Come Ohio-Hillary will be History
Rizwan Ghani
February 26, 2008
It is time for Hillary to learn what a layoff means. Ohioans know what NAFTA did to them. The free trade program took away some 50,000 jobs from the community for no fault of their own. It was a policy made in Washington, executed in Washington and the average worker in Ohio paid the price. Ohio is not going to allow it to happen again- you fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Hillary haunted by NAFTA ´boon´ ghost will be history after Ohio vote because Ohio knows Bill´s position on NAFTA. It is also clear that Hillary cannot do cherry picking when it comes to her husband´s role in her campaign- Bill as US president had both successes and failures. Obama had a point when he said Hillary cannot continue benefiting from good political decisions of her husband without accepting responsibility for his failures. In my opinion, Hillary´s statement aired on ABC settles the debate in Obama´s favor. In the clip, Hillary said NAFTA is proving its worth.
Reports show that Obama campaign is going strong in Ohio and Texas. There are positive reviews in press about Obama´s plans to ´retool´ NAFTA to improve it.
In Texas the history of African-American and Latinos, forming political coalition could go to Obama´s advantage. Similarly, the Texas voting system will help Obama. The state´s complicated system of voting- involving both a primary and a caucus- awards convention delegates based in part on past voter turnout in state Senate districts. The African-Americans in cities like Houston and Dallas have voted at higher rates than Latinos in the valley, therefore it can be predicted that Obama will have an advantage in the final delegate count.
The issue of fence on US-Mexican border is however high on the voters´ minds who oppose it. Reportedly, both Obama and Clinton voted in favor of funding a fence along the Mexican border. The fence is opposed by Brownsville people who want expansion of commercial and social ties with Matamoros, its Mexican sister city directly across the border. It would be better to solve border crossing issue through effective system of checks and balances than slapping a fence.
In my opinion, Democrats in addition to weighing different immigration options should add clause of ´good governance´ in immigrants´ countries of origin in US immigration bill to reduce pressure immigration pressure. It is the poor governance, corruption, lack of civil and constitutional rights, and lack of economic opportunities in the first place force people to try to enter US. For example, IMF and World Bank gave less than 40 billion in aid and loan to developing world in 2006. In contrast, immigrants remitted some 300 billion dollars to their countries.
Reportedly, most of the money transmitted to third world was ´wasted´ in dead investments by using it for building homes or buying gold etc. The lack of credible state sponsored investment opportunities, corruption, poor judicial systems, unaccountable state machinery, lack of transparency and media restrictions are some of the critical impediments in controlling immigrant pressure on US and other advanced countries. Unless US, like rest of advanced countries and international platforms will not help improve governance systems in third world countries whatever immigration policy Democrats or Republicans put in place back home there will be little change.
In this regard Democrats will have to first cleanse institutions like UN, IMF or WB that are allegedly infested corruption to improve their effectiveness to combat global corruption and poverty. In return the Mexicans, the Cubans, the Asians immigrants will stop knocking, hopping and sliding through every kind of barrier and law to reach advanced world one way or the other-America will be no exception.
US can earn lot of revenue by streamlining its immigration system. For a start, it can document and tax the illegal immigrants. It will allow a comeback of US tourist industry that has suffered due to flawed Bush policies and lack of professionalism on part of US immigration authorities and the national security set-ups. The failure of national security and immigration setups resulting in business failure for tourist industry is a stark failure of good governance and upholding US constitution that protects and guarantees business protection. Democrats must ready themselves to improve professionalism in these sectors to support businesses, improve national economy and earn revenue.
Republicans who are using immigration for political mileage should be reminded that every dollar that comes into circulation in national economy generates business worth sixteen dollars. It is the number of hands in the business that ultimately count. If I were to decide US immigration policy it would be based on national economic policy and annual human resource projections coupled with streamlining of material for local industry from global market. In simple words if a local business requires a professional from global market it will be the responsibility of immigration dept. to help facilitate availability of individual in shortest possible time. This will only be possible if lawmakers redefine and simply immigration laws to help US attract human resource.
Reportedly, US needs some 75,000 doctors, 100,000 nurses and hundreds and thousands of white collar and blue collar workers to sustain American economy.
In this global world, America cannot afford to maintain stringent visa policy because EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even Gulf are offering incentives including family visas to attract skilled labor in fields of IT, doctors, engineers, biotechnology. US needs to liberalize its visa policies in line with rest of the world if it wants to win its share of talent in global market because in it lies the economic success. EU is already heading for deal with ASEAN and China. It will have multiple affects including restricting/pressure on WTO/Doha economic model commonly known as Washington model of business. In simple terms US will have to enter the economic race and woo Latin America, Africa, 57 OIC Muslim states in addition to EU and Asia.
