Week 3, March 2010
I was actually quite impressed with this particular comment by JCWTTS from the comments section of this article (could this be J.C. Watts?):
Here is what the US needs to do to actually create and maintain jobs. First, pass a bill that states, nothing that deals even casually with national security can be manufactured overseas, or manufactured by a company that is owned or controlled by an overseas corp, or manufactured overseas. So, for example, no computers made in china can be purchased by the government. No High Speed Rail can be manufactured in China or anywhere else. No upgrades to our power grid can be manufactured anywhere, no product the military uses can be manufactured by anyone else or made anywhere else. If you are building roads, bridges, energy grids, whatever, it all must be made here by us. Now that is going to start insane reprisals overseas but I feel like we can survive them. Second, and just as important, we must feed the world. We have to make a shift from big ag to organic natural seasonal and regional ag. We have to roll back pesticides and genetic manipulation and go with solid non artificial growing. It means less variety and smaller yields but healthier. We have to sell this product overseas and we have to do it at a loss initially, subsidized by our government. We are a super power for several reasons one, we can feed ourselves, two, our manufacturing base, three our military, four our economy, five our education, six our tech. We have to start spending money intelligently on those elements right now.
It is perhaps needless to say that this comment indicates a rationality that is dutifully congnizant of the extraordinary challenges our political process has in getting anything done. In my opinion, he is suggesting a pathway that potentially addresses some of the objections from globalization supporters in order to open a pathway to keeping certain types of manufacturing exclusively in the United States. Many argue, as is stated in the article by former Senator Dorgan from North Dakota, that if you claim you are against globalization “you are called some sort of xenophobic isolationist stooge who just can’t see over the horizon.” There’s certainly no easy solution to the challenge of balancing the hunger for globalization overseas with the serious job-loss situation in the United States. Using another metaphor of Senator Dorgan’s, in relative terms, our nation can turn on a small economic faucet with a jobs and economic stimulus package, but it’s the huge drain that needs to be plugged as much as anything.
See here for more on the Jobs Bill signed into law by the President today.
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Weekend Wanderer’s Events
…finding the treasures in your town and beyond.
Two for This Weekend:
Organ Concert at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor: From the SF Chonicle: View extraordinary art as you listen to a free concert on The Legion of Honor’s Skinner organ, the world’s only indoor/outdoor organ. An expanded music repertory lets the organists show off the instrument’s symphonic capabilities in a world class setting.
“Arabia” IMAX at the Tech Museum in San Jose: From their website: Travel to the exotic and fascinating land of Arabia. Explore the ancient tombs of a lost city; dive through the reefs of the Red Sea; and experience the largest gathering of people on Earth. Discover an extraordinary culture and experience modern day Arabia.
Help Your Fellow Living Beings:
San Francisco Fine Jewelry and Antiques Show: This show benefits some good organizations. Check it out. From their website:
The Imagine Bus Project— Bringing art education to underserved children and youth.
The Glide Foundation— Offering diverse programs helping people of all backgrounds out of the poverty cycle and into a productive life.
The Hearing and Speech Center— Helping individuals overcome barriers so they can reach their full potential.
Two Weekends from Now:
San Francisco Flower and Garden Show Festival: From their website: An entertaining floral funfest for you and your friends. This event houses thousands upon thousands of flowers and plants with all their rich colors, fragrances and textures. Four acres of inspiring flower gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels, and shopping at 300 exhibits all strictly related to San Francisco & California gardening, outdoor living, plants and gardeners. There is a myriad of facets to the Garden Show; while the gardens, commercial exhibits and seminars are the core of the Show, there is still much more to see and so many things to do.
Pic of the Week… from my phone camera:
A little painterly photo-editing of this pic of some flowers in my neighbor’s outdoor pot.