Rogers deserves credit for job hunt in China
It’s not a promising sign County Executive Kenneth Rogers is on his way to China with hopes of finding companies willing to locate in Warren County. It’s unfortunate the lack of local jobs calls for such a drastic measure ? and such a long journey.
But Rogers deserves credit for doing everything possible to bring jobs to this community. By flying to China for a 10-day trip, we can certainly say he’s gone to the extreme.
“So many jobs have gone to China,” said Rogers. “So now I’m proud there’s a chance some will be coming back. It might not be the same jobs, but if we can get more jobs back over here, well, I’m going to do all I can to make sure that happens.”
The thousands of jobs that have left this community since 1999 have been well documented, with Carrier’s shutdown earlier this year being the most devastating blow. When Tennessee Screw Machine halts local production at the end of this month, Warren County will have lost over 3,400 manufacturing jobs in the past six years. That’s a number that’s numbing.
The only thing we know for sure is sitting around and moaning about our bad fortunes is not going to make the local job situation improve. Good-paying jobs don’t fall from the sky.
That’s why Rogers has the right philosophy. He’s searching for jobs in every possible spot ? even going as far as the Orient.
Granted, his trip might turn out to be fruitless. There’s a chance no local jobs will be created. But considering the trip was fully funded by the Chinese government, there’s no harm in trying.
China might actually be a solid job lead since one of the owners of the Carrier building, Joe Primm, made a recent trip to China and reported there is solid interest in Tennessee, despite the fact our labor costs are significantly higher.
In recent years, the United States has lost so many jobs to Mexico and China. Our trade deficit with these countries ? especially China ? is exploding. Recent figures provided by the U.S. Department of Labor put our trade deficit with China at over $125 billion.
While that large number might not have much significance, it begins to have meaning when you examine what the trade deficit represents. It means we are giving $125 billion more to the Chinese for their goods and services than they are giving to the United States for our goods and services.
There is something to be said for cheap Chinese merchandise and its role in lowering the cost of living for all Americans. Blue jeans, for example, cost less than they did 20 years ago. Many electronics cost of fraction of what they did five years ago.
But there’s also something to be said for jobs. And most people in this community would agree that creating jobs for Americans is better than creating jobs for the Chinese.
Rogers could very well find a company, or companies, in China willing to locate in Warren County. He certainly deserves credit for going to such lengths in an effort to create jobs.