U.S. Needs To Help Manufacturers

[Adrienne Selko]

Re: Rep. Ryan Learns Educated Workforce, Diversity Key To Sustainability (http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=12841)

This is a first! A congressman saying our government needs to help manufacturing.

And the truth is that China DOES help it's manufacturing base. I do not feel our government does. The one way they could would be to force China to stop floating it's currency.

Also, our government must acknowledge the economic value of manufacturing.


R. Juras
Bolingbrook, IL

[Abogle]

Its about time our government starts to wake up to this grave issue of economic health and national security.

Here is what Congress needs to do to help manufacturing back on its feet and become competitive in the global market.

Repeal, review, renegotiate the "free trade" agreements to make them "fair trade" agreements - i.e, countries wishing to do business here must adhere to at least some minimal wage, labor, safety and environmental standards.

Fix the tax loophole that allows companies to defer taxation on foreign made products, and create tax incentives for capital investment, and keeping and creating jobs at home.

Control the direct export of raw materials and encourage at least some processing before export for example cut lumber instead of raw logs, or converted paper instead of pulp and post consumer recycles.

Strict enforcement of intellectual property rights such as patents and copyrights, Strict enforcement of anti dumping laws.

Get a handle on the exploding health care costs that put US companies at a competitive disadvantage against countries with govt subsidized medical care.

Put some sanity and common sense into the frivolous lititgation and burdensome regulation imposed on US manufacturers - balance regulation with sound economics.

We are quickly waking up with a hangover from the race to the bottom party and realizing we will have no technology or infrastructure left to compete in the global market, nor be able to continue to be the arsenal of democracy.

[sandra.stuber]

Interesting discussion. In my professional opinion the Government should (and must) help U.S. Manufacturers.

They can help us best by simply leaving us alone. Think about this thread for a moment. The Manufacturing Sector conducts business in the private, for-profit, sector. We know the dollar value of risk, and we are in business to make a profit. Period.

Many U.S. manufacturers are implementing lean operating procedures to lower costs and increase productivity - all designed to enhance our bottom line. And it's working.

The U.S. Government can't relate. They appear to function best with layers and layers of red tape, and (at best) a break -even mentality. They do not possess the for-profit motive, nor do they fully appreciate - nor understand it.

In my business, I would not consider hiring a consultant (for instance) from the not-for-profit sector. Our vision could never - ever - be the same....very similar to oil and water, they won't mix.

As for me and my house, I'm putting my money on the private, for-profit, sector. I'm very picky about who I ask for Leadership, Reform and Innovation.

What motivates you? Answer that, and the way forward is very clear.

[Abogle]

I guess the point is government policy should be geared towards "do no harm".

Ill advised trade agreements, exploding health costs, and burdensome regulation do harm.

On the other hand that should not preclude the government from creating a manufacturing friendly environment with intellectual property right enforcement, fair trade policy, tax incentives for capital equipment and keeping operations at home

[dreck]

I think another issue that needs attention is the "Screw You" attitude among all players. Business, consumers and labor all try to one up each other and we get an endless cycle of win/lose depending on which political party is in power.

Unfortunately, this would require common sense among all of these players and their lawyers. Given this, things won't change until there is enough "pain" to prompt a fix, and even then there will still be knuckleheads to screw up the works.

As normal, we get the system that we deserve.