Economic Engine

A noticeable absence during any election in the past couple of decades has been the question of tariffs on imported goods.  While there has been some discussion on the fact that jobs have been imported overseas the solution to those lost jobs is studiously ignored.  Here in Canada we have dollar stores sprouting up all over the place.  We have shoddy footwear in cheap chain outlets and clothing that falls apart after one washing in stores like Walmart.  We also have food products coming in from overseas that have questionable content including pet foods and vitamins to name a few recent outrages. 

       Once upon a time Canada and the United States had a thriving fabric and clothing industry. We used to have shoe manufacturing and industrial factories which are now located in Mexico or Asia.  In the 1990’s we were told that we were now going to be a technology based economy but in recent years we have had our IT business also migrate overseas into India and Asia.  What are the drivers that are pushing businesses overseas?  The cost of wages which will give corporations a wider margin to declare dividends for their shareholders.  Business has a right to operate the business as they see fit but it ought to be the right of the average citizen to have the power to elect a government that will do right by the general population.  In this, the 21^st century we ought to have governments who see to it that 100% of the population has a humane quality of life that would include a living wage, access to decent homes and the ability to obtain the necessities of life and some few luxuries.

       In other words, our government ought to place tariff on imports to the extent that it would force back manufacturing jobs as well as jobs like telephone operators.  If there is one thing that drives me around the bend it is talking to an operator over in India that I barely can understand.  How is that even allowed?  Many accounting jobs have also been farmed over to India and again, how is that allowed?

       When the politicians talk about creating jobs, why isn’t someone asking the question about reinventing the wheel?  Why can’t we have the jobs back that were shipped overseas?  Is it too much to ask that our accounting clerks receive a living wage with their job?  Are dividends to shareholders more important than people?

       Apparently the answer to that last question is yes, but I have to then ask, why?