you need to post, each day, how you are thankful for something just because its November; you are not thankful.  By your need to say you are, you are screaming that you are not.

Monday, November 5, 2012

A last minute plea for civil disobedience.

       What I am proposing is a little ridiculous, but if you are someone I have ever met, this will not be surprising.  See, being a "Third Party Voter" most of my life, in a solidly blue state (Illinois), I have come to despise the electoral college.  In Illinois, unless you vote democrat, you may as well stay home.
       The problems are legion with our current, electoral, approach, but let's recap.  Electors are not required to vote as instructed.  Districts are drawn by the party currently in control of the state.  (gerrymandered).  The two major parties have everything so figured out with polling, that they already know where to bother throwing money.
       It all adds up the same.  Your vote does not count.  Not directly.  Not even if your state or district votes your way.   
       So What I am suggesting is this:  If you are in a state that is "in play", vote your conscience.  Sleep the sleep of the just.  But if you are in a very red state, vote for Obama.  If you are in a solid blue, Romney.  Even if you are voting against your conscience.  Even if it will make no difference.  (It won't)
       Even states that "split their electorate" can participate.  In those states just apply the same rule at a district level.  (Blue districts vote red; red votes blue).
       The idea is for as many states as possible to have the slimmest possible margin of victory.  So that no matter who wins, the popular vote will not be the same as the electoral vote.  Maybe, if we do this enough, things will change.
       Maybe I'll win the lottery.  Maybe the tides will stop because I say so.  Maybe, in the long run, if you look at voting records rather than rhetoric, the two major party candidates are so similar it won't make a difference anyway.
       So get out and vote.  If you are in Ohio it might even mean something.