Obama "protectionism" good for job recovery

Yesterday, the House voted to pass the "jobs bill" at a 217-212 margin. This is a step in the right direction. It is way to early to declare victory, but hopefully this much needed relief to "main street" will pass the Senate. Many of the provisions in the bill would use money not allocated in the Stimulus to help rebuild infrastucture and would favor American made products in the process. Although the President was attacked by Europe and Canada for such provisions in the Stimulus, I think that we need to enact more Protectionism in our economic recovery efforts.
Obama promised change from the Bush administration's policy of giving tax breaks to companies moving overseas with our precious jobs. This is something that i am happy to see is a priority of the Obama Administration. In fact, I would like to see more. The United States has a huge consumer base. If corporations could at least be imposed a tarriff on imports, perhaps they would think twice about moving our jobs to other countries.
Many of us as consumers could do much to influence our economic future if we just started to "buy american". I know it may seem trite, but actually it is just about survival. This is not a tribal "us against the world" mentality. It is about surviving in a very competitive world economy. We need to do this while we still have a consumer base that can still demand with the dollar. As a country, we could change policy and encourage job creation here in the United States if we just would "buy american."
For a list of corporations who use American made products, go to buyamerican.com. We are going to have to act. The lawmakers can only do so much. Most of the lawmakers on the Right could care less. All they care about is Capitalists, because that is who lines their pockets and who gets them elected. It is the cold hard truth. That is why i am pessimistic about the Jobs Bill passing the Senate. Many of the Senators will oppose such measures because they represent powerful interests that expand across the globe.
As i always say, do what you can to influence our system. Blog, write letters, demonstrate, buy American and anything else you can to help save our economy. At the heart of the issue is our values. Once the United States was the economic beacon of light for the rest of the world. We are witnessing the proletariatization of America. Now we are in danger of becoming a has -been, a joke. Do we want to restore the United States? Do we want to restore jobs that have been lost due to Republican indifference? I do. I remember. I want her back!