More Yellow Jobs than Green
More Yellow Jobs than Green
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:02 AM
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 2093 -- 3/10/2010 >>>>>
web version:
http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2010/03/10/more-yellow-jobs-than-green
President Obama said that his stimulus bill would be spent for green jobs in a
green economy.
Because we know we can t power America s future on energy that s
controlled by foreign dictators, we are taking a big step down
the road to energy independence, and laying the groundwork for a
new, green energy economy that can create countless well-paying
jobs.
Obama Signs Stimulus Plan Into Law, President Obama, Denver Colorado, Feb.
17, 2009
Transcript
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-4807704-503544.html
Obama s hope that lots of high-paying green jobs are going to be created has
one major hitch -- most of them will be yellow jobs in Communist China!
Stimulus money is being used to fund products made in China, and to utilize
Americans only when absolutely necessary.
In a recent blog I explained that 8 out of 10 stimulus dollars for wind power
goes overseas. It s not only wind power projects that are going to China and
other countries even though our solar energy industry is non-existent and,
stimulus money isn t going to change that reality.
Peter Morici explained the problem in stark terms:
Longtime China critic Peter Morici, an economist at the University
of Maryland and former chief economist of the U.S. International
Trade Commission, pins the blame on the Obama administration,
which he says has failed to push China to reform its trade practices.
"It s absolutely disgraceful that Obama is going around the world
saying we will not resort to protectionist measures against China
when they re stealing the solar-panel business out from under us,"
Morici said.
Morici noted that China s protectionist measures include a
requirement that 75 percent of the content of government-purchased
solar panels be Chinese-made. The United States has no such
requirement.
"China eating our lunch in solar-panel marketplace", by Dean
Calbreath, San Diego Union-Tribune, August 30 2009
http://www.allbusiness.com/economy-economic-indicators/economic-indicators/12795541-1.html
Arizona s reputation as the sunniest state in the union is attracting stimulus
money but the problem is that the bulk of the business is going to two Chinese
companies: Suntech Power Holdings and Yingli Solar Energy.
Stimulus funds are going directly into the hands of these two Chinese
companies in order to build solar panels for consumption in the U.S.
http://www.suntech-power.com/
http://www.yinglisolar.com/
My contention is that if the Obama administration continues to allow stimulus
funds to go to foreign countries, very few good jobs will be created and we
will not develop the engineering and manufacturing infrastructure needed to
make our own stuff.
I wish to thank Mary Teagarden for inadvertently proving my point in a recent
article in the Phoenix Business Journal.
Economic developers and solar energy firms in the Valley have
welcomed Chinese and other foreign investment as a way to help
the region recover from the recession, create new jobs and
finance projects when traditional and domestic funding sources
have run dry.
Rob Sanchez, editor of the Job Destruction Newsletter in
Chandler, said linking Arizona s solar growth with China could
mean manufacturing and engineering jobs will be based in Asia,
where costs are lower. That would leave more service- and
distribution-oriented jobs in Arizona.
"Arizona promoters are deluding themselves if they think
foreign investors are going to sink money into photovoltaic
research and production centers when they can build them
anywhere in the world that is cheaper than Arizona," said
Sanchez, who is critical of free-trade policies in general.
"Sure, Arizona has lots of sunshine, but so does the Gobi
Desert. If the Chinese invest money in Arizona, it will be
for marketing offices and maybe a few small production
facilities where prefab parts are put together."
Suntech will create 75 jobs in Goodyear, but those jobs will
involve assembling products manufactured in China, said Mary
Teagarden, a global business professor at the Thunderbird
School of Global Management in Glendale.
