Archive for December, 2008

Senator Harry Reid D-NV released a statement recently stating that “Republicans Have No Interest in Keeping Domestic Auto Industry Alive and Saving Millions of American Jobs” (Thursday, Dec 11, 2008)

Partisan is one thing, but no thinking individual, no matter their political persuasion, would believe this a true statement.  It is time for this childish, politics as usual, behavior, especially by the leader of the U. S. Senate, to stop.  THAT would be change to believe in.

Republicans are just as concerned as Democrats about jobs, manufacturing and the economy.  It serves no good purpose to make these type statements – rather drives people apart when we need to work together.

I came of age watching the Steel industry go through similar diastrous collapse.  The industry moved further and further from global competitiveness due to unrealistic labor agreements (which both management and union leadership BOTH signed) around both compensation and work rules. Later, overbearing environmental regulation which did too much too fast, added insult to injury.  It has never fully recovered.  The UMWA (mineworkeres) and the USWA (steelworkers) are a shell of their former stature.  I believe valuable lessons can be learned from that experience.

The question now is how soon the UAW will resemble other formerly powerful unions in American history or if they will find a way to retrench and rebuild.

No one in Washington nor Congress came to the rescue of the steel industry.  While it is different, there IS a steel industry in the U. S. today.  Another example is the railroads.  In this case, the federal government intervened heavily, resulting in ConRail (freight) and AmTrak (passenger) lines.  To this day AmTrak continues to be a drain on the U. S. Treasury ANNUALLY, having NEVER shown a profit and constantly coming back to Congress for more money.

It is time to realize that bankruptcy courts/law have developed over centuries to handle just these type of situations and that politicians need to let them work – whether it is in financial markets or any other economic sector.

It is not pleasant, but it is reality.  Perhaps Labor and Management can both learn this lesson.  You certainly don’t find it in MBA programs!

To All,

Times are getting a little tougher, no doubt. Various forces have combined to move our national economy in ways which will take time and effort from all of us to reverse.

We must be vigilant in our efforts to provide elected officials with our insight and opinion, especially at the Federal level. The more they do, the worse it gets!

At the other end, I believe we have good communication with our local office holders. They have not lost sight of the principals which will set the foundation for recovery.

With that in mind, I am asking you to reach out in support of our Republican Supervisors this evening (Wednesday, December 10) by attending and gaining insight about their efforts to control spending and still provide adequate levels of township services.

We have all experienced tough times of one sort or another.

Those of us fortunate enough to have also experienced a strong knit community of support know that this is how things get better – not the same – but better than they are, day by day.

I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting this evening at the Northampton Township Municipal Building.

Sincerely,

Steve McGill, Chairman
Northampton Township Republican Committee