The ripple effect has started - Democratic Underground

TornadoTN

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Wed Aug-31-05 08:42 AM
Original message

The ripple effect has started

Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 08:45 AM by TornadoTN

To prefact my post, let me say that I work in one of the last strong manufacturing sectors in the country. We are a mid-sized, privately owned company been around for over 25 years, serving many industries with heavy duty, specialty machinery for process applications. Made in the USA by US labor, we boast that our machines are 100% made in the USA with 98% US components (we have to buy a certain part from Europe) We have been hit pretty significantly by the Bush economy and have had to adapt, and we have come out ahead. It is our resiliance and adaptability that has kept us going strong, that coupled with competitive pricing on raw materials and components. I am over our Marketing.

At any rate, my office is down the hall from the purchasing directors office. I generally dont pay much attention to her on the phone, but today I happened to hear some conversations that are striking. With the cost of fuel and supply disruptions through the Gulf Coast, our supply and material costs are raising constantly. Call in one hour, get one price, call back an hour later and the price has gone up. Folks, this going to hurt business throughout our economy. I'm not talking about the disaster itself, but in general about the poor planning for such a contingency and a lack of a viable energy plan. Wages are not going up, but prices are. How are people going to afford to spend on retail merchandise, when it is going to be a struggle to afford necessities?

I'm sure we will adapt and come out ahead, I have no reason to doubt at this point. But there are going to be sacrifices coming in the weeks, months and years ahead.

While Bush is not to blame for the Hurricane itself, I can certainly lay the blame squarely at his feet for the following things:

1. The poor state of the economy. We are teetering on the edge of disaster (if we haven't already fallen off).

2. A lack of adequate planning or contingency in the case of a natural disaster. We seem to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off, while the people on the Gulf Coast lose everything - including their lives. Not to mention, Bush dismantled everything that was in place already for a prepared and responsive New Orleans. But I'm sure that won't be his fault, since the War in Iraq trumps everything, even our own people at home. Just keep repeating the mantra, "September 11th changed everything!".

3. The war in Iraq that is not only draining money, but draining man and equipment power from where it should be - here at home.

4. Fuel Prices - Bush has barely addressed this with more than a smirk and a sentence or two. No viable energy plan, prices rising and there will be people that go without basic heating this winter because of our governments poor planning. (Do you see a pattern here)

5. I could go on, there are so many things that are just wrong with the state of our country right now, thanks to Bush.

Is our economy strong enough to withstand the disaster? Its debatable for sure, but I don't think things are going to be easy or as happy as * would like us to think. I don't want to be a doom-and-gloom figure, but I fear for our country with our current leadership and the current state of the economy.

Maybe I should just sum it up by characterizing the Presidency of George W. Bush as the most poorly planned operation of any thing I have ever seen. He has a track record prior to the Presidency, and he is living up to his reputation - and will emerge richer because of it, at the expense of others.