"China s influence creeps into Arizona solar", Phoenix
Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks and Patrick O Grady,
March 6, 2010 [link below]
Teagarden is a business professor at the Thunderbird School of Global
Management in Glendale, AZ. Not surprisingly she is a champion of offshoring
jobs to the Chinese. Thunderbird School is in the business of training
(brainwashing) future executives to become globalists that have the skills to
offshore jobs to countries where costs are cheaper than the U.S. Teagarden is
recognized for her research that has a rather descriptive and alarming title:
http://www.thunderbird.edu/about_thunderbird/faculty/faculty_alphabetical/_132560.htm
Mary Teagarden
"The role of Global Mindset in developing global leaders."
http://knowledgenetwork.thunderbird.edu/research/2009/11/06/globalleaders/
So, what Teagarden seems to be saying in the Phoenix Biz article is that after
spending millions of dollars of green money in Arizona for solar energy we
will get 75 low paying jobs to assemble components, and maybe a few temporary
construction jobs. Most of the manufacturing, engineering, and research
dollars will go to China.
So how could stupidity of this magnitude happen? The best explanation I have
read was written by Maryann Scarangello, who says that she is: "a wife and a
mother first and an avid political writer second." She obviously isn t an
economist because her writings exhibit too much common sense!
American manufacturing has taken such a hit in the past 20 years
(down 37% since the early 90 s) that small manufacturing firms
were not properly prepared to handle the mass of manufacturing
needs the stimulus created. Thus, loopholes were added to the
legislation and this meant billions in stimulus dollars went to
foreign countries instead of to an ill American economy which
could have used this opportunity to restructure our manufacturing
and bring prosperity back to the sector. Taking the short cut
approach not only allowed for money to go overseas, but also
resulted in little to no effect on unemployment and still left
unaddressed, the ability of our nation to rebuild and repair
our manufacturing industry which is vital to our nation s
future growth..
Obama, like his predecessors, has not clamped down on the
unfair playing field of international manufacturing.
Particularly with China when it comes to manufacturing jobs and
manufacturing products, the United States has allowed China to
keep its exports and currency artificially cheap. The value of
the Chinese currency has been an argument for a decade now, yet
no real pressure has been placed on the nation to correct it.
"Manufacturing and Our Failing Stimulus", by
Maryann Scarangello, AllVoices
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/03/01/daily77.html
China's influence creeps into Arizona solar
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5339668-manufacturing-and-our-failing-stimulus
In the days of a "second stimulus" discussion, it s time to re-examine the
failures of the first.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/03/01/daily77.html
Saturday, March 6, 2010 | Modified: Monday, March 8, 2010 China's influence
creeps into Arizona solar Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks and
Patrick O'Grady
China s solar footprint in Arizona might have blended silently into the desert
sand were it not for Suntech Power Holdings well-publicized decision to open
a new assembly plant in Goodyear.
Chinese investments are being made in Arizona s solar sector, mostly via
private, behind-the-scenes deals that have some free-trade and solar skeptics
concerned about the kinds of jobs that will be created here as a result.
Economic developers and solar energy firms in the Valley have welcomed Chinese
and other foreign investment as a way to help the region recover from the
recession, create new jobs and finance projects when traditional and domestic
funding sources have run dry.
Rob Sanchez, editor of the Job Destruction Newsletter in Chandler, said
linking Arizona s solar growth with China could mean manufacturing and
engineering jobs will be based in Asia, where costs are lower. That would
leave more service- and distribution-oriented jobs in Arizona.
"Arizona promoters are deluding themselves if they think foreign investors are
going to sink money into photovoltaic research and production centers when
they can build them anywhere in the world that is cheaper than Arizona," said
Sanchez, who is critical of free-trade policies in general.
"Sure, Arizona has lots of sunshine, but so does the Gobi Desert. If the
Chinese invest money in Arizona, it will be for marketing offices and maybe a
few small production facilities where prefab parts are put together."
Suntech will create 75 jobs in Goodyear, but those jobs will involve
assembling products manufactured in China, said Mary Teagarden, a global
business professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale.
Teagarden, an expert in international economics, said investors and businesses
-- some of which are linked to the Chinese government -- are making heavy
investments in solar industries in the Northeastern and Western U.S.,
including Arizona.
She said U.S. financing streams are tight because of the economy, but the
Chinese are spending money on green energy and solar investments worldwide.
Unlike Suntech s public announcement of its West Valley plant and foreign
solar investments from Spain and Germany, Teagarden said most Chinese deals
are much more low-profile.
