Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too
This is the abbreviated version of Dan Bobinski's weekly newspaper column. You can read the full column here
Over the Labor Day weekend of 2003, President Bush announced the creation of a “Manufacturing Czar” to help keep manufacturing jobs in the United States. He promised a "trade and manufacturing policy that will put an end to the hemorrhaging of manufacturing jobs and keep good paying jobs in this country for our workers." 
I say the idea is just a bit late.
I’m still scratching my head about paying $100 for a pair of tennis shoes that cost less than $10 to make overseas. Weren’t goods supposed to be cheaper? Where does all that extra money go? Oh, yeah – a big chunk goes to Michael Jordon’s bank book so he can remind you about how those shoes give you magical powers to jump to the front of the unemployment line.
Here’s the situation in a nutshell: American’s want to earn top wages, but we want to pay bottom dollar for what we buy. The problem? Bottom dollar products are made overseas, so buying bottom dollar products sends our money overseas and leaves American products sitting on the shelves collecting dust.
I heartily applaud President Bush for creating a “Manufacturing Czar.” I just hope the job carries some real authority for change, and that it's not too little, too late.
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