Thread: 3 million jobs lost since 2000

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070420/ap_ ... rk_force_5


Factory jobs: 3 million lost since 2000 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer
Fri Apr 20, 3:02 PM ET



WASHINGTON - Three weeks ago, Dawn Zimmer became a statistic. Laid off from her job assembling trucks at Freightliner's plant in Portland, Ore., she and 800 of her colleagues joined a long line of U.S. manufacturing workers who have lost jobs in recent years. A total of 3.2 million — one in six factory jobs — have disappeared since the start of 2000.

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Many people believe those jobs will never come back.

"They are building a multimillion-dollar plant in Mexico and they are going to build the Freightliners down there. They came in and videotaped us at work so they could train the Mexican workers," said Zimmer, 55, who had worked at Freightliner since 1994.

That's the issue for American workers. Many of their jobs are moving overseas, to Mexico and China and elsewhere.

Just ask Tom Riegel.

He worked for 27 years making Pennsylvania House furniture at a factory in Lewisburg, Pa., until the plant shut down in December 2004. The production was moved to a plant in China, which kept making the furniture under the Pennsylvania House label for shipment back to the United States.

Rigel, 48, who has had health problems, hasn't worked since he lost his job running a molding machine. He says his prospects aren't good given the number of other furniture plants in the area that have suffered layoffs.

"It started with just a few pieces of furniture made in China. Then it snowballed," he said. "Manufacturing was built on the back of the American worker and then boom — one day your job is gone."

Even though manufacturing jobs have been declining, the country is enjoying the lowest average unemployment rates of the past four decades. The reason: the growth in the service industries — everything from hotel chambermaids to skilled heart surgeons.

Eighty-four percent of Americans in the labor force are employed in service jobs, up from 81 percent in 2000. The sector has added 8.78 million jobs since the beginning of 2000.

Although these workers have been largely sheltered from the global forces that have hit manufacturing, that could change as satellites and fiber optic cable drive down the cost of long-distance communication. Today it is call centers in India and the Philippines but tomorrow many more U.S. jobs could move off shore.

Some economists say the United States is experiencing a normal economic evolution from farms to factories and now to service jobs.

"Every advanced economy has seen its employment in agriculture and manufacturing decline relative to services and America is no exception," said Daniel Griswold, an economist at the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank.

But others note that the loss in manufacturing jobs has been accelerating in recent years as the trade deficit has grown and America imports more and more products that used to be made here.

"It is pretty crystal clear to our members that when their plant closes down, they know where their jobs are going," said Thea Lee, policy director at the AFL-CIO.

Princeton economist Alan Blinder, who was vice chairman of the

Federal Reserve during the Clinton administration, says the number of jobs at risk of being shipped out of the country could reach 40 million over the next 10 to 20 years. That would be one out of every three service sector jobs that could be at risk.

Those lost manufacturing jobs are fueling an intense debate over globalization — the increasing connection of the United States and other economies.

That debate will play out in Congress over the coming months as the Bush administration tries to muster the votes needed to pursue its free-trade policies.

Opponents will seek increased protections for American workers against unfair trade practices and push such proposals as wage insurance and better job training for the victims of globalization.

Democrats, who took control of both the House and Senate in last year's elections, believe up to one-third of those lost manufacturing jobs are the direct result of America's soaring trade deficits, which have hit new records for five straight years.

Last year's deficit was $765.3 billion — that is, the U.S. imported $765.3 billion more in goods and services than it exported. The imbalance with China hit an all-time high for a single country at $232.5 billion.

In 1943 and 1944, with factories working overtime to build the ships, tanks and planes needed to fight World War II, manufacturing accounted for four out of 10 jobs in the U.S. That was the peak; manufacturing has been declining ever since. Manufacturing now accounts for one job in 10 in the nonfarm work force.

Over the past 16 years, manufacturing has declined as a percentage of the work force in 48 of the 50 states. Nevada's percentage stayed the same and only North Dakota saw an increase.

The declines have been particularly painful in the industrial Midwest and rural South, which have been battered by competition from China.

