The Compassionate Conservative Rides Again....

Taken from the Presidential address in New Dehli, India (March 3, 2006) I have inserted my commentary in red italicized text.

"...In my country, some focus only on one aspect of our trade relationship with India: outsourcing. It's true that some Americans have lost jobs when their companies moved operations overseas. It's also important to remember that when someone loses a job, it's an incredibly difficult period for the worker and their families. Some people believe the answer to this problem is to wall off our economy from the world through protectionist policies. I strongly disagree. My government is helping Americans who have lost their jobs get new skills for new careers. And we're helping to create millions of new jobs in both our countries by embracing the opportunities of a global economy. Millions of new jobs created in the U.S. via outsourcing? I must have missed that somewhere. Anyone care to fill me in?

We see those opportunities here in India. Americans who come to this country will see Indian consumers buying McCurry Meals from McDonald's, home appliances from Whirlpool. They will see Indian businesses buying American products like the 68 planes that Air India recently order from Boeing. Let's keep India dependent on "American" goods and services while paying them the starvation wages which attracted the same U.S. corporations to their desperate workfoce. India's population is over 1 Billion people with per capita GDP of ~$3,400, I wonder how many of the 1 Billion Indians can afford McCurry Meals and Whirlpool appliances. They will also see American businesses like General Electric and Microsoft and Intel who are in India to learn about the needs of local customers and do vital research that makes their products more competitive in world markets. The United States will not give into the protectionists and lose these opportunities. For the sake of workers in both our countries, America will trade with confidence. Translation: Thanks for the support in the 2004 election however, you re-elected me and I think I know what's best for America. Sorry that your job of the last 20-years is moving over seas, but as you know economies grow through competition, maybe you should try working for more "competitive" wages (Applause.)

India has responsibilities, as well. India needs to continue to lift its caps on foreign investment, to make its rules and regulations more transparent, and to continue to lower its tariffs and open its markets to American agricultural products, industrial goods and services. Often countries enact high tariffs or complicated trade policies in order to grow their own industries and protect their own agricultural markets. By placing caps on foreign investments India protects its land from the greed of International capitalist whims. This is not to say that India distributes its wealth and land freely. These policies in India are enacted to protect the members of the leading caste. We also hope India will continue to work to ensure that its own people are treated fairly by enforcing laws that protect children and workers from trafficking and exploitation and abuse. By enforcing its laws and educating its people and continuing to open up its economy, India can assure that prosperity and opportunity of a growing economy reaches all segments of India's population..." Read more:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060303-5.html

I could go on for hours I'm sure about the speech and his ideals but I don't have the energy to deal with this man. I cannot however go without making note of his closing....

"May God bless India."

Need I say more?

For more information on India check the CIA World Factbook:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/in.html