AMERICAS BIGGEST ECONOMIC PROBLEM

What is the biggest economic problem the US faces? It is cheap imports that are made in countries that have very low labor rates that we cannot compete with in this country. One example, Vietnam's labor rate is $0.49 USD per hour. How can we compete with that? We have already lost many industries to cheap imports from countries such as China, and others. Examples of US industries nearly wiped out: textiles, shoes, automobiles, steel, tools, and most small hardware items such as flashlights, knives, camping gear, kitchen utensils, dishes, silverware, etc., etc. Can you think of any small item that you could make in the US that can't be obtained more cheaply at a store that sells cheap imports? Even a can opener would be hard to make here at a profit. Our current trading system is called "free trade" both Democrats and Republicans have been pushing it for years. It has almost caused the US to lose its industrial base while we essentially tool up and build up countries like China by buying their imports. People say, "Yes, but we are a service oriented country now." Baloney, have these people checked out the services available from India? Everything from computer programming to catalog ordering and much more at cheap prices. Is there a solution. I think so. I call it FAIR TRADE. In this system an importer would have to pay a tax or tariff to equalize the import price of his goods to be reasonably equal to what the price of the goods would be in the US with our normal labor rates. In order not to start a trade war, the tariffs would be set so that some profit could be made by the importer while at the same time US manufacturers could compete with the imports using advanced manufacturing techniques and greater efficiencies of production. Lets re-build our industries. We cannot create wealth for the country if we do not manufacture products. We need more jobs in this country. New manufacturing jobs would be a big help. Whether you are Democrat or Republican, please consider this and write or call your representative to make sure he or she understands this problem.