2004 Elections: Democratic Party Contenders

fishin, Needed social programs can be expanded when the tax base increases. The only way that will increase the tax base is by implementing a tax break for all workers, who in turn will spend that money in our economy. The demand for goods and services will increase demand on workers. As the worker base increases, the tax base increases too. We realize that some in our society are unable to fend for themselves, and we believe they need to have the government protect their basic needs. c.i.

Customer call center jobs
exported from U.S. to India


By MICHAEL GOLDSTEIN
SPECIAL TO THE DAILY NEWS


Overseas connection: Workers in India field calls for such U.S. companies as GE, Citigroup, IBM and Ford.

Calls to toll-free customer service numbers at such New York companies as American Express, GE Capital or Citigroup are increasingly likely to wind up in India.Call centers - customer service operators and telemarketers who interrupt dinner with once-in-a-lifetime offers - are a $100 billion business, according to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and much of that is going abroad. Companies like GE, Oracle, British Airways, Conseco, IBM, McKinsey, Ford, Citigroup and Microsoft are outsourcing thousands of U.S. jobs to India, attracted by an educated workforce with 250 million English speakers and lower costs."Over the next 15 years, 3.3 million services industry jobs and $136 billion in wages will move offshore to countries like India, Russia, China, and the Philippines," Forrester Research said in a report. Ireland has become another major destination.

http://c1.zedo.com/ads2/d/3853/255/167/119/29/i0.html?e=i;s=12;z=0.5356863359170512

One-Dimensional Growth

Since 1998 the United States has lost 11 percent of its manufacturing jobs—and the much vaunted productivity gains of the digital revolution seem to have disappeared. We need an industrial policy that produces real growth
 
by David Friedman
E ven before the collapse of the stock market and the recession of 2001 dispelled the illusion that we had escaped the business cycle, there were reasons to doubt that America was truly experiencing the miraculous rebirth that some people claimed it was. Although productivity, after years of stagnation, did increase during the boom years of the past decade, even at its late-1990s peak the economy did not produce jobs any faster or for a longer period than previous expansions had. In the ten years 1993 to 2002 the U.S. economy created barely more jobs than in the previous ten years, when the working-age population was smaller. Moreover, job growth in the nineties was strikingly uneven across industries. Since 1998, in fact, America has shed 11 percent of its relatively well-paying manufacturing jobs, the second worst rate of job loss in the past fifty years.

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/01/friedman.htm


c.i. Since you are determined to talk about thhe economy this should interest you. IMO unless the loss of jobs are addressed we are headed for a third world economy. How many jobs can Mc Donalds supply

Could the above be the basis for another interaction?

Mapleleaf
I was not planning to but if it is of any interest I will.

Throw it out there au, and see what it stirs up.



timber

Some of us are not convinced that the federal government is the best entity for doing this. :wink:

Social Programs: Federal v. State

And now I see mention of Gary Hart. Remember him? The Rudman-Hart report on national security was a good one, although not much attention was paid to it. I'm still with Kerry, so far. The NY Times says not to under-rate Sharpton, that he'll hold more appeal this time.

nama, can you link us to that article?

Al Sharpton's run for the presidency is going to be very interesting, because the minority vote will be taken from the other democratic candidates. It'll resemble what the green party did during the last election. c.i.

I wouldn't underestimate the ability of "minorities" ability to discern between salesmanship and leadership.

snood, You give the American public too much credit. I remember a study done many decades ago when the electorate chose their president on looks. c.i.

I think we're experiencing "subject-drift" here. Allow me to attempt to refocus.

Breslin was saying that a black man of powell's stature and principles could make a more noble and meaningful mark by quitting bush than staying. I agreed, and said that to compare that, to me quitting from some middle management job was ludicrous. If you're making the point that American's wouldn't care one way or another, I can only answer by saying I haven't been speaking for "Americans" here, I've been speaking for me. And I would celebrate in the depths of my being if Powell told bush where he could put his "cabinet post".

Ouch..."Take this Post and...!"

i tend to agree with snood, it is quite likely that Powell's presence in the Bush administration leads credence where none is deserved. he may very well be choreographed as a front to deflect and disarm critics while a different agenda develops behind the curtain.

mapleleaf - I'm not sure where I said that about the New York Times (which doesn't mean I didn't - age and memory, you know), but in trying to look it up, I came across the link below, which offers some interesting capsule bios on contenders already declared, and some hopefuls. Among them is an interesting one on Sharpton.

I'll continue dredging the Times. But there have been a number of pieces written about the Sharpton of today. I heard him on TV recently, and I wouldn't undersell him

Also, Clark, who hasn't declared yet, is becoming known as a commentator on CNN. Lots of free publicity, particularly regarding war zones. Says if he declares, then he'll quit his CNN job, as required.

Very interesting, how broad the field is. As Bush's figures drop and drop, the myth about his invincibility becomes more obvious for what it is. Maybe Rove isn't as smart as everyone says.





http://www.politics1.com/dems04.htm

mamaj, interesting link...

Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut continues to lead in support for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, gaining six points since July to inch numerically ahead of "undecided," an ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll has found:

Lieberman Leads Pack

They were all at a NARAL photo op last night.

The news talking heads said that Gephardt may have trouble as the only Dem candidate favoring restrictions on abortion.

Heads also said Dem party has an abortion litmus test for its national candidates. Do you think the abortion question alone may be enough to derail Gephardt?

Sharpton had some good humor moments at the podium. Dean really wowed the crowd.

Lash, please give more details re Dean really wowed the crowd.

I heard a few minor comments about the NARAL gathering and that Dean had presented well. I found the following comment on Edwards at that gathering interesting:

"U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, one of the White House aspirants, pledged Tuesday night to push a federal law guaranteeing the right to abortion regardless of court rulings."
http://www.newsobserver.com/edwards/candidate/story/2122846p-2019254c.html

For a guy that is a lawyer you'd think he would understand the function and authority of the Courts better than that. The ONLY laws that are Court ruling-proof are actual Constitutional amendements. Any other law passed by the Congress can be reviewed by the Courts.

Anyway, he's off to a rousing start already with promises of things that he has no way of delivering. That makes him just another politician in my book.