Sometimes Politicians Make Me Angry

*This is a Ranting Post. Proceed with caution*

Last night we watched Michael Moore's late 80's film, Roger and Me. This film is about the hideous decline of Flint, Michigan, as GM Motors laid off hundreds of thousands of workers to move its factories to Mexico. The town's economy nose-dives as the workers are told by President Reagan to move to union-free southern states, and the only steady jobs available belong to guards at the ever-growing prison and the deputy sheriff, who finds himself evicting 24 homes in one day, and several on Christmas Eve.

This morning a yahoo headline, Bush: Protectionism Will Cost U.S. Jobs caught my eye, and yet again I am amazed by political doublethink. I would like to take the time to make some fairly obvious points.

First and Foremost, it is very nice that every president since Reagan has recommended and promised more and better adult job-training facilities. It would be even nicer if they undid the damage that was done during the Reagan Era and worked to make all colleges and universities more affordable for everyone so we don't have 22 year-olds graduating (or 20 year-olds dropping out) with $20,000+ in debt.

I don't know how many white-collar professionals are aware of this, but job training is not about personal growth. Job training about learning to push buttons on a screen or operate a construction equipment. At the very best, job training facilities give great workshops on creating resumes and acing interviews. "I know many Americans feel uneasy about new competition and worry that trade will cost jobs," Bush said. "So the federal government is providing substantial funding for trade adjustment assistance that helps Americans make the transition from one job to the next." Gear up Americans, as long as we're protected from protectionism we won't lose jobs, we'll transition.

Do I think trade will cost jobs? Not at all. I think that living in an unregulated trade economy will enable corporations to exploit workers in this country as well as others and wreak havoc on our environment. If a teacher chooses not to control her classroom, we don't smile and say, "That's Free-Education in action, in the long run it will lead to prosperity and democracy." No, we cringe as bullies torment the smaller kids and the place gets trashed. Except worse, because corporations lack even the humanity of undisciplined children.

It is argued that free-trade will lead to a better economy, and therefore more jobs. It's not hard to see the thin reasoning behind this theory. Once upon a time, a good economy was synonymous with better job opportunities. Having a good job enabled one access to a disposable income. Spending that income stimulated the economy. If people didn't have dependable, well-paying jobs, the flow of disposable income stemmed and the economy faltered. It was in everyone's best interest to protect American jobs even at government and corporate cost.

When easy credit was made available to the general populace, the need for steady employment was briefly excused from the cycle of economic growth. At about the time corporations decided American workers were too expensive to support, credit cards starting arriving in the mail by the dozen. Ten years later one's standard of living is no longer measured by his or her income, but credit rating. Spending power has replaced earning ability. In the past, poor Americans were considered lazy. Now they're irresponsible as well. Americans and America slide deeper into debt while our political representatives tell us to learn how to "transition" from career to career in the hopes of finding something that won't be outsourced but also pays more than minimum wage, and for the love of God, don't stop spending!

I won't call myself a Protectionist. I'm a waitress, safe from outsourcing as well as the right to minimum wage. I want the best for our economy, but I don't think it should be the responsibility of citizens alone to try and fix it through the dubious means of working harder for less money and spending our retirement funds before earning them. However, there are choices citizens can make to help stabilize our economy:

* Learn to live without credit, even if it means being poor for a long time. Better now than when you're sixty and have a harder time riding pedaling your bike to work at McDonalds.

* Reduce dependence on all nonrenewable resources, including as coal and natural gas. Lay off the thermostat, use efficient appliances, and stop driving.

* Vote with your wallet. Support corporations that represent social and environmental awareness, such as Whole Foods. Stimulate your local economy by supporting local businesses. Buy expensive employee-friendly brands of clothing, or buy great and affordable brands at charity shops.

* Boycott companies that hurt America. Even if they kinda-sorta do some good things, like sell cheap goods from China with "Organic" pasted over the label. Even though, despite the fact that they assist millions of our children achieve obesity, they also run a charity house for those with other chronic illnesses. Even though your kids just need those shoes, like right now, or they'll be the only cool third-grader not advertising that brand. Stop supporting companies that are driving consumers deeper into debt and/or diabetes with every buy-one-get-one-free coupon!!!