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Schumer uses Batavia visit to call on America to become a nation of producers again

By Howard B. Owens

Sen. Charles Schumer was in Batavia yesterday to tell local dairy farmers that he is working to bring in federal dollars to help their beleaguered industry.

But he also gave a pep talk for America. WBTA posted the audio (MP3).

Here’s the truth. People do’t like to hear it, but it’s the truth. For the last 15 years under Democratic and Republican presidents, here’s what America did: We consumed more than we produced. We borrowed more than we saved. We imported more than we exported.  We were the great production giant of the world. In the last 15 or 20 years, you know what we were? This big giant, big muscles, strong, astride the globe, stuffing our face with candy.

Schumer said Americans need to become a nation of producers again -- saving and exporting, rather than spending and importing.

But America has one advantage, Schumer said: there's no barrier to any person doing whatever he or she wants with his or her life.

We’ve gotten off track. We’ve gotten too fat. We can get back on track. Only America has the system that says, ‘I don’t care who you are, how much money you have, what your daddy did, or mom, you can achieve the stars if you work hard.' So the $64,000 question is, what are the policies that get us back and we’ll be giant again.

Photo courtesy WBTA.

Bruce Wiseley

I would love to know how we are supposed to be producers again, when people like Chuck U. Schumer, and his fellow Democrats are taxing the private business owners to death. Then add the government health care costs they will have to provide; the highest corporate tax in the world; and if the business does well, they will be taxed again for doing well. Gee, that's very motivating isn't it. Maybe the $64,000 question should be: what Schumer should be paid every year for all the good work he has done for us?!
I just heard that Addidas will close their plant in Perry. Is that a "Union Shop"? I don't know. I'll save any comments until I get an answer.

Nov 25, 2009, 3:00pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Actually Bruce, taxes for most average Americans, at the Federal level, have gone down under the Democratic administration. My bet is that <b>your</b> federal taxes have gone down.

Senator Schumer went to Perry to denounce the decision by Adidas to send the production of jersey's overseas. Maybe Adidas sees a higher profit margin if they can pay their workers $5.00 a day instead of $10.00 an hour. And I just talked to a friend from over that way and he said that he was quite sure that this shop is non union -- but not 100% on that.

From Geoff Reddick of WBTA --

(Posted: 6:00PM)
by Geoff Redick
<i>"The Wyoming County Town of Perry stands to take a big hit in the textile industry.
Perry is home to the world headquarters of American Classic Outfitters, the company that stitches the basketball jerseys for every professional team in the NBA.
That job was exclusively contracted through sporting goods giant Adidas, meaning it was the only project ACO worked on. But now the higher-ups at Adidas have reportedly decided to move jersey production overseas.
ACO representative Rob Knoll says he’s with a group who just recently
bought the company from previous owners. Knoll says it’s unfair, but
they’re moving forward. http://www.wbta1490.com/cgi_bin/news_view.pl
Senator Chuck Schumer is strongly opposed to the idea and is urging Adidas to keep their jersey operation in Perry.
Schumer says 100 jobs could be lost in Perry if Adidas holds to its decision.
In addition to the NBA deal, ACO also does work for the WNBA and makes various sports uniforms for NCAA teams."</i>

Nov 25, 2009, 3:45pm Permalink
John Roach

Lorie,
It's business taxes that will drive more companies to Asia or South America.

And when the health care tax and higher costs are passed on down to us by business, we will have less money to spend. Even if something is made here, we will not be able to buy it.

Nov 25, 2009, 4:53pm Permalink
Bruce Wiseley

Lorie, the Federal Tax rate was from Bush, not the Democrats. And Obama wants to end those cuts, or just allow them to expire. Please do a "Fact Check" before you respond. It saves time, and that way the truth is told, that's if Howard doesn't delete me AGAIN!

Nov 25, 2009, 4:55pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

I remember after it passed when my husband's first check reflected +$18.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-waldman/is-obamas-tax-cut-the-big_…

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Economy/story?id=7166810&page=1

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123111279694652423.html

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_02/016948.php
BIGGEST. TAX CUT. EVER. (REDUX).... We talked a week ago about the tax-cut provisions of the economic stimulus package, and how it turns out that President Obama proposed and passed one of the largest tax cuts in American history -- $282 billion over two years -- without Republican support.

Nov 25, 2009, 5:14pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

John, so it is more business taxes than the lure of cheap labor with no legacy benefits? I tend to think that most of the reason for outsourcing is the cheap foreign labor. Maybe I'm wrong.

Nov 25, 2009, 5:24pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Bruce, when people talk about the 'Bush Tax Cuts,' they invariably leave out the modifier: 'for the top three percent of wage earners in America.'

President Obama cut payroll taxes for the middle class as explained in Lorie's post.

Someone who seems to be as informed as you are should know these things or maybe you only pay attention to the facts that support your own opinions. Either way, I'm turning my attention to turkey and cornbread stuffing. Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov 25, 2009, 5:38pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

John, High taxes are what force business out of New York to other states.

