Take away their networks and flat-screen TVs

Russ Steele

Will the liberal Democrats ever learn?  Liberal activists are pushing a California ballot initiative that is intended to bring jobs back to California by requiring state and local agencies to buy only “Made in USA" products.  Susan Jones writing in CNSEWS.COM has the story:

"The Tea Party gridlock and paralysis in Washington and Sacramento requires middle-class voters to take action to bring back jobs," said Jim Gonzalez, a proponent of the initiative and a former finance chair of the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors. “The Bring Manufacturing Jobs Back to California Act would end the decline of manufacturing jobs that is at the root of our economic crisis."

Beginning in January 2014, the initiative would require the State of California and all local government entities to purchase or lease only those products that are manufactured in the United States – and made mostly from materials produced in the U.S.A."

There are a couple of problems with this initiative. First off, there are no flat screen TV made in the US, or for that matter any of the big tube TVs anymore. Environmental regulations drove the manufacturing off shore. 

Second, the ARRA Broadband Initiative had a “Buy American” clause and it had to be withdrawn as some of the key broadband network components are only available from over seas manufacturers. It was impossible to build broadband networks with out products from overseas.

In the past “Buy American Clauses” has resulted in trade wars.  The biggest markets for California agriculture are overseas.  A buy California only policy will kill our exports. Why is it that Democrats in Sacramento don't understand basic economics. Oh?

Some one needs to go into the Legislators offices and remove all the products not manufactured in the US, starting with their flat screen TVs, telephones and data networks. Then it may occur to them, that it was the regulations that they wrote which drove the manufacturing offshore, or out of the state.

Susan Jones’ full article, with more details on jobs leaving California for other states, is here.