As noted yesterday, President Trump has announced his full support for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) trade union position in defense of their members. [SEE HERE]
Today, ILA Executive Vice-President Dennis Daggett releases a statement following his meeting with President Donald Trump.
To many people this confrontation over foreign ownership of critical port infrastructure seems detached and complicated when contrast against efficiency, lower prices for transportation and, essentially, a vital national interest. However, in the bigger picture President Trump has been consistent with a position that U.S. companies and labor organizations must look out for American interests first and foremost.
The chase for price, cost and Total Cost of Production (TCP) has led to our nation losing jobs, losing wealth, losing manufacturing capability and ultimately losing control over our own vital interests. The prior chase for less costly goods was a road paved with intentions that ultimately created negative outcomes for the American people (ex. The Rustbelt).
President Trump represents a new era of political leadership where the priority of the American economic system must be balanced with pragmatic economic principles extending beyond the singular issue of price. This is best understood in the phrase “economic security is national security.”
Decades of traveling down the path of lower product prices has led to this well-known destination, a service driven economy. President Trump represents a moment in our economic lifecycle where we finally revisit the consequences of this path.
Yes, a “service driven economy” it is sustainable in the short-term and provides benefits to both companies and consumers in lower priced goods. However, we eventually realize the absence of vital products creates a dependency model that can have major negative consequences.
The shortage of products following the COVID-19 pandemic should have taught us lessons about the dangers within our dependency supply chain. Alas, we escaped the worst outcome due to some quick thinking and reorganization of the limited production capabilities that remain in our national control.
The larger MAGA movement understands that we must ensure America-First is applicable to all aspects of our economic supply chain, and that includes both manufacturing capability and unilateral control of the transportation system therein.
We have discussed these issues on these pages for decades, and quite frankly I am thrilled to see a public debate now taking place thanks to President Trump and key figures within labor and logistics.
Within the role of organized labor, the leadership must turn away from the corrupting influence always made possible with enhanced power.
A transformative President Trump represents a very unique and altruistic support arm of government, a servant leader. Now the issue of altruism must also manifest in the intents and obligations of union leadership. Altruism, moral behavior that benefits our great American economic enterprise, is the core element of a partnership that can change the direction of our economic priority for generations.
Make America Great Again!
And let’s not forget how once we became a “service driven economy” they started bringing in third worlders and cutting Americans out of that gig too.
This is an interesting topic and I support what ‘47 is doing. The analysis and reasoning is strong. A convincing part is it needs to be in America’s best interest. If there is automation, those jobs should be based here.
I’m all for free trade, competition and market forces. In other words I’m for capitalism. Capitalism is the greatest thing to pull masses out of poverty. It was thought that exporting our way of life to third world countries would raise their standard of living and be national security. Once they experience a better life, they would be less likely to want war or civil war.
It hasn’t exactly worked out that way (mostly because of See Eye A, etc), though we have made many countries richer and pulled more people out of poverty, especially in China and India.
It should also be noted that unions did a huge disservice to themselves in the 70’s and 80’s. Where union work once meant excellence it no longer did. They built crappy products, keeps on obsolete workers and drove prices higher. I lived through those years and remember it well.
I do think this is THE GREATEST country in the world—ever. We do need to bring back manufacturing, especially in the areas of national security. But, we also need to make it a level playing field around the world, which means eliminating the Marshall plan—which is long overdue. It also means eliminating China’s most favored nation status and also eliminating all the benefits they received when they were a third world country and developing. They are no longer in that phase and haven’t been for a longtime.
I support the ILA 100%.
Biden and his officials whom carry out his last treasonous orders, i.e. give gov’t property away, etc., should be held accountable and pay with their own personal monies and properties, lose all they have. Then be placed in prison forever. They cannot have a blank check to spend into 25-50 years of future debt. Inconceivable!