by Roland Hulme
There are many things that have led to America's dire financial straits; but perhaps none so important at the loss of production and manufacturing in this country.
As a result, the faltering engine which drives the American economy has switched from "production" to "consumption."
It's a recipe for disaster, because it undermines the one thing that has always placed America at the top of the world's economic totem pole; self sufficiency.
America became the greatest economic superpower in the world because it used to make stuff - stuff that was consumed at home, and then shipped throughout the world. Tangible stuff like weapons, planes, automobiles, steel, Coca Cola and movies.
But now, America has become more and more dependent on imports. Today, we fill the gas tanks of our Japanese cars with Middle Eastern oil and drive them down crumbling highways nobody is motivated to fix.
America has become dependent on foreign nations, which in turn means we have become beholden to them. We have voluntarily sacrificed the rudder of our economy and it's leading us towards financial ruin.
So what to do? Well, one thing it to reclaim America's heritage as a producer and go back to doing what got us to the top spot in the first place. But the only thing standing in the way of that is us.
Just look at a recent example from Birmingham, Al., where mining entrepreneur Ronnie Bryant requested to open a new coal mine in an economically depressed region of Walker County.
After investing millions to establish mining standards that meant the state environmental officials and mine operators would verify the mine was environmentally safe, Bryant still met overwhelming opposition to his project from environmentalists and outraged left-wingers. So how did he respond?
He quit.
"I just — you know — what’s the use?" Bryant told an assembled crowd. "Basically what I’ve decided is not to open the mine. I’m just quitting."
But the environmentalist's victory was a Pyrrhic one, as they quickly realized when Robbie Bryant took time to explain his motivation for coming to Walker Country. It turns out it wasn't simply to rape the earth and destroy the environment.
"Nearly every day without fail," he told the assembled crowd, "I see men streaming to mining operations looking for work in Walker County. They can’t pay their mortgage. They can’t pay their car note. They can’t feed their families. They don’t have health insurance. I see these guys — I see them with tears in their eyes — looking for work."
"So I got a permit to open up an underground coal mine that would employ probably 125 people. They’d be paid wages from $50,000 to $150,000 a year. We would consume probably $50 million to $60 million in consumables a year, putting more men to work."
"But there’s been so much opposition to this mine, and to letting these guys making a living, I feel like there’s no need in me putting out the effort to provide work for them any more. And my only idea today is to go home."
"If the federal government want to create jobs, provide health insurance,and increase revenue, they need to back down on the regulatory burden. It’s like pulling an iron ball with a chain. I’m not saying to make it go away — we need some kind of regulation on many things — just stop the stuff that’s not pertinent or useful."
The environmentalists may have succeeded in stopping him opening the mine; but in doing so they'd also prevented him bringing millions of dollars into one of America's most economically depressed regions.
In all honesty, which would prove to be more harmful to the people of the region? Hypothetical health issues dismissed by the state environmental officials? Or continued unemployment, poverty and deprivation?
And that's really at the crux of America's current economic crisis. We're sinking into a black hole, in which this nation is slowly losing its capacity to sustain itself or its economy.
Yet even in the face of this crisis, the government seems to be determined to stifle anybody who shows the business savvy and guts to try and contribute to the economy and reverse the situation.
From proposed bills like "Cap and Trade" to inane rulings by federal bodies like the FCC and FDA, it seems innovation and entrepreneurialism are undesirable characteristics; and the self-motivated business mavens who once made this country great are quickly being turned into an endangered species.
This country will shrivel and die as long as government and politics force men like Robbie Bryant to quit. But perhaps the most scary thing about his story is what he's telling the rest of American's potential entrepreneurs and their plans to bring industry and enterprise back to this nation:
"What’s the use?"
Until we change that fundamental mindset - and give people the opportunity and liberty to start this country producing again - this current financial crisis is just the tip of a monstrous economic iceberg.
This was very very interesting!
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