issue that drives me up the wall it has to be the trade deficit – not just its size but the fact that we talk so little about it. Maybe you don’t pay attention to the trade numbers, but I am sure you’ve noticed that most every consumer good on our shelves is made in China or East Asia – including American flags. Contrary to popular belief, the United States is a trading wimp that has run up trillions of dollars in trade deficits for thirty consecutive years. The evidence of our lack of competitiveness is littered in thousands of blighted communities from sea to shining sea that have been devastated by the loss of millions of manufacturing sector jobs since 2000. There’s a word for that – de-industrialization. If you want to rub a little salt into our Great Recession wound, here is little factoid that might shock you; the U.S. ran a trade surplus in nine of the 10 years of the Great Depression.
Now, before you overdose on Prozac, here is the good news – the trade deficit declined to $380 billion in 2009 about half of what it was in 2006. And the main reason for that was that recession-hammered American consumers restrained their appetites for imported goods and the weak dollar made our exports more attractive to foreign consumers.
So who was responsible for the trillions of dollars in trade deficits and the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs? The short answer is the American consumer. And who shrunk the deficit in 2009? Same answer – we did. Those two answers lead to a simple conclusion – it will be entirely up to patriotic consumers to continue reversing the trade imbalance. Here is a list of things you can do to help the cause and, while you’re at it, improve your finances.
1. Save energy. We’re importing close to 12 million barrels of oil each day. The less gas you burn, the less we’ll have to fork over for foreign oil. In 2009, the U.S. imported $204 billion in petroleum-based products. That accounted for more than half our trade deficit.
2. Check the label and be willing to pay just a little extra for a “Made in America” brand. The job you save maybe your own.
3. Keep your car longer. Even domestically manufactured cars have a high content of imported parts. If you really care about the environment and want to demonstrate your love of country, try doing without a second car.
4. Buy smaller houses. For one thing, you consume less energy when you live in a smaller home. For another, we import many of the materials that go into the construction of a house, from lumber to appliances and wiring.
5. Cut down on your electronics consumption. Virtually no TVs, audio equipment, computers, or gaming consoles are Made in America.. If you can do without that extra HDTV, just don’t buy it. Chances are you’ll do just fine by keeping that notebook computer for another year, even if the newer models are five ounces lighter.
Hump day is definitely a day to be still then stretch up to the sky and… breathe in slowly through your nose, slowly breathe out… be calm, stretch and repeat …
FYI, a new report released yesterday, states the Congressional Budget Office found that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has “increased the number of people employed by between 1.2 million and 2.8 million” since it was signed into law. The report also found that the stimulus “lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.5 percentage points.”source/TP/
As we all count down the hours until the TOPKILL procedure from BP gets started. It’s not lost on me how unenthusiastic the group of three stooges seem to be about this whole thing being on any video let alone that it was schedule for today; got the feeling it may get pushed to another day. There might be some hesitation because the worse case scenario is on their minds and you can see that on the face of at least Tony. i could be wrong … definitely hoping this part of the overall situation will be over so the floating plumes can be siphoned off and the Marshes/Wetlands get the attention they need .
It is important that the EPA re-schedule the fundraiser, maybe any and all parts of the Obama PR group should work together more to make our President look exactly as he feels; though people are beating up on him when possible, this is the moment when the group needs to tighten up ranks, all hands on deck and better communication is essential.
It’s middle of the week and a whole lot of wacky behavior from the right, the left, political figures and some others who are definitely doing some wacky things in pop culture … example below…while i crack up this guy is so out of touch …
The President has a lot of responsibilities;he has to be places that are not connected to the Gulf Coast gusher and though folks on the right are jumping on anything that makes him look bad, which seems status quo but Progressives and liberals have had an emotional reaction to this, maybe a melt down but not much is being said about the history of de-regulation in the Oil industry and what happens when people are left to self-regulate… MMS needs to be regulated and maybe some folks need to go …this group is another problem child of many left over from the Bush Administration.
