Thursday, May 28, 2015

I think AFL-CIO President Trumpka is correct to speak out about the wrongful path of support for USA labor.

May 28, 2015
By Susan Page

WASHINGTON — The nation's most powerful labor leader, (click here) vowing to defeat President Obama's key trade legislation in the House next month, warned Hillary Clinton of serious political consequences if she fails to take a stand against the Pacific trade pact that the president is campaigning for as a major part of his legacy.

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, predicted that no more than 20 House Democrats would vote for Trade Promotion Authority, the "fast-track" bill that on Friday passed the Senate.

"Thirteen Democrats left their base," he said of the Senate vote in an interview with Capital Download. "They decided to pass something that was going to cost jobs and lower wages, and they're going to have to answer to their constituencies for that." He added: "They'll be held accountable; there's no question about that."...

The Sander's campaign in closer to the focus of the unions than the Hillary campaign seems to be. The unions have a real plight and requires help from the elected authorities.

The unions are important to uphold the USA Middle Class. Anyone running for office can't possibly support the Middle Class without supporting the unions. The USA's economy runs on the well being AND growth of the Middle Class.  

After the 2008 global economic collapse (The Great Recession) it was obvious how important the Middle Class was the economy. The USA economy fell apart when the Middle Class found acceleration into poverty. The housing market was completely lost. I am sure there were Wall Streeters that didn't appreciate the terrible outcome of the Bush economy, but, the majority of the people effected was the USA Middle Class. 

The Former Secretary Clinton has seen the good work of collaboration of USA business interests and those of foreign governments. This is a speech in Zambia.

...The United States (click here) will do what we can to help American and Zambian companies do business together. We want to help work toward lowering trade barriers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, because, unfortunately, the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa trade at a lower level than any region in the world. And there are so many opportunities for growth just within the region: lower trade barriers; invest in infrastructure, health, health and education, cut down on corruption, which I addressed yesterday both publicly and privately and I will continue to address across the world, not just here and not just in Africa. Because we know very well that corruption is a hidden tax on businesses, and you can’t expect to be able to do business if at every stage along the way of setting up and producing and then distributing and marketing, you have to pay somebody who is not a productive member of your team. So we’re going to do everything we can to try to help on that. (Applause.)...

This is an example of what makes the unions and Middle Class nervous. A country, well deserving, needs help in moving it's domestic conditions to a platform where an economy can be productive. Those with money to invest will join the monies of the USA programs and seek to build a better economy for countries like Zambia. This investment is necessary simply because Zambia has little money of it's own to bring about change. 

I didn't note a date on the speech, but, it is on the main e-page of the site as well and states Secretary Clinton. (click here)

The objectives of the The American Chamber of Commerce Zambia, are to further the development of commerce between the United States of America and the business community and the Government of Zambia, to promote the interests of its members in trade and investment between and in the two countries, and to gather and disseminate information on trade and investment between the United States of America and Zambia.

The problem is difficult to put into context where Americans are concerned because the majority of the American people have an education. Even a high school education is more than many adults in other countries have obtained. Americans are a ready work force, but, countries such as this are not. Much of their early economies look toward manufacturing to begin trade.

We have been there when there was massive outsourcing to China and India. The American people always suffer when trade agreements are instituted by the USA. Always. 

Sometimes I think the USA foreign policy is so rewarding for those bringing together Wall Street (US Chamber of Commerce/American Chamber of Commerce) and overseas government to improve the condition of the people, those elected in the USA forget who exactly elected them. 

I am confident the Former Secretary holds many nations of people in her heart today in satisfaction of her work. It was no doubt satisfying work. But, THE DISCONNECT to the Former Secretary and President Obama is that the American people literally trade places with the people benefiting from USA generosity. The reason Americans trade places is because they lose their jobs. Those jobs are exported. 

The way Wall Street handles their investments in these interests is to grab at cheap labor. These people are not too bright. The CEOs get sugar rushes over this. They abandon any loyalty to the American people, seek cheap labor and then expect the American people to continue to purchase their goods. 

The motivations of the American administrations that have caused these problems are all wrong.

Let me state that again. The motivations of the American administrations that have caused these problems are all wrong.

The American administrations were elected by the American people that are primarily Middle Class. Those people should come first. The USA has debt to pay. Our economy has to pay taxes to protect the country. Our national security relies on a strong economy and the sovereign strength of the USA. Outsourcing of the USA economy is not good foreign policy.

The American/United States Chamber of Commerce are anti-American economists seeking their sugar surge. 