The opportunity to hire what is basically slave labor with no benefits is what lures them to other countries. One is understandable and forgivable, the other is simply about greed.

If we held the countries we import from to the same standards we hold employers in our own country we would be better off as a nation.

Nov 25, 2009, 5:40pm Permalink
John Oakes

Is he really serious... He had the gull to talk about we need to become a nation of producers when he and his sheeple in congress come up with policies like cap & trade and Universal Healthcare. Great job chucky You are a failure of epic proportions keep on spending there pal

Nov 25, 2009, 6:02pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Lorie that 18 dollars more you husband got in his paycheck is because they played around with the tax withholding formula..according to the IRS, part of this might have to be paid back in two income earner family's...If this health care bill goes through business owners will be required to provide insurance to there employees or face a fine....This is not how you attract business to invest in the USA..Same with the cap and trade tax...Remind us what jobs Chuck has created in the private sector..

Nov 25, 2009, 7:42pm Permalink
Tom Gilliatt

The way this dude talks he makes it seem like all the USA's problems are our fault, Ya like john said <b>"Great job chucky You are a failure of epic proportions keep on spending there pal"</b>

Nov 25, 2009, 7:11pm Permalink
bud prevost

Charles Schumer is another lifelong lawyer/politician who is always ready to smile for the camera. Kind of like President Obama, smiling while he pats is own back for adjusting withholding on income tax, and then 9 months later, smiles when he says many will see smaller refund checks. Smoke and mirrors, my friends, smoke and mirrors.
Does anyone besides me see a snake oil salesman sitting in the oval office? For the first time in my 45 years of existence, I'M AFRAID OF THE GOVERNMENT. I always had a healthy respect, but not any longer.

Nov 25, 2009, 8:23pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Seems me there's quite a bit of attention being paid to political and partisan issues rather than thinking about what Sen. Schumer said. Either the senator spoke the truth, or he didn't. It's rather immaterial who he is or what party he belongs to. The issue is, if what he said is true, what can we do about it, and if it isn't, why?

It's this kind of turning everything into partisan issues that keeps this country from moving forward. IMHO.

Nov 25, 2009, 8:36pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Bruce, your first comment seemed to try and put the blame on the workers with your presumption that this was a "union" shop. These are people that could wind up losing their jobs. I have been told definitively that this was a non union shop -- so there's your answer to that question. I would guess that the hundred or so workers got paid maybe a little above minimum, maybe more. It does appear from quotes that the owner of ACO has a general concern for his workforce and I'm sure that the employees are respectful and loyal to their boss. Perry's a tight knit community -- we have a small place on Silver Lake so I am very familiar with the community. A quote from an article in the Daily -- “We just don’t want to do that to the employees,” Knoll, the owner of ACO said. “We value our employees, and at the same time we’re going to try to keep them going as long as we can.” There are pictures of the owner and Senator Schumer at the announcement where Schumer vowed to do whatever he can to try and stop the outsourcing and save the Perry jobs.

I put a few different links from different sources up about the tax cut. You can choose not to believe it, but it did pass.

Health care hasn't passed yet, so I won't comment on a bill that hasn't passed the Senate and gone through conference committee yet. None of us know what the final bill is going to look like or even if it will pass. I do know that the CBO estimated that the senate proposal would reduce the federal deficit by $127 billion over the next 10 years and by more than $600 billion in the following decade. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/18/health.care/

Nov 25, 2009, 9:41pm Permalink
doug smith

Be it democrats or republicans, both parties have let us down when it comes to free trade....
How do we compete with countries that have no environmental
Standards, no health care, no disability insurance, no comp Claims, and not to mention any OSHA.....
These are not all bad things, just can’t compete
With them.....they can pay to have there items trucked
To a ship yard, loaded on the ship, pay to have it shipped over here, unloaded at the ship yard, and sold
Below our price.....good for them bad for us
Now what about a carbon tax, value added tax, (that democrats favor) tax tax tax

Nov 25, 2009, 11:34pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Back to Howards point, Chuck spoke the truth. We are the cause of our own problems.

This partisan garbage is a waste of time. It’s a case of she lied, he lied. In the end they all lied to pump us up and make us feel good about our bad personal decisions. Americans want cheap products and don’t care where they are made. We love to use our credit cards and we think the government should do the same. We all want something for nothing, our financial meltdown is coming.Anyone see that iceberg?

Oh, Happy Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey.

Nov 26, 2009, 8:53am Permalink
Tom Gilliatt

Posted by Charlie Mallow on November 26, 2009 - 8:53am
We all want something for nothing

I think not, I work for everything I have and would not do other wise.