"China has just exploded on the global scene since 2002. Every economy on the planet has lost jobs to China," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, an economic forecasting company.

A Moody's analysis found 16 percent of the nation's 379 metropolitan areas are in recession, reflecting primarily the troubles in manufacturing. There have been heavy job losses in a variety of industries from textiles and apparel to paper and furniture.

Critics contend China uses a variety of unfair trade practices from widespread copyright piracy of American products to keeping its currency undervalued by as much as 40 percent to make Chinese goods cheaper in comparison with U.S. products.

On April 9, the Bush administration, responding to growing political pressure, announced the latest in a string of tough actions against China. It filed trade cases with the

World Trade Organization accusing China of erecting unfair barriers to the sale of U.S.-made movies, music and books and rampant copyright piracy.

But Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other Bush administration officials argue that despite the yawning U.S.-China trade gap, President Bush's free trade policies are paying off in new markets that have helped U.S. exports boom.

While manufacturing jobs have declined, manufacturing output has been rising. The difference is increased productivity, which means it takes fewer workers to make more goods.

"We are evolving to a point that we are manufacturing things that are not easy to manufacture. That require skills. We believe that is our future. And those are the manufacturing jobs that pay the most," Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said in an interview.

High-tech industries, where the U.S. is still seen as having the edge, include pharmaceuticals, medical devices and airplanes.

But even high-tech industries are facing pressure from imports. The U.S. Business and Industry Council, which represents small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies, found that between 1997 and 2005, 110 of the 114 U.S. industries it studied had lost ground to imports in the U.S. market. That was the case even in such sectors as computers and telecommunications hardware.

Just the threat of moving high-paying white collar jobs such as computer programmers and graphic designers offshore will likely add to pressures on Congress to erect barriers to global competition, which many economists believe would do more damage than good.

"It is easy to see this turning into some kind of protectionist force which would be harmful," Blinder said in an interview. "We need to turn the debate in a constructive direction — how do you prepare the work force of the future and compensate the losers?"

(Mod Edit - need source link)



http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/artic ... E_ID=55135

INVASION USA
$2.2 trillion illegal alien taxpayer sticker shock
2/3 of immigrants cost Americans $22,449 a year, shows new study

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: April 11, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern



© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com


WASHINGTON – Someone has finally fixed an approximate taxpayer cost of between 12 million and 15 million illegal aliens residing in the U.S.

A new study by the Heritage Foundation's Robert Rector found a household headed by an individual without a high school education, including about two-thirds of illegal aliens, costs U.S. taxpayers more than $32,000 in federal, state and local benefits. That same family contributes an average of $9,000 a year in taxes, resulting in a net tax burden of $22,449 each year.

Over the course of the household's lifetime that tax burden translates to $1.1 million.

If the lower figure of 12 million illegal aliens is used for estimation purposes, the total tax burden translates to $2.2 trillion.

"Would any of us buy shares in a company that we knew would produce a loss of a million dollars a share," asks Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, in response to the study. "Cheap labor is not cheap at the cost of over a million dollars per head of household."

Rector's study, "The Fiscal Cost of Low-Skill Households to the U.S. Taxpayer," examines the economics of the 17.7 million American households made up of people without a high-school degree. Using numbers from the Census Bureau, the Congressional Research Service, the Bureau of Labor Standards and other government agencies, Rector determined what they earn, what they spend and what they receive in government services.

About half of the 17.7 million households studied are illegal aliens. About two-thirds of illegal alien households are headed by someone without a high school degree. Only 10 percent of native-born Americans fit into that category.

"Over the next ten years the total cost of low-skill households to the taxpayer (immediate benefits minus taxes paid) is likely to be at least $3.9 trillion," Rector writes. "This number would go up significantly if changes in immigration policy lead to substantial increases in the number of low-skill immigrants entering the country and receiving services."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4733482.html

April 20, 2007, 9:33AM
Feds: 29 Ran Drugs Through Miami Airport


By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

MIAMI — A drug ring based at Miami International Airport used cargo workers to smuggle cocaine and heroin for the past five years, authorities said Thursday in announcing charges against 29 people.

