Dems - Let's dust of "Buy American" - Got to be a BFEE scandal there.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

As the Washington Post reports today about the record trade deficit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021000531.html?sub=AR


One HAS to wonder how the BFEE are screwing someone and profiting personally behind the scenes from this atrocity. Got to be a scandal here. In October, the Bush Administration threatened to veto the Defense bill if it contains expanded "Buy American" provisions. How f'd up is that?


I think that Buy American should be dusted off and become part of our platform. It is not only a pure and simple concept that EVERYONE can grasp, but it is patriotic and the RIGHT thing to do.


Here's a great database of "made in America" products: http://www.madeinusa.org/

[acmavm]

1. I cannot understand for the life of me why the dems aren't capitalizing

on a lot of stuff. 'Buy America' is a good one, so is 'American jobs for the American people', 'Preserve the Constitution', 'Law and Order' (and I don't mean any of the three television shows), and 'Integrity in our Government'.

I'm sure there's plenty more.

[unblock]

2. we already win on the issues. that's not the problem

the problem is they cut off our mike.

[Greyhound]

3. I disagree. We are just not using the microphone.

I see "democrats" on every (political) show, and what do they do? Nothing. They sit there and let the re:puke: set the agenda and frame every issue. Dean, and a couple of others have shown we know how to counter this BS, so I'm left to conclude that they don't do it because they don't want to. They have their agenda and we don't figure in it.

[unblock]

5. the banana republican choose who gets on the show and on what terms

this is how hannity gets to "debate" colmes instead of carville or begala, for instance.

those "democrats" know that if they offend the media corporate masters too much, they'll be punished with less airtime and more attacks against them. so they've made their deal with the devil to get what airtime they can and make as much argument as they feel they can get away with.

i ain't sayin' it's right -- but it is what it is. until we get our own media, or can get REAL equal time, we're fairly screwed, and you can't just blame "democrats" for this. those same democrats would be singing a very different tune if they had real equal time.

[Greyhound]

12. We have apparently overlooked the fact that the RW media

needs at least a nominal 'librul' to legitimize their existence, and that is our power. If we don't play along the game can't continue, we just refuse to cooperate. Take Alan "why can't I stand erect" Combs, he tells himself that being on that travesty of a show is getting the other view out, but as we see (or would see if you have a strong stomach) he doesn't get anything out, he doesn't make any point, all he does is legitimize the fascist. He's just another sell-out that cashes his check, I've got mine fuck you, and we let him get away with it.

[unblock]

15. exactly. that's why the rw media shows liberals -- as long as they chose

you can blame those who go on the air under those conditions, but the fact is that the rw media will always be able to find some "liberal" to serve as their foil. if no actual, known liberal volunteers, they'll invent one.

i mean, who the heck was colmes anyway before he got on the air with hannity?

[acmavm]

6. We win on the issues? What are you talking about? Flag burning and

video games? What issues are we winning on?

What issues are our big name dems taking a stand on? Besides Conyers, Kennedy, and a couple others, what dems are stepping up to the plate and saying this has to stop and it has to stop now? What frigging dems are making a ruckus calling for hearings on any one of a hundred impeachable offences? How the hell can you say we're winning on anything when everybody damn well knows that this asswipes are gonna attack another country soon and no one from our side is making an issue about it. Not one single person while the warms drums are beating out that now so-familiar rythmic thump.

All I can say is if we are winning on the 'issues', God help us if we start to lose.

[unblock]

7. if you look at polls on just about any issue, people side with democrats

the list of issues that banana republicans win on is increasingly tiny.

that's why they have to use their control of the mike to pump up those very few issues they win on -- "patriotism", e.g.

[Greyhound]

14. Understand your point. I think he is saying the majority of people

support the Democratic position on the issues. Obviously we are not winning elections and you're right that the majority of "democratic" representatives don't take stands on anything of importance.

[Lorien]

18. They know how to frame the issues, we don't

repubs get their marching orders and they get down to business; rarely will you find any that are "off message". The reality of the MSM today is that for a message to make it through the noise machine it must be frequently repeated. Dems cherish their individuality and mistakenly think that a "talking point" needs to be a lie; THIS is why we're not getting any traction with our issues and ideas. "Talking points" can just as easily be the truth. "Support America-buy American"; that's a simple message that can only become a "talking point" if more than a couple of people repeat it in the media this week. As far as ideas go, majority rules in this country; and if we can get a majority of our own to present a unified message then I doubt that we'll be winning many elections in the near future.

