Voice: Michael R. Smith, Spaulding Township
I recently read an article in a Bloomberg Businessweek about wages in other nations. The article said a person had moved his manufacturing company from the United States to Taiwan. Then he moved it to China because of cheaper labor rates again. Now he is moving from China to Vietnam for the same reason.
The article says the rate in Vietnam is $100 per month per person, which is three times lower than in China. He had 25,000 employees, so he felt a substantial savings in making this move. That means if a person in Vietnam works 40 hours a week, he/she gets 0.62 cents an hour. We know this rate isn’t realistic compared to the products’ cost that the same company ships back into the United States, yet it is allowed.
How can America compete at these labor rates? When people speak of jobs in the United States, they need to clarify what type of jobs and the wages for them. Americans cannot make a living working at minimum wage, let alone these Stone Age wages.
Colleges have increased their costs, which prohibit many from attending. Educational standards are exceptionally low in the majority of schools, which makes qualifying for college difficult. I feel America will experience a wide variety of crime caused by the lack of employment. What is the plan is to stabilize the United States economy?
Most manufacturing jobs have left the United States. What is the GOP’s plan to bring them back? How can the United States defend itself in the event of war if they no longer have manufacturing capabilities to produce war materials?
These questions have to be addressed soon, as most people drawing unemployment compensation are about to run out. Townships, cities, counties and states are financially struggling. Taxes support these entities, yet without jobs there are no taxes to support them. I have yet to hear of any substantial plan from anyone. We need answers before anarchy.