The 12 cargo workers named in the indictment worked for airlines that operate internationally and were not employees of the airport itself.

"You clearly had conspirators on the inside to help that take place," U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said of the drug operation. "That raises alarms about what may or may not be smuggled through these channels."

More than 500 pounds of cocaine and 81 pounds of heroin were seized. Of the 29 defendants, 18 are in custody in the U.S. and six in Colombia, Acosta said. Five are at large.

The cargo workers who were allegedly part of the drug ring all had jobs at an airport ramp and warehouse that can serve up to 20 cargo flights at a time. They worked together on unloading drug shipments, sharing information about planes and loads and watching for surveillance, according to court papers.

Airport communications and security chief Lauren Stover told Congress that past drug trafficking rings led to improved security such as more criminal background checks.

"In many ways, MIA was ahead of its time in terms of security measures," Stover said in written testimony to a transportation security panel of the House Homeland Security Committee.

About 30,000 people work at the airport, Stover said.


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This article is in ICE archives - I cannot find the link , so I printed the article above . Both of these articles address the same event

Operation Conquistadors yields 29 arrests for drug trafficking and credit card fraud in South Florida
ICE-led investigation nets more than $7 million in contraband seized and six arrests in Colombia

MIAMI - Twenty-nine people were arrested here and Colombia this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and other federal and local law enforcement officers for the alleged participation in a large-scale drug importation and distribution organization and fraudulent credit card scheme.

According to the indictment Julio Ramirez, Virginio Rudy Suarez, Niexi Garcia-Lamela, Miguel Suarez, Carlos Perez, Leandro Alvarez-Castillo, Mariza Lamela, Roberto Maceo, Lazaro Galvez, Heriberto Santallana, Ana Maines, Lazaro Fundora, Osmany Sanchez-Lamela, Franklin Acosta, Alexis Maceo, Rodolfo Quesada, Pedro Mendez, Orlando Jose Escobar, Marietta Montesino-Suarez, Victor Orlando Paredes-Burbano, Raul Humberto Barahona, Gabriel Bernardo Correa-Dominguez, Alberto Santos-Maceo, Jesus Alain Martin, Jose Jaime Calderon-Gomez, William Gustavo Aguirre-Rengifo, and Jose Manuel Alvarez-Casas, participated in a conspiracyto import and distribute cocaine and heroin cocaine in South Florida area between 2002 and the present date.

The indictment further alleged that the defendants used international cargo flights and sea vessel containers travelling from Colombia, Venezuela and Peru to the Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Port of Miami in violation of Title 21, United States Code, sections 952(a) and 963.The indictment also charged Ramirez, Suarez, Garcia-Lamela, Miguel Suarez, Perez, Alvarez-Castillo, Mariza Lamela, Maceo, Galvez, Santallana, Maines, Fundora, Sanchez-Lamela, Alexis Maceo, Quesada, Mendez, Escobar, Montesino-Suarez, Santos-Maceo, and Martin with possession and conspiracy to posses with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, in violation of Title 21, USC, sections 841(a)(1) and 846.

To date, more than 500 pounds of cocaine and 80 pounds of heroin have been seized in connection with this conspiracy.

A second indictment charged seven people with conspiring to commit credit card fraud in violation of Title 18, USC Sections 1028 and 1029.Charged with credit card fraud are defendants Virginio Rudy Suarez, Miguel Suarez, Alberto Chang-Cabrera, Marietta Montesino-Suarez, Julio Ramirez, Lazaro Fundora, and Celis Alvarez.

ICE special agents discovered the credit card fraud scheme during the underlying narcotics trafficking investigation.According to the charges, the conspirators stole legitimate credit card numbers and encoded the stolen credit card numbers onto blank cards.Members of the group then allegedly attempted and/or made purchases at various retail stores in the South Florida area, including Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, and area gas stations.

