Out of Touch

Watching Commerce Secretary Don Evans speak on CNN this afternoon reminded me of just how out of touch our leaders are with working people. I dare say that, with execpetion of Teddy Kennedy and possibly John Edwards, few political elites get it.

An example of Evans ignorance is clear in this op'ed he penned for the Wall Street Journal earlier this summer. I am including the op-ed as well as my response, which, surprise wasnt printed.

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Here is a link to the Evans op-ed:
http://usinfo.state.gov/eap/Archive/2004/Jun/29-739914.html

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My unpublished reply:

Early in his editorial Evans states that "we are working closely with the Chinese government to ensure that trade takes place through open markets and on a level playing field."

The rest of the editorial is dedicated to Evans' idea of a level playing field: resolving WTO cases, making intellectual property theft a serious/punishable crime, lowering trade barriers, improving the regulatory system, reducing capital controls and ending government micromanagement of the market.

Evans' ends his misguided pice by explaining that, "The Bush Administration is determined becuase we know that American workers excel on even terms and we recognize that open markets spur economic growth and create jobs in America."

Are we to assume that a level playing field for American companies translates to "even terms" for American workers? Very interesting.

But in addition to Evans' points I would suggest that a level playing field for American workers might also include some pressure on China to respect worker rights, end the salve laor or 'lagoi' camps and allow the market to set wages.

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao is scheduled to visit China in the near future. She might address these issues? I hope so.

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P.S. Secretary of Labor Chao didnt address these issues.