9 March 2004

Arizona Senators Kyl and McCain Not Listening to Angry Cries of America's Outsourced Middle Class

Arizona Republic columnist E.J. Montini pens an excellent column on the indifference of Arizona senators to their constituency struggling as a result of the scourge of outsourcing.
"Downsizing, outsourcing, declining market - I was out of a job," she wrote. "In one day all that I had worked so hard for was gone. After a year of looking for a new position, savings depleted, house on the market, I moved back to Phoenix, at 42, to live with my parents. My son dropped out of college and took a job to make ends meet. After almost two years of looking for a job, I finally secured a new position this past September. I am in the process of rebuilding my life, my credit, my self-esteem. My salary is about one-third that of what I was previously making. My circumstances have definitely changed. And what have I learned? This is the American dream."

There are some politicians trying to do something about this. But it's an election year, which makes "outsourcing" political opponents more important than jobs. Still, last week the Senate voted on a bill that would cut federal funding to companies that lay off American workers at a higher rate than employees in other countries. It's one of several that have been introduced. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said, "The fact that we're using taxpayers' money to ship somebody's job overseas, I don't think that's a good thing." The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 70-26, with our two Republican senators voting against it.

Democrats plan to use America's fear of outsourcing as a strategy to get voters to reject President Bush in November. And because the opposition is playing up the problem, Republicans must play it down. But as one man who wrote to me said, "It is not about the left or the right, but about the middle."

As I write, this I'm watching CNN Lou Dobbs chatting with executive vice-presidents of American Bankers Association and U.S. Chamber of Commerce on this matter. Both of those guys expressed their opposition to the Senate legislation spearheaded by Senator Dodd, and cited the need for retraining. I swear, whenever I hear about how college educated workers are supposed to go back to community college for retraining, it just sets me off...

Comments

Mr. McCain, I voted for you last time, but no more unless you start doing your job for AZ people. The 'borders' don't seem to be important to the people in DC. How can Bush say we are safer now when our borders are not protected. Last week, the illegals that had been smuggled in were left in the desert without food or water until the Coyotes could find houses to hide them in. They scattered like cock roaches when the police arrived. We used to have a beautiful city in Phoenix. Now, they are allowed to paint designs all over freeway bridges that I helped pay for, they are allowed to let their neighborhoods go to pot. No one says they have to clean it up. We just accept they are slobs, I guess. It is a double standard. We have to learn their language instead of the other way around. Is it any wonder the people along these border states are fed up. You were sounding real good there for awhile, speaking up for your state. It is as though Bush took you in the back room and gave you a whipping. Now you sound like him. You sure won't get my vote again if you can't be your own person. AZ put you in there. For goodness sake, do something for the state.