Globalization: A Rendezvous with Reality

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation that will ease the burden of trade and globalization on our workforce. That term, globalization, describes a world that is shrinking at the speed of technological change and human innovation. Globalization is not a monolithic force but an evolving set of consequences -- some good, some bad and some unintended. It is the new reality.

The people from my hometown who gather at Augie and Ray's are pretty astute about life. They rarely use the word globalization to describe what is happening around them -- at Augie's, in the workplace, or at home. But, they know the world is changing and feel there are forces at work beyond their control. They read people as well as they read the sports page. And, they are unafraid to give you their unvarnished view of the world. They see their neighbors losing their jobs to companies overseas. They see parts of the economy flourishing, but don't know why that's not reflected in their paychecks. They feel the squeeze of a middle class whose money doesn't go as far as it used to towards heating their homes, educating their kids or filling up their gas tanks.

The folks at Augie's care about national prestige and love of country. But, above all else, they want to be able to look at their families across the dinner table and know that they can provide for the future. As all Americans head forward into the new reality globalization has created, they want leaders who will level with them and help level the playing field.

At another point in our nation's history when there was great anxiety about the future, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt told Americans that they had a rendezvous with destiny. He called upon the country to find the "warm courage of national unity," and he asked people to sacrifice. In return, he promised Americans the security of knowing that hard work and playing by the rules guaranteed certain basics -- Social Security, housing and a job. With that, he offered Americans the New Deal.

The New Deal addressed the changing needs and concerns of the nation in a time of turmoil and uncertainty. Our challenges today are no less daunting. We are heading towards a rendezvous with reality -- a reality born out of the impact of globalization. What Americans need now is a Real Deal that would restore hope for the future and remedy the inequities caused by globalization. Globalization doesn't have to be a bad thing as long as government provides us all with the tools to cope in a changing world.

Americans want to be exposed to the opportunities that a changing world can offer. For that to happen, government must focus on its core responsibilities. We must care for the health and well-being of our citizens. We must educate and train our workforce. And, we need to rebuild this country's infrastructure in a way that will create jobs and secure the nation.

Roosevelt was right when he said that reality can't be postponed or delayed. We are facing a reality now that we must confront. The Trade and Globalization Assistance Act is a step in that direction. But, the next president will need to go further to protect the American way of life. He or she can not defer to tomorrow the challenges our citizens face today.

Comments

[kevinabt]

Why don't you in congress ever audit the Federal Reserve? Why don't you tell us how much gold is still in Fort Knox? That gold was confiscated from all Americans and then sold off at a huge benefit to someone. Why is congress letting our Constitution be torn apart? Why is congress not making sure money spent on the military war machine isn't being wasted? Why is congress not even considering an impeachment against Cheney and Bush?

No one trusts congress, and for good reason.

[Macready]

Globalisation isn't just about jobs and lobby groups . . . it is about dialogue and international co-operation . . . it is not about illegal invasions of foreign countries (Iraq), it is not about declaring another coutries military a terrorist group (Iran); it is not about blind support of israel while ignorning the plight of the Palestinians . .. it is not about letting bush/cheney, et al escape impeachment for their crimes . . . globalisation is also diplomacy and fair dealing with the rest of the world . . .

[rixhex56]

"...he promised Americans the security of knowing that hard work and playing by the rules guaranteed certain basics -- Social Security, housing and a job. With that, he offered Americans the New Deal."

Those basics are no longer guaranteed, and there are too many among us who don't care if they are guaranteed or not. There are too many among us who have no conception of society or what it means to "work together". They live according to the "I got mine" principle.

[realitytrumpsbull]

How's the Halliburton shares doing lately, what's REALLY going on, here? Hmmm...

[dgscol]

Everyone posting on this issue knows what to do, so why can we not get a politicians into office, to take our ideas and set it straight? In the debates, globalization was not mentioned, was it? It is oneo fhte main issues to me, not the national archives. Jeez!

[dgscol]

We must ensure that this nation, for the people, does not perish from the face of the earth.

So far the WTO, just forgot about US. People have faced real pain, the economy is in trouble, and only a recent reduction in Chinese imports is claimed as an improvement in our economy.

People are sick of things like junk bonds and international trade that does not take the average US citizen into account. The elites that pay the politicians do not feel our pain, and they ought to. All these things can be reversed if we have a mind to do so, and there are not that many people to replace if that is what is needed. WE need leadership, not headless horsemen. LEADERS, COME HITHER.