"There is ample Chinese financing out there, but it is in the background,"
she said.
Others in the solar industry and those familiar with investment deals agree.
Ryan Hurley, a renewable energy expert and attorney with Scottsdale-based Rose
Law Group PC, said he is seeing private investment and other deals between
Chinese solar panel manufacturers and installation companies in Phoenix and
other markets. He said Chinese manufacturers invest in U.S.
solar installation outfits so those businesses will use Chinese products.
Monique Hanis, spokeswoman for the Solar Energy Industries Association, said
solar panels used to come mostly from German and Spanish companies, but the
Chinese have been producing more of them and are beginning an aggressive
entrance into the U.S. market.
One solar deal maker in the Valley, who asked not to be identified, said the
Chinese take varying tacks to keep their investments and involvement in U.S.
solar energy companies and projects on the down-low. That includes putting
investment dollars into U.S. venture capital and private equity funds, which
then bankroll solar projects in markets such as Arizona.
The Chinese also act as junior and minority partners in some solar deals,
resulting in their involvement not being disclosed or evident in government
filings and applications, according to several real estate executives,
attorneys, consultants and others familiar with such deals.
Neither Suntech nor Yingli Green Energy would comment on their Arizona
investments. Suntech has said in the past that its decision to locate in the
Valley was as much about logistics, getting the company s panels to market and
the state s energy policy as it was about incentives.
Yingli officials, who are negotiating for the best deal between Phoenix and
Austin, did not want to comment on their decision process.
Numerous investors, businesses and solar industry consultants involved or
familiar with Chinese and other foreign investments in Arizona s solar
landscape declined or refused to comment on the nature of that financing and
why many of the deals are kept private.
Doug Bruhnke, CEO of Scottsdale-based business development firm Growth Nation,
said the Chinese are taking the same low-profile approach to U.S.
investments as the Japanese and South Koreans. He said U.S. political
sensitivities about China could play a role in how that country does business
here.
Rebekah Friend, director of the Arizona AFL-CIO, said she doesn t necessarily
care where foreign investment is coming from; she just wants to ensure that
the jobs created by those investments are high-wage and the workers are
treated well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/5339668-manufacturing-and-our-failing-stimulus
In the days of a "second stimulus" discussion, it s time to re-examine the
failures of the first.
The collapse of the manufacturing sector of the United States has been a major
component of the failure of the first stimulus and a reason to shelf any plans
for a second stimulus unless the White House and Congress address the growing
loss of our manufacturing industry.
The Obama administration has pushed hard for the development of "green"
energy jobs. Included in many of the stimulus pep rallies were discussions on
how green jobs would bring employment back and how this would yield a more
energy dependent United States. It sounded good -- and there is hardly anyone
that would doubt our dependence on foreign EVERYTHING has gotten a bit out of
hand.
However, as typical in the government sector -- little was properly thought
out (perhaps not even read) before signed.
Although there were stipulations placed onto stimulus dollars, the government
missed an opportunity to assist the manufacturing industry and bring a true
reduction in unemployment figures to the table.
American manufacturing has taken such a hit in the past 20 years (down 37%
since the early 90 s) that small manufacturing firms were not properly
prepared to handle the mass of manufacturing needs the stimulus created.
Thus, loopholes were added to the legislation and this meant billions in
stimulus dollars went to foreign countries instead of to an ill American
economy which could have used this opportunity to restructure our
manufacturing and bring prosperity back to the sector. Taking the short cut
approach not only allowed for money to go overseas, but also resulted in
little to no effect on unemployment and still left unaddressed, the ability of
our nation to rebuild and repair our manufacturing industry which is vital to
our nation s future growth..
Obama, like his predecessors, has not clamped down on the unfair playing field
of international manufacturing. Particularly with China when it comes to
manufacturing jobs and manufacturing products, the United States has allowed
China to keep its exports and currency artificially cheap. The value of the
Chinese currency has been an argument for a decade now, yet no real pressure
has been placed on the nation to correct it.