[Greyhound]

21. Agreed. I know it's still almost nine months away, but I'm not feeling

anything positive coming from the Dems. It is a foregone conclusion that we will pick up seats in the House and it is likely that we'll get closer in the Senate, but damn-it, as badly as the re:puke:s have screwed up there is no excuse to not take the majorities in both Houses. Thus far, however, I'm really scared that they're going to let yet another opportunity slip away.
How about if we sabotage all of the Dems, let the re:puke:s have everything, and wait for them to cannibalize each other?
To be clear, that was a joke, not a strategy.

[Lorien]

19. Amen. n/t

[acmavm]

20. OOPS. That's supposed to say 'war drums' not warms drums. I don't

quite know what the hell warms drums are.

I was slightly agitated when I posted this.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Support America's Small Businesses

Small business owners, like me, create 50% of the jobs in this country.

The Mega-Corps need to be broken up like the monopolies of the 1900's. And the companies that go off-shore need to be taxed, just like US companies that stay home and employ Americans.

I'm paying over $300 per month, per employee just for health insurance. While WalMart goes to China where $300 is a month's salary for someone and then to add insult to injury, they get all the tax breaks.

Shop and support local businesses and farmers as much as possible.

[napi21]

8. The problem with "Buy American" is that you almost CAN'T!

Next time you go shopping...FOR ANYTHING...look closely at the label! Other than food almost EVERYTHING is MADE somewhere else. (and even most of the produce you buy now is from a foreign country.)

Something like this was mentioned on Lou Dobb's program last night, and even Lou remarked that almost ALL American Mfg. has been shipped offshore!

[Clark2008]

9. You can if you look.

I have three American-made televisions - made right up the road from my house, as a matter of fact.

I have three American-made vehicles sitting in the driveway.

I'm not saying that it's not difficult to find American-made products, clothes, in particular, but you really have to make a conscious effort to try, at least.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. I agree. Do you remember all the "buy american" psa's they

used to have? what happened to psa's anyway. I think that they have a tremendous subtle affect on people.

I have to agree, I guess, that there are very poor people that have to buy at places like Walmart and Dollar General, etc. just to survive.

But there are many, many, middle to upper middle people out there who would buy American.

I think that there are some scams out there too. I read that there are certain offshore manufacturers that can use "made in america" when they truly aren't.

[napi21]

11. I have an Am made car (at least I think most of it is) too.

I waited and watched for a long time until I found a great deal on an Am. made water faucet for my bathroom remodel. As far as the TV, I'm surprised that you FOUND an Am mfg. still exists!

Even checking the things I bought to redo my bathroom was disappointing. The wallpaper was made in England, the Lace shower curtain was made in Asia, as well as the bath mat, fancy curtain hooks, and curtain liner.

Clothing is almost impossible! That started years ago too! 12+ years ago, my inlaws were stationed on a military base in Japan. At Christmas time, I wanted to buy a gift for my 15YO neice, figured all young girls like lots of clothes, but I was determined NOT to buy aomething here in the States that had been MADE over there! I searched for 2 1/2 months! I finally did find a sweater that said "made in the USA", but that was a long time ago. Today, I'd be very surprised if I could do the same.

I do try to find US made items, but it's becoming almost impossible.

[DetroitProle]

22. kudos on the car

Times are harder than ever here in Detroit.

My Cadillac is 13 years old, 175k miles, and still going strong. My neighbor loves his Focus.

People haven't given American cars a chance for the last decade. These are solid cars and they keep good, hard-working union workers in some of the most respectable jobs in the world.

[NVMojo]

13. Last night, 20/20 was a total marketing scheme for the GOP stand on this

and others. They beat the crap out of Lou Dobbs for standing against outsourcing and Dobbs also supported Made In America, ABC didn't.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. I love my Toyota. But, I'm not a "patriot".

When America starts producing stuff of similar quality and price, get back to me.

[Solon]

17. Actually, that is something we need to highlight...

Your Toyota was most likely made in America, so it would fit. Given the new global model that the Corporations want us to live in, there is no American Companies anymore, not large ones anyways. We have Multi-Nationals, and then Local, businesses, so let's view them as such. Support the local ones as much as possible, and when you need something from a Multi-National, look for the one that employs the most Americans. In that case it would be Toyota or Honda over Ford or GM.

[DetroitProle]

23. just rationalizing not buying American.

We're a controlled experiment here in Detroit. Ford or GM have a hiccup, and the economy here gets pnemonia. It certainly doesn't matter how well some Asian car company is doing.
Toyota employs 38000 American workers, while GM employs hundreds of thousands. So I have no idea what you're talking about.
Not to mention, foreign car plants are often in the south where wages are lower and union strength is miniscule, if existent.

Let's all just shop at Wal-Mart while we're at it. As long as its for our own personal comfort and convenience.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. that's the spirit !