Trade relations between the USA and other countries has to rely on EQUITY in trade. In other words, when the USA seeks trade with Zambia the economy of Zambia has to stand on it's own with commodities to trade. It not only has to stand on it's own, it has to have labor that is not living in squalor. 

When the USA, in foreign relations, seek trade relations there can be no policies agreed upon if the labor of the country will not improve in their quality of life. We have witnessed what good will does to both the people of foreign countries and the people of the USA. It is morally reprehensible. It is disgusting. Wall Street rolls in mountains of money and the average citizen of both countries suffers. 

The facilitators of these foreign policies are greed merchants. They don't care about the good will of the USA and the monies that flows into a country to assist in growing trade, they want their sugar high. They want their bonuses and they don't give a hoot about bankruptcy if that where their wealth comes from.

The problem in foreign countries to bring about a quality of life lies in ending the chronic poverty AND the wars that exist in any of the Third World. Wall Street cannot help the Third World. Third World countries need help, but, it isn't in cheap labor. Cheap labor be it in the USA or any other country is abuse of power of the government. 

The wars that exist in Africa are causing complete disruption of any attempt to bring people out of poverty. Kenya is a prime example. Israel, the USA and many Western countries have invested in Kenya. What good has it done? The country is a two tier social system; the wealthy and the poor.  

By David Malingha Doya
Bloomberg News

NAIROBI, Kenya — President Uhuru Kenyatta’s (click here) push to fight corruption, which forced five ministers to leave their posts pending a probe, may be backfiring.

Less than a month after he ordered the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission to investigate 170 officials for fraud, Kenyatta suspended the chairman of the agency and his deputy on April 23 on allegations of misconduct. The two officials resigned before testifying at a tribunal.

Instead of instilling confidence that Kenya is serious about tackling widespread bribery and fraud, Kenyatta’s actions have given his critics more ammunition to fault the government in the face of rising attacks by militants from neighboring Somalia. The main opposition, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has called Kenyatta’s graft probe a whitewash that serves to protect his allies while avoiding the bribery of security officials that may be enabling the attackers.

“Corruption has created more holes in our security posture than Swiss cheese has holes,” Aly-Khan Satchu, chief executive officer of Rich Management, an adviser to wealthy investors, said by email from the capital, Nairobi. “We need to address this nexus of corruption/insecurity because this remains the biggest risk to the Kenya rising story.”...

The one country that understands and appreciates what a Middle Class can do for it's economy is China. That realization was only made in recent years and after a global economic collapse. We are only in the past year or so appreciating the Middle Class of China. It will take the end of the next five year plan to see the Chinese Middle Class expand, grow and become a thriving economy.

In order for trade to work both countries have to have a Middle Class that are consumers to traded products. Surcharges and export/import taxes can only seek to balance the trade, but, when the relationship is one sided nothing is going to change the outcomes of the people on either side of the deal. 

The reason China will be a good trading partner to the USA is because it has many people to purchase products produced in China. When China has a full compliment of Middle Class it will accommodate several countries to it's vibrant economy. 

Trade relations should never be about wealth. It should be about economies, people and a relationship that sustains peace and global economic responsibility to each other.

The focus of foreign trade policies is in very poor focus of the people and that has to change. It has to change with President Obama and all subsequent administrations. 

China is not an example of good USA foreign policy. It is an example of 'leaders that finally get it.' 

USA foreign policy has to address poverty, violence and environmental stewardship. The policy has to start small while it grows in sophistication. If that isn't USA policy, then the administration is worthless. 
NAIROBI, Kenya — President Uhuru Kenyatta’s push to fight corruption, which forced five ministers to leave their posts pending a probe, may be backfiring.
Less than a month after he ordered the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission to investigate 170 officials for fraud, Kenyatta suspended the chairman of the agency and his deputy on April 23 on allegations of misconduct. The two officials resigned before testifying at a tribunal.
Instead of instilling confidence that Kenya is serious about tackling widespread bribery and fraud, Kenyatta’s actions have given his critics more ammunition to fault the government in the face of rising attacks by militants from neighboring Somalia. The main opposition, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has called Kenyatta’s graft probe a whitewash that serves to protect his allies while avoiding the bribery of security officials that may be enabling the attackers.
“Corruption has created more holes in our security posture than Swiss cheese has holes,” Aly-Khan Satchu, chief executive officer of Rich Management, an adviser to wealthy investors, said by email from the capital, Nairobi. “We need to address this nexus of corruption/insecurity because this remains the biggest risk to the Kenya rising story.”
- See more at: http://amestrib.com/news/kenya-s-corruption-fight-backfires-security-gaps-exposed#sthash.AH688RMu.dpuf