The fact that the MMS was under the house of Bush Administration is not being covered as much at the nasty comments by folks having a fit over how the President should act instead of how he is actually acting. President Obama has to clean up a helluva lot of crap left by the other guy; who knew it was going to be so much and that it is this bad . The emotion is understandable when the livelihood of the people in the Gulf Coast are now in question and the wildlife endangered. It just seems like the President has been handed a bad stack of cards; more issues, problems and corruption than any other in a time and more unprecedented events continue to happen; let’s get off the crazy train and back the President up and or find solutions…
The President is campaigning in San Francisco for a candidate, will be checking on the Gulf Coast damage on Friday, went to a Democratic fundraiser and heckled by an LGBT leader; yelling you need to move faster on DADT. As a minority I understand the need, the urgency for change regarding discrimination but do the LGBT people understand that the President does not make, create or pass laws? Congress is in control and he might have wanted to end DADT as soon as he was sworn in but DADT is one of many things Republicans and some Democrats have stalled or blocked and while high ranking Military Personnel have said they have served with gay soldiers as well as knowing that it is time to end a policy that is so outdated …there is the Gates effect; who has been the one man able to push ending DADT but has done nothing until now; Gates was put on the spot…it’s election season yes but who is making this a big deal …Gates. When the announcement is made that DADT has ended; a document that states that any and all Military Personnel who engage in such behavior should be discharged; such as drinking while on duty, or sex among the soldiers of any gender. It just makes sense that everyone should be subjected to the same rules policies and political procedures of the Military and War; simple and to the point and then move on. It seems simple … just say it’s ended and move on. Though reports from Think Progress found that House Republicans are poised to “mount a vigorous defense” of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” ready to “vote en masse against the defense authorization bill if it includes an amendment to repeal the law.” Meanwhile, Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that he “strongly opposes efforts to change the policy now,” suggesting he would against repeal.
The wacky behavior keeps on going … the hits keep coming from Republicans in Arizona what with a birther law, legal racial profiling, ending Ethnic Studies, anchor babies, teacher’s with accent rules and so much more. It makes you wonder what the first inhabitants would feel about how the Republican stewards are behaving and if it could get any wackier … Think Progress gives us more information; yesterday i remarked at the comments made by Mitch McConnell and his smirk regarding the request for bipartisanship from President Obama … which you could tell they smiled shook hands with him and then waited to get on camera and a mic to say negative things… again, this is not what we want working for We the People because they aren’t … this group of Republicans are too old too outdated and need to move into the 21st Century need to admit that in order for things to get fixed everyone must participate but clearly as Think Progress reports: Following a meeting with the President yesterday, Senate Republicans snidely dumped on Obama to the press. “He needs to take a Valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans,” said Sen. Pat Roberts (KS). “He’s pretty thin-skinned.” It was “pretty audacious that he would be here today as we move into election season using Republican senators as a prop to talk about bipartisanship,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).
Other News …
**Mayor of Mex,Cancun was arrested for possible drug allegations
Regulators Probed on Oil Spill Response, Ties to Industry
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the director of the agency tasked with drilling oversight testify today at a hearing on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response. Questions are also expected regarding an Interior Dept. report alleging misconduct and improper industry relations by federal drilling regulators. Meanwhile, BP engineers are attempting to stop the flow of oil using a “top kill” maneuver, which pumps heavy mud into head of the well at the sea floor.
AIG President & CEO Robert Benmosche testifies today before the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Congressional Oversight Panel on the more than $133 billion provided to his company through TARP and other government financial stability programs since September 2008. The panel, chaired by Harvard University Law Professor Elizabeth Warren, will also hear from Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Bank officials, as well as executives from investment and insurance ratings groups. The Congressional Oversight Panel on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) heard today from AIG President & CEO Robert Benmosche. “AIG is now on a clear path to repaying taxpayers,” he said. “At the end of the day, the U.S. government will make an appropriate profit.” His company received more than $133 billion since September 2008 through TARP and other government financial stability programs. The panel also heard from Federal Reserve & Treasury Department officials who have oversight over AIG. Federal Reserve General Counsel Scott Alvarez said he has no expectations that AIG would need additional funds from the Federal Reserve and that AIG is on a “path of sustainability.” Panel Chair Elizabeth Warren called AIG a “corporate Frankenstein” and the “costs of their mistakes should have been borne by AIG and its partners” and not the American taxpayers.
In Second Meeting, Commission Assesses Fiscal Outlook
The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, created by President Obama in February, today holds its second meeting to discuss the rising national debt and global fiscal outlook. The commission is co-chaired by former Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles. Its non-binding recommendations are due in December. Current forecasts project a U.S. federal budget deficit of $1.5 trillion this year, which White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers said this week can’t be addressed until economic growth gets back on a sustainable track. Washington Post Business Columnist Steven Pearlstein shares his blueprint for combating the rising budget deficit on this morning’s Washington Journal.
China or East 
Asia – including American flags. Contrary to popular belief, the United States is a trading wimp that has run up trillions of dollars in trade deficits for thirty consecutive years. The evidence of our lack of competitiveness is littered in thousands of blighted communities from sea to shining sea that have been devastated by the loss of millions of manufacturing sector jobs since 2000. There’s a word for that – de-industrialization. If you want to rub a little salt into our Great Recession wound, here is little factoid that might shock you; the U.S. ran a trade surplus in nine of the 10 years of the Great Depression.
Pres. Obama Remarks on Small Business
Statement by Henry Kissinger, et al on Treaty
Testimony of Panelists
Be a Seed for Change 
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