Thursday, March 29, 2012

USA blocks Canadian import. illegal under NAFTA?













NAFTA. North American Free Trade Agreement. Free trade. So then why did the US prevent Canadian generic drug company, Appotex, from importing their product to the US? that's just what Appotex is going to figure out. the import block lost them their American customer base, and this move cost them at least $520 million US dollars. naturally, they want their money back. that was all the way back in 2009. finally, Appotex ha been able to do something about that. just recently, they launched a challenge against the U.S. government under the controversial Chapter 11 provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/apotex-sues-us-government-over-import-ban/article2369028/


Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Ameriacan economy and Globalization according to the Daily Show

 
            Our Economy is in need of repair. And it can only be fixed by us working together. Globalization isn’t necessarily the right answer. Sure, it saves money, but the money saved isn’t necessarily going to our country, in the end. It often goes into a company to make more of their product over-seas to make those in charge of said companies richer.
            According to a short skit on The Daily Show, in a comical yet rather true and accurate interview between a ‘character’ on the Daily Show, and the CEO of Wham-o toys, bringing jobs to America by ‘reverse globalization’ (in a sense), is a smart idea. ‘Costs for remaining in production in foreign countries have gone up, so why not move back to America, if we are going to spend more money anyway?’
            And in an interview With Fareed Zakaira, he states that, while globalization may improve businesses, which can improve the economy, it does nothing to help Americans. Americans are laid off because hiring a foreign worker is cheaper, and because this happens so often, it makes it harder to find actual jobs, which lowers the economy. And he even talks about how a similar thing is happening even with technology; people are loosing their jobs to a piece of technology, which again, does nothing to improve American’s well-being and therefore the economy. Zakaira also calls for the Government to stop looking at things to cut out, and instead looking to strengthen America, and invest in the future, and he does this by speaking of Gemany’s government.
            America needs jobs. America needs to improve the economy. Going to other countries for various reasons in a business may seem like a good idea as far as earning more money, but its not such a good idea for fixing America and making sure we are stable. Globalization only seems to make the richer, richer; and the poorer get no help. Whether that is in the country a business is doing business in (because the workers don’t always get fair wages) or in America, where the business an cooprporation people who have their company in other countries get paid more because of the money saved and extra money earned by being able to make more; leaving the average American unable to find a job, and therefore, unable to make a living.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Union for Woonsocket School Aid

There is a 10 million dollar deficit in Woonsocket, Rhode Island's educational budget. What was done in an attempt to fix this? Huge cuts in programs, and 500 teachers were fired. Not exactly the best way to 'fix' things, now is it? On Thursday, national and local union leaders gathered to demand more from Rhode Island's political leaders. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, begged the politicians, the General Assembly, and namely Governor Chafee; said in his request for more money for the schools, that he would do so "if you think the future of this state is important ... if you really care about kids." In the end, the unions won; and by result, so did the schools. the winnings? $40 million in aid.

http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/03/union-leaders-g.html
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/press/2012/032212.cfm
http://www.aft.org/index.cfm