[Pdubya]

Lets start by having you support:

HR Bill 3835 The American Freedom Agenda Act


That would start this country back on the tract of representative government and civil liberty for all.

[peterg76]

Globalization is nothing but the disgraceful abandon by governments of of their responsibilities to their citizens in favour of foreign investors. It is not natural or inevitable - look at the efforts that have to be poured into convincing politicians to betray their constituents. True, no country has absolute control of its borders and has to acknowledge international competition, but that does not excuse wilfully reducing the working class to third world poverty.

The reality of globalization is the race to the bottom that was predicted by everyone who wasn't biased. And workers are being fooled by the mythology less and less.

[NABNYC]

When communities used to fall sick from poverty or germs, the religious leaders would tell the people that it was caused by "sin." Nonsense.

Just like the entire concept of "globalization" is nonsense, a PR term created by some hack to allow the major U.S. corporations to void contracts, ignore environmental laws, use slave labor, hire illegal immigrants, squander workers' pensions, eliminate healthcare and otherwise screw the people of this country.

What? Did we go to sleep one night and wake up the next day and some big entity, like in Independence Day, was hovering over the entire world, forcing us to flee in horror? Eeek, Eeek, it's the global economy.

If our government represented us, we wouldn't have to hear all this nonsense about "sin," (or "globalization") being responsible for all our woes. Not so.

All the government has to do is tax the wealthy to such an extent that there is no economic benefit to their greed. Make it illegal to take jobs outside the U.S., or impose significant tariffs on imports. Tax 90% of all income or gain over $1.0 million, and use that money to help the loyal workers set up our own companies. Make it illegal to outsource work.

We need to stop falling for this b.s. line that it is "globalization" that is responsible for our problems. It is U.S. business that is taking more and more of the world's resources and wealth for the benefit of the few. And it is our government and our politicians who take bribes from the wealthy to look the other way and allow them to destroy our country.

No boogy man. Just greed, lies, murder, corruption, theft. Same old stuff.

[Stevelagain]

So Mr. Larson. I'd like to see what action you have taken to make this happen.

1. Show us the social security bill you have put forward to save social security?

2. Medicare is the one that's really heading for a complete break down....where is your medicare bill?

3. Where is your infrastructure bill?

4. Where is your education bill?

5. Where is your universal health care bill?

Are you aware that it took WWII to really bail us out of the depression and that the government took many actions such as PROTECTIONISM that deepened the depression, made it worse, and made it last longer?

We are hearing lots of talk from you in congress but not getting much action on our REAL domestic agenda.

Start with Medicare please....please???? No one will talk to you folks about Medicare...I will. Where is the bi-partisan committee to fix it? Why aren't you standing up every day in congress demanding the committees be formed to fix Medicare?

You folks are failing us, and you can't blame the republicans for your failures.

[Jello]

Teaching global capitalism to kids: have them look at the back side of their school supplies.

This article seems like a "compassionate conservative" article to me.

[SamThornton]

The inevitability of so-called "globalization" and its associated social failures and damage is largely a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The problem is that corporations are being allowed to exploit cheap, unregulated labor markets with impunity. The cure is to make that exploitation more painful for guilty corporations. The ways to implement the cure are various. It's up to the political class to bite the bullet and figure out the most equitable manner to apply the appropriate fix.

Failing that, the politicians need to be hounded out of office.

[drumz]

Closing the off-shore corp tax loophole would be a good start. Corporations that get started here taking advantage of our infrastructure (schooling, police, fire, hospitals, roads, rail...) and then moving off-shore to avoid paying taxes are the globalization pigs. They are only using this country for their own gain which has grown to be obscene!

[demockracy]

Vague platitudes and folksy anecdotes are *the* preferred way to disempower the electorate. Let's hear what the legislation says, please, Mr. Congressman.

...or would you prefer to make our decisions so we don't have to be bothered with the costs and consequences?

[mommadona]

How about this for a change?

"Buy Locally, Think Globally".

All the DC BubblePeople need to get over this "globalization" thing as far as governing.

It is not your place as a representative of the PEOPLE, not the CORPORATIONS.

Until the Democratic Party 'gets that' you will be considered in bed with the Republicans.

Can't tell one business shill from another now a days...."Nafta/Cafta"....gesundheit.