Editorial: Bush let down U.S. workers

[UpInArms]

http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/editorial/62726.php

American manufacturing industries are in crisis. More than 2 million manufacturing jobs - including upward of 50,000 in Wisconsin - have been lost since George W. Bush assumed the presidency.

For the most part, the president has shown little interest in the collapse of manufacturing industries in places like Manitowoc and Milwaukee. But he did do one thing right. Twenty-one months ago, the president imposed tariffs on foreign steel to help the American steel industry rebuild itself.

<snip>

Consider what will be the most closely watched construction project in the United States. The massive initiative that will fill the void created by the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City will require a great deal of steel. But the steel will not come from the United States. Rather it will come from Belgium.

Why would this project, which will be so thoroughly swaddled in American flags, rely on foreign steel? Because the U.S. steel industry remains so damaged by irresponsible trade policies that whole sectors are shut down.

"We've been forced out of American markets. So many steel mills have shut down, so many workers have been laid off, that the United States no longer produces the steel that is used in some of our most high-profile projects," says Leo Gerard, the president of the United Steelworkers of America union.

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well, looks like *Co's no longer welcome in Wisconsin

[madrchsod]

1. i used to work at

northwestern steel and wire where we made big h/i beam for bridges,buildings,and ships. we made nails,wire, screen/fence, and rod couldn`t compete with forgien prices. all the beam and channel/flat rolled steel gone because we couldn`t compete with cheap overseas steel.a steel company that was over a 125yrs old-gone....