A Thought for the Kerry Campaign on Outsourcing and the Economy

[JoeMemphis]

Outsourcing is the big political hot potato. Yes, the Dems need to sharpen their verbal attacks on the * Administration on that issue and paint the Bushies as unpatriotic, because the Bushies have put themselves squarely against the American people on that issue.

But Kerry needs to have a REAL solution to the problem. More protectionism is not a reality and would likely cost more jobs in the long run. Outsourcing is a reality, so we need to be able to have equal access to our trading partners' markets so we can create more jobs here at home through increased export markets and related opportunities.

What I think Kerry should do -- propose to get tough on India, China and any other trade partners who either partake in illegal currency valuations (China) or maintain high barriers that prevent US goods from entering foreign markets. He's already mentioned enforcing trade agreements, but Kerry needs to mention getting tough on our ungrateful trade partners -- even threatening to stop trade with them if they do not reciprocate by lowering their trade barriers.

Sending Colin Powell and Robert Zoellick over to China and India saying "please lower your trade barriers, pretty please, please, we won't withhold trade from you or punish you in any way if you don't, but please, please, pretty please lower you trade barriers (wink, wink)" is all the Bush Administration can do.

Bush is afraid to get tough on India and China, for fear of alienating his unpatriotic corporate supporters who rely on China and India's cheap labor. Kerry can vow to get tough and please the small/mid-size businesses and workers alike.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Change the vision.

Talk about developing a new economy based on energy indepedence. He's talking about a 20% reduction in oil by 2020, but I think he needs to up this commitment and make it more aggressive.

Frame the debate:

Republicans = National Security/Energy Security = Oil = War = Dead End

Democrats = National Security/Energy Security = Alternative/Renewable Energy = Jobs = A Real Future.

[JoeMemphis]

2. I agree 100% there

New businesses and new energy alternatives will create more jobs and new business opportunities. Bush relies on old oil money in Texas, and cannot promote alternative energy ideas. Kerry can.

Kerry can also tie this to a national security issue, and accurately point out that our oil $$$ goes into the hands of Saudi Arabian supporters of terrorism. If we become the alternative energy leader, we not only create more jobs and opportunities here at home, but we also can export it to the world, too.

Opening the world markets to US entrepreneurs and defunding the Saudi terrorism machine all in one go.

I like it.

[NJCher]

3. bookmarked this thrad

I'll come back later and print it out for sending to the Kerry campaign offices. Good ideas on this thread.



Cher