President Obama during his campaigned promised to address the currency
manipulation of China but soon after taking office, he retreated, perhaps out
of fear of China s economic threat to this nation now that it holds the single
highest amount of US debt. If China were to dump treasury bonds, they could in
one week cause this nation to lose all recovery to date and sink far lower
than where we were when Obama took office. China s threat of economic warfare
holds a cloud over this administration and this cloud has resulted in damage
to our industries and our clout in the world s economy.
Of course, one cannot help but wonder what diplomatic deals were drawn up and
discussed as the United States begged for China s bailout of our economy.
Placing faith in a nation built on every principle that clashes with our own
was a grave mistake and forces us to accept pressure from a nation that has
sent lead riddled toys to our children, poisoned our pets and sent drywall
that rots from the inside out. When China purchased American debt, our fate in
manufacturing became even darker.
The decline of manufacturing in this nation is carefully documented. It is
nothing new to the administration and it is certainly not new to Congress.
The failure of the government to take action before the first stimulus was
released is criminal. That there is a push today to stop portions of stimulus
dollars for renewable energy is laughable. The manufacturing of renewable
energy supplies (solar panels, wind turbines etc) shifted to Europe and Asia
long before the stimulus had passed and Senator Schumer, D-NY one of the main
voices behind today s letter to set a moratorium on spending, is certainly no
rookie Senator.
Naturally, the American Wind Energy Association condemned the letter
stating: any effort to stop the funding would "torpedo one of the most
successful job creation efforts" of the stimulus bill." While AWEA may have a
point in its response citing the foreign company Gamesa employs Americans in
the production of turbines in Pennsylvania, it is negligent in its defense of
this as Gamesa employees less the 1,000 Americans and is a foreign company
that may pay a few salaries here -- but dominates its employment base
elsewhere and all profits go back to its home country -- Spain and anything
developed in the US utilizing the employees expertise is the intellectual
property of Gamesa -- a company not from the US -- but again -- from Spain.
Although Schumer and his colleagues are correct to ask that stimulus dollars
be stopped to these foreign countries, it is a bit of a wonder as to what took
so long?
It is also not an alternative energy problem only. In the first stimulus,
$8.4 billion was allotted (as was $75 Billion from 23 States) for the
upgrading and expansion of our mass-transit systems which included new subway
and light rail cars. Instead of allotting these funds to American companies to
design and build these cars, since no American companies currently do make the
cars, the loopholes were used and foreign companies received the bulk of these
stimulus dollars too.
It is beyond comprehension that we are not using taxpayer dollars wisely after
all the waste we have complained about for the last decade. When Americans
yielded power to the Democrats in the last election, it was imagined we would
see a return of some fiscal responsibility yet what we ve seen is the collapse
of all fiscal responsibility. While the Obama administration is talking about
saving jobs, they are missing what they have lost -- every penny they sent to
Germany, Spain, China Japan . Every penny could have turned the manufacturing
industry around. Small business manufacturing firms should have received these
awards to grow -- to expand and to HIRE.
America is not at a loss of people who need work. It s just at a loss of
people who see how best to use taxpayer dollars to get these people back to
work.
Before considering spending one more dime of the stimulus dollars, the first
stimulus should be re-written. It should not allow for any foreign companies
to compete against United States companies for funds. This means GE would be
cut off if the manufacturing of turbines built with stimulus dollars are found
have been built in their China manufacturing plant verses a US plant and the
that the small firm in Lake Placid, NY would receive the billions that GE
would have been awarded had they left their development in the US. Upstate New
York could use some jobs.
Small business would grow -- Americans would go back to work, manufacturing
decline would turn around and America would be rebuilt from its roots.
So in my letter to Congress, unlike the Democratic Senators did today, I would
like President Obama and Congress to put a moratorium on ALL stimulus funds
and shelf any plans for a second until this whole "NOT MADE IN THE USA"
problem that is darkening the skies of this nation is corrected.
The rest of the world may own our debt -- but as of today -- they don t own
the right to take away our creativity, our development and our jobs.
Keep the stimulus dollars here and put AMERICANS back to work.
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