Put on Your Workboots, America

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would come forward with a real jobs program? Instead the debate in Washington is on things like tax cuts and what to do -- next year -- with health care and the budget deficit. These are important subjects, but none of them will have any near-term effect on the unemployment level (9.6 percent officially and probably 20 percent unofficially). It is no accident America largely turned one party out of office for another. A party in control of the White House and both houses of Congress that does not have a radical reemployment program at a time the sustained unemployment level is at a record high is not going to get a lot of sympathy.

Yet there is something which can be done immediately, which will have an impact on U. S. jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The Democratic party can do this now; they still have control of the Senate. If they want to send a message to America, there is a step they should take when they get back for the lame duck session starting Monday. The Senate should pass the China currency bill which already passed the House of Representatives in September, and which will make it much more likely the Department of Commerce will impose duties on imports of products from China to offset currency manipulation. The bill would remove an objection the Department of Commerce raised when it refused to investigate currency manipulation in two trade cases earlier this year, and clear the way for trade investigations of this pernicious, unfair practice.

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