There is a controversy (at least to some) brewing on the “buy American” provisions of Obama’s economic stimulus plan.
The “buy American” provisions would require major public works projects to favor U.S. steel, iron and manufacturing over imports.
This is essential to force consumers of infrastructure projects to buy American — it is an American stimulus bill. America does not have enough money to stimulate the entire world. For decades, U.S. corporations have been exporting jobs and importing products from around the world. This has resulted in unemployment, followed by more unemployment.
Multi-national companies, like IBM and hundreds of others, are not American companies. IBM has almost 70% of all its employees outside the U.S. and routinely lays off U.S. workers and hires abroad. It is false to call IBM an American company, just because its headquarter is in the U.S. Likewise, for Exxon, General Electric, etc. Halliburton actually relocated its headquarter to Dubai and receives $BILLIONS every year from U.S. taxpayers — moving their headquarters is a rare example of Halliburton being honest.
Without the “buy American” provision then the stimulus bill will be stimulating businesses in other countries and motivating multi-nationals to lay off in the U.S. and hire abroad. Watch the Republicans scream and yell that it is “protectionism”. Yes, it is. So what! It is about time that the U.S. started protecting its own citizens. Hopefully, Obama and the rest of the Democrats will not cave and remove the language. Let the rest of world protect their citizens. Dump NAFTA and the hundreds of other trade deals that are not in the best interest of ORDINARY Americans.
Remember — do not be misled into thinking protectionism brought on the Great Depression. The U.S. is already in a Depression and has been the biggest advocate of free trade in the history of the world. It has not helped and if the U.S. continues to be a “free trader” things will get much worse in the U.S. Let’s redefine corporations based on how many employees they employ in the U.S. If we require that 2/3rds of the employees be in the U.S., there will be very few, if any, large American corporations. Think about it — and try to name one!
America is doomed.
[...] only do “American” multi-national companies employ a majority of foreigners, they also sponsor thousands of foreigners each year to work in the U.S. via H-1B visas. For [...]
[...] This has resulted in unemployment , followed by more unemployment . Multi-national companies, like IBM and hundreds of others, are not American companies. IBM has almost 70% of all its employees outside the U.S. and routinely lays off …Continue Reading [...]
I’m still a little confused on your blog here. Do you really believe this? I do not say you’re wrong, but you will have to make the best discussion to convince other people of your point.
Could you actually offer us with any extra means on this theme?
[...] American companies, like IBM, employ more people in India than in America. Such companies should not even be considered America companies. Rather, they are enemies of America and should be treated [...]