"This prosecution highlights the success of interagency cooperation in helping to secure our airports and in stopping the flow of illegal narcotics," said U.S. Attorney Acosta.“In addition, this investigation reminds us that credit card and identity theft crimes have become an integral part of other organized criminal activities in South Florida.We will continue to lead the fight against credit card fraud and identity theft."

"This investigation and resulting prosecution confirms the commitment of federal and local law enforcement agencies to fight crime, sending a clear message that we will continue to investigate and prosecute those involved in criminal activity in our jurisdiction," said Anthony V. Mangione, acting special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Miami. "Thanks to the diligent efforts of all the agencies involved in this operation, ICE prevented a large amount of dangerous drugs from reaching the United States."

Defendants Niexi Garcia-Lamela, Victor Orlando Paredes-Burbano, Raul Humberto Barahona, Gabriel Bernardo Correa-Dominguez, Jose Jaime Calderon Gomez and Jose Manuel Alvarez Casas were arrested in Colombia.


-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Yep, and China is pressuring the U.S. to accept their imports at a 2.5% tariff, where China will accept American imports for a 25% tariff. From what I understand, is that China is pressuring the trade comission to bend to their will.

And we wonder why we don't make nothin' here no more. After 40 years of this kind of badgerring from foreign entities.

This is the solution

http://www.buckfush.com/images/George_B ... mnesty.jpg

And this is the legacy of the US President to HIS people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaufw7Em ... ed&search=


Good luck William ! This country and YOUR people thank you for what you are doing here .

Thank you for being strong , thank you for loving this country !
It deserves a happy end after all !

Originally Posted by hope2006

And this is the legacy of the US President to HIS people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaufw7Em ... ed&search=


Good luck William ! This country and YOUR people thank you for what you are doing here .

Thank you for being strong , thank you for loving this country !
It deserves a happy end after all !

Wow. Watching that, I was unsure if Bush actually considers the American Southwest to be American. This is the best argument I can think of for a third party. It is time to dump the Republican Party. They have already dumped us. They are doing what the Dems have done for decades--pandering to ethnic interests for votes.

Originally Posted by Hylander_1314

Yep, and China is pressuring the U.S. to accept their imports at a 2.5% tariff, where China will accept American imports for a 25% tariff. From what I understand, is that China is pressuring the trade comission to bend to their will.

And we wonder why we don't make nothin' here no more. After 40 years of this kind of badgerring from foreign entities.

I think if our gov't were not bought off by globalists, we would have leadership that looked after our interests and for balenced trade. Bush does not care about high tariffs abroad, just low tariffs here. The globalists already have their consumers (us), so they will give China their way to be able to exploit their cheap work-force. Which means perpetual debt and dependancy to China. I can not believe the people we have representing us in Washington

Thank you , BearFlagRepublic .

I think that this 3 year -old video is the most current video today because it shows the legacy of Presidente Bush to HIS people , the legacy which became stronger during those years as all of us can see .

So , if the US President is busy serving HIS people , then what should the rest of us do ?

I thought that this little combination of articles on job loss , the amount of tax money we have to pay for the uneducated illegals and the recent drug-smuggling-credit-card-fraud info on the people Presidente Bush is calling HIS PEOPLE would be relevant for the upcoming Washington DC event .
I am a legal US resident not of Hispanic origin who has never broken any of the laws and loves America dearly .
Why do I have to feel bad that I do not belong to HIS PEOPLE ?

I think this is a very unfair discrimination for me and my family to be dealing with this mess for so many years .
Next year I will become an US Citizen and I hope that I will not have to take my Citizenship exam in Spanish / which I have to speak fluently since I live in Florida - another Hispanic part of America / .
Prior to coming to Florida I lived in NY - and only because of my fluent Spanish I got ahead of others at my job .
That is why I think that the probability of me taking the US Citizenship exam in Spanish is a very real one .

Please , people something has to be done about it while it is not too late !!


Again , God Bless William and all the discriminated Americans and legal residents who want to use English as their main language , who do not break the laws of this country , do not smuggle drugs and honestly pay their taxes .

I think that there should be some president for these poor discriminated people too .