Category: Making it in America
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Manufacturing Strategy Idea Gets A Boost
Over the weekend I wrote about Speaker Pelosi talking at Netroots Nation about the upcoming \”Making It In America\” initiative that the Congress will be taking up after the summer recess. CNN\’s Money.com describes what\’s coming, Democrats kicked off the campaign last week by passing the \”U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act\” — a mundane vehicle for…
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Pelosi: Congress\’ Coming \’Making It In America\’ Initiative
At the Netroots Nation convention today in Las Vegas, Speaker Nancy Pelosi talked about an upcoming Congressional initiative to help restore American manufacturing. The initiative, called “Making It In America” will include a series of bills to be introduced after the summer recess. A few days ago Politico wrote about the upcoming initiative, Democrats are…
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Netroots Nation Panel: The 2010 Elections: Channeling the Power of Jobs, Populism and the Angry Voter
Will you be at Netroots Nation in Las Vegas later this week? I will be on a panel, The 2010 Elections: Channeling the Power of Jobs, Populism and the Angry Voter, Thursday at 10:30am. Come on by and attend the panel! Here is the complete description: The 2010 Elections: Channeling the Power of Jobs, Populism…
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We are No. 2; We are No. 2!
For 110 years America has reigned as the world’s number one manufacturing nation. Next year, China is expected to wrest that title from the United States. Last year, the U.S. manufactured $1.7 trillion worth of goods; China fell second at $1.6 trillion. Next year, China is expected to edge out America with production worth $1.87…
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After Saying China Manipulates Currency Treasury Dept. Declines To Say China Manipulates Currency
In April Treasury Secretary Geithner sidestepped an official declaration that China is manipulating its currency by acknowledging that China \”pegs\” its currency and that this is harming the world-s economy, but put off a formal declaration of currency manipulation. Today Geithner officially declined to label China a currency manipulator. According to a Wall Street Journal…
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The Grip of the Old Economy
President Obama touted his National Export Initiative this week, boasting that in the first quarter of this year, exports were up 17% from a year ago. Increased exports abroad generate jobs at home. Given the failure of the Senate to pass badly needed jobs bills, the collapse of consumer confidence, plunging home sales, declining factory…
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U.S. Politicians Deny the Obvious Injury; U.S. Manufacturing Bleeds
In the film, “Monte Python and the Holy Grail,” King Arthur severs both of the Black Knight’s arms during a sword fight, but the Black Knight attempts to battle on. The king admonishes him: “You’ve got no arms left.” The knight refutes that: “Yes I have.” “Look,” at the obvious, the king tells him. “Just…
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Chinese Paper Subsidies: Boring? Jobs: Not Boring!
China is cheating again. Yawn… China is subsidizing its paper industry ($33 billion 2002-09) and has tripled their production, and now is the largest producer of paper and paper products. Yawn. This has cost jobs and approximately 400,000 remaining American jobs are at risk. And the companies they work for. NOT so yawn! The Economic…
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China Loosening Currency Peg – Update: Never Mind?
China\’s central bank announced over the weekend that it will gradually loosen their currency from its tie to the dollar (but see note below). China said they will allow the currency to appreciate, saying that their economy is recovering. This appreciation will encourage Chinese consumers to boost consumption and is good for American manufacturing and…
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America’s Future Now! Three Days of Conference, Years of Work Ahead
The Campaign for America\’s Future’s America’s Future Now! conference just finished. It revealed a remarkable unity of vision, and a careful balance in troubled times. Progressives came together and credited President Obama and the Congressional Democrats for accomplishments so far: Comprehensive health care reform. A Recovery Act that kept us from falling off the cliff.…