Nov 26, 2009, 2:00pm Permalink
doug smith

What if we put tariffs on products that are imported from?
Countries that have no standards equal to ours....let there
Items cost as much as ours.....we could increase manufacturing jobs.....this in turn what let these people
Buy more items made in America......free trade EQUAL STANDARDS...screw if other countries cry foul....we need
Jobs....manufacturing jobs......
Let the unions organize in china Mexico Eastern Europe India .......now before it’s to late......
Send illegal’s home.....hire our kids on your farms
When those on unemployment run out ....give them a chance
To work on farms, factories

We have to many welfare programs to support.....free
Breakfasts, free lunch, wicks, food stamps, housing, HUD,
I know two men who get assistance for day care, one has no job the other does, I feel for them but.....both smoke a pack a day....and drink heavily....another just
Received a new furnace from the state because they have
Two kids and a low income....again heavy smokers and heavy drinkers......WHY DO I NEED HELP SUPPORT THEIR BAD HABBITS

Nov 26, 2009, 9:23pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Doug, I agree 100% with your tarriff ideas. For years, members of both parties have looked the other way when it comes to human rights violations in the countries we import from. Wal-Mart and companies like it have been lining the pockets of Republicans and Democrats, they hire slave labor in countries that treat their people like commodities and they pass the 'savings' on to you.

Nov 27, 2009, 10:23am Permalink
doug smith

Right on Chris.......yes we all love to save a dollar, and I wouldn’t mind buying from china ....but by god
Hold them to the same standards we are required to uphold

Let Schumer put his words to action.....push for equal trade, not free trade. Stand up Schumer show us
New Yorkers you got our backs......yes we are off track
But you guys in Washington led us there....saddle up
And ride this great nation back to where we were....
Or get off the hoarse and let someone else do it...
Republican or democrat....

Nov 27, 2009, 12:30pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Right on back at ya Doug. America cannot be the world leader on human rights while at the same time importing in enormous volume from countries that refuse to uphold them. It's hypocrisy at its finest and we should be ashamed of ourselves.

Nov 27, 2009, 12:47pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

These trade agreements seem one sided...Perot warned of the giant sucking sound that would happen under NAFTA..Clinton signed it ..so much for the Democrats looking out for the working man..Obama during his run for president said one of the first things he was going to do when he got into office was Re do the NAFTA agreement,he said he would scrap it and start over....so far nothing..Shumer's ,So the $64,000 question is, what are the policies that get us back and we’ll be giant again.Hey Chuck free trade is the problem..

Nov 27, 2009, 8:31pm Permalink
doug smith

a little article on Perot

In short, it was not the Texas billionaire's finest moment. More than ever, he seemed as he has been dubbed, 'a handgrenade with a crewcut'. The familiar one-liners were spiteful, the slogans hollow. When pressed he was evasive. In his relentless portrayal of Nafta as a mortal threat to American jobs, he seemed whiny, even slightly mad.

In one withering riposte, Mr Gore recalled his opponent's prediction three years ago that 40,000 Americans would die in the Gulf war, and that 100 banks would close if the Democrats won the presidency. 'The politics of negativism and fear only go so far,' he said.

Earlier too, he dumbfounded Mr Perot by wheeling out a black and white photo of the two 1930s congressmen who introduced the protectionist Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930, widely blamed for causing the Great Depression. Rejection of Nafta would be more of the same, Mr Gore insisted, pointing out for good measure that the Texan had backed the pact before running for the presidency last year. A briefly silenced Mr Perot could only sweep the photo to one side, in scarcely contained anger.

Even the Perot railing against the lobbyist blight on Washington politics was turned against him. Had he himself not paid lobbyists, Mr Gore inquired, to influence the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the 1970s? 'You're lying,' came a twangy splutter of righteous Texan indignation. But when the Vice- President challenged him to deny it, Mr Perot never did.

Now the administration must cash in on Mr Gore's performance. Had he lost on Tuesday night, Nafta would have been doomed. Even so, the White House remains some 20-odd votes short of a majority, and foes of the pact claim they already have victory in the bag.

The televised public conversion to the pact by one Florida Democrat immediately afterwards had far too obviously been stage-managed in advance to be convincing. Mr Perot may not have advanced his cause. But waverers must still reckon with union hostility to Nafta as they consider their prospects in the mid-term congressional elections, less than a year off.

Nov 28, 2009, 9:11am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

I found this A.P. article and thought it was relevant to share here in this thread from a few days ago. It can easily be brushed aside as part of his duties as an elected US Senator to follow through and seek solutions for constituents, but I'm impressed that he went to the NBA commissioner to advocate for 100 jobs in Perry.

<i>"Because it's an American sport invented in America, played better in America than anywhere else, the jerseys ought to be made here in America," Schumer said.

Schumer said about 100 jobs are at stake at American Classic Outfitters' factory, where more than half the uniforms worn by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and other NBA players are manufactured.

"The bottom line is that this outsourcing has gone too far," Schumer said.

Disappointed by the response he got from adidas, Schumer said he spoke Saturday over the phone with NBA commissioner David Stern. </i>
The rest of the article follows here --
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/2009/11/29/11971506-ap.html

Dec 1, 2009, 10:09pm Permalink

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