I have heard that people have had a problem with the article above. My question is why?
This article doesn't really support my point of view, that we have caused much of our economic woes, but it does discuss valid and significant theories about what has caused the plight we are in today. In the Wall Street Journal article from last January, Mayor Wright said that our Economic Plight is out of our control. Well, is that not what this article espouses? That much of our plight is out of our control, because of foreign trade?
As the Obama administration defines its stance on foreign trade, it has been besieged by complaints about the legions in Hickory and elsewhere who have lost their jobs to overseas competition...But as interviews with a few dozen people here show, much of the damage to the affected workers is not so easily mended...Look at this quote from Allen Mackie, who is the head of the Catawba County Employment Security Commission:
"The people in the think tanks keep saying we are going to become -- what's the term? -- an 'information and services' economy," said Allan Mackie, manager of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission office. "That doesn't seem to be working out too good."That quote questions me, and others such as myself, who believe that we need to take advantage of the Information and Technology sector and center our future on opportunities and realities brought forth by Google and Apple. You won't see me bow up and whale that I have been besmirched, because someone else questions my thinking or where I stand. If someone doesn't understand my position, then it is my job to clarify my position and point to what I have said in the past. It doesn't threaten me or hurt my pride or esteem.
The article goes on to point out:
But while the assistance has been used to win passage for more international trade agreements, its effects on workers have been rarely studied. The GAO analysis from 2000 found that 75 percent of displaced workers in TAA found jobs. Of those, only 56 percent earned 80 percent or more of their previous wage.Personally, I believe this occurred because the jobs that were lost were not high skilled labor jobs. We all know people that went to work straight out of High School and after a few years they were making $40,000 ten years ago at the height of the manufacturing boom. I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings and I truly believe that most of these people recognize that they were being overpaid at that point in time. These people were making those high salaries because we were at full employment and it was an employee's market.
All through the late 90s we were between 2% and 3% unemployment. You could virtually walk out of a job one day and into the next one the next day without skipping a beat. That was an employee's economy, where the employee could name there price and things have certainly changed over the past decade.
The heyday of the late 90s led to where we stand today, because those companies had to become more competitive and, whether right or wrong, they honestly believed that they were paying too much for what they were getting for their labor dollars. So now we have seen the pendulum swing in the completely opposite direction, where the labor market is completely in the employer's favor and they can name their price. If the employee doesn't like the workplace conditions, there is somebody ready to replace them if they step out of line.
So that leads us where we are today. From top to bottom we have to separate ourselves from the pack. As a community or as individuals, we are going to have to justify ourselves and be accountable. There is no kicking back and relaxing in the competitive world that we now live in. You have to constantly sell yourself and display why your product is better. And you are doing this on a global stage. We can't turn back time and we can't reminisce about 40 years ago and the quaint little village Hickory used to be. It is time to compete or wither and the world is ambivalent about our choice.
That is the reason why we have to shed the caste system, the nepotism, and the clique. We need the best ideas to win out, no matter where or whom they come from . We need the newcomers to this community to feel welcome and get past the old South structure that has defined this area. It's time to reach out to others. Instead of making people figure out how to assimilate into the local system, it is time to facilitate connections and help people fit into the community. We have to grow and that is the only way that it will happen; working in everyone's best interests, instead of towards our own personal interests.
I know that I have stepped on some toes with the way that I have addressed some of the issues on this blog or in other media sources. I have hurt some people's feelings. Well, believe it or not, in my weakest moments my feelings have been hurt also, but does that even matter. Anyone that puts their feelings forth in a public platform, or arena, must grow some thick skin. Criticism humbles you and makes you stronger. It also helps you understand the issues better and will either firm your resolve, when you reflect and find out you are definitely right, or it shows you where you are wrong and where you need to readjust your thoughts or philosophy.
Do you not want Hickory ever mentioned nationally? People fussed about the Wall Street Journal article, railed against the NBC news segment, and are now upset about a Washington Post article that fully supports the contention that City of Hickory has been making for years. Do the people who are upset think, "Shhh, if nothing is said then everything will get better." Well, it won't. We need people to know all of the aspects of what is going on here. We need it discussed high, low, front, back, and center; because from that morass of publicity, people will be able to come up with solutions that will enable us to solve the problems. And if you aren't trying to come up with real solutions, then you are part of the problem.
Frankly, people are sick of the fluff and kumbaya propaganda that is put forth by public relations officials. Remember Baghdad Bob? Did he save Iraq? People would have you believe that if they talk about sunshine and lollipops, then in the end that is what you will get. Propaganda doesn't make people feel better. It makes them feel worse, because they lose trust and faith in their leaders.
Let me relate a personal issue about this blog. Over the past year, I have had five individuals contact me and say that they appreciate this site, because they are getting a fair assessment of what is going on in this area. These people's livelihood is at stake, so they are searching the web to make an educated decision about whether to move here or not. They have all stated that they have reservations because they have seen the challenges we face. Y'all say I am negative, but I have related to these people why I love my hometown and I answered their questions to the best of my ability or passed them along to someone who could.
One recent individual is a medical specialist who would be a wonderful addition to this community, but he related that he doesn't want to come to a community if the economy isn't going to be put on solid ground, because he can't build a practice based on medicare, medicaid, and the uninsured. He wanted statistics that would help him make his decision, so I pointed him in the right direction and asked that source to just give it to this doctor straight up and let the chips fall where they may.
Many of you seem to think that we should sell these people fluff to sway their decision. Well, if you do that and they move here and things don't go well, then they are going to resent the information source and this community. Further, they are going to spread the negative word. But, if we build a firm foundation that will help these people succeed, then we will grow this community in a wonderfully positive direction.
The key is to not shoot the messenger. If you think someone is wrong, then boldly challenge them with unmistakable facts, not hyperbole. Step forward with solutions and facilitate ideas. Don't take public policy criticism personally. Step back and recognize where criticism is valid and then deal with those issues to help build towards a better future. If we are receiving bad economic publicity, then figure out ways to create tangibly positive economic publicity.
We are in search of a firm foundation. Thank You Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, NBC, Charlotte Observer, and anyone else who finds our plight relevant and cares enough to report on it. The greatest feeling in the world will be when the national media comes back to report on our renaissance and resurrection.
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