Democrats need to come up with a practical nation/block friendly economic policies to counter McCain´s continuation of Bush´s 3rd term under his banner.
Fencing is a tactic not a permanent solution. Otherwise, also America by clamping down on immigrants is developing a kind of ´dislike for immigrants´ despite the fact that it is country that owes its stature to its immigrant friendly ´melting pot´ policies.
Unlike Obama and Clinton who opposed Central American Free Trade Agreement and supported a trade deal with Oman, a country on the Arabian Peninsula, I would recommend facilitation of unrestricted free trade based in the principle of ´free flow´ with Latin America, Gulf and rest of the world. If the Democrats look at US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stats- 2006 the will come to realize that Venezuela´s 40 billion US deposits in US banks-allegedly corruption money siphoned off from public sector- are more than total US FDI for the same year. In addition reportedly some two billion dollars are injected daily in US economy from rest of the world that is mostly public money siphoned off by public representatives.
Democrats need to help end this ´parking of illegal money" in American banks. Democrats need to adopt two-pronged strategy to bring that money to American economy: 1) eradicate/control/minimize corruption in third world countries. 2) Help develop businesses in those countries on modern lines so that they link up with advanced world. Democrats need to see through the reports that use fear to affect US policies on financial transactions. Following British PM Brown´s visit to China, British and in turn European financial system will be open to Asian markets. It will provide a viable alternate route to global financial system.
Democrats need to come up with possible options to challenge McCain on this issue to secure national economic interests as global financial systems brace for possible viable option in post dollar de-pegging. Democrats need to make Republicans accountable for their flawed foreign policies including Iraq and Afghanistan resulting in current fiscal developments including 30 percent devaluation of dollar (IMF Dec. 07 report).
Despite botched port privatization deal with UAE, due to its pro-business policies US can still attract lot of FDI from Gulf provided Democrats are ready to find a way forward. The investments can and will generate business in US economy and in turn create jobs. Japanese retired population has over 1.3 trillion dollars in savings but due to public´s disapproval of Indian Naval mission and continuation of US base the business communities and politicians from both countries are failing to find a way forward to utilize the savings for collective benefit.
Reportedly, Venezuela has earned over 120 billion US from the latest oil boom but due to Bush-Chavez individual standoff both countries failed to use this money for collective benefit. Democrats need to ensure that it is the policies not individuals who dictate trade and commerce decisions because they ultimately turn into NAFTA like ghosts that come to haunt political parties in general elections. All these development will be only possible if decision are based on policies not personal preferences. Democrats therefore need to expose these drawbacks to average American voter to help him understand drawbacks of continuation of Bush´s war on terrorism and importance of Obama´s call for change in America and Washington.
In terms of trade deals warranting countries to protect worker rights and the environment, I do not think any worker will stand against it across the globe or within America. The fact of the matter is Obama failed to highlight how he will restore powers of unions. Bush has done everything to deprive the unions of their constitutional rights because he was out there to protect the business owners not the workers. Obama at this stage will win Ohio on NAFTA but in the national race, Democrats will have to come up clean on empowering unions, clipping growing powers of security agencies because they cannot be allowed to erode constitutional rights of American citizens due to climbing figures crimes.
Law enforcement agencies including police must watch, ward and protect but it should be done according to constitutional rights of an individual not local mayor and or chief commissioner´s personal style. It is therefore obligatory for the Democrats leadership including Howard Dean to address this issue without undermining state jurisdictions, civil and constitutional rights of unions and individuals. The Justice Dept., Attorney General, district attorneys need to play their role to do the needful. A clear policy on the issue will give Democratic Party an edge over Republicans in national race.
Obama's appeal to younger Americans is going to play an important role in Ohio and Texas.
A look at pledged delegate count also shows that time is up for Hillary. With 161 delegates at stake in Ohio and majority set to vote for Obama Hillary should be history because even if she wins all 228 Texan delegates Obama´s (1370) current 96-delegate lead over Hillary (1294) will help him stay in the lead. 70% of Democratic Party´s primaries and caucuses have been pledged. Ohio and Texas will move the figure to 81%.
The Shifting Support statistics in New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26poll.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin) show Obama leading with 54% and Hillary 38%.
In terms of Uniting, the Country figures 62% of the Americans support Obama, 51% McCain and 34% Hillary. These figures also show that Hillary is on her way out. It also shows that as a Democrat Obama´s message has wider appeal as compared to McCain´s Republican campaign direction already dubbed as 3rd Bush term.
Finally, Hillary is history. Democratic Party should be ready to face the Republicans with Obama as the presidential candidate while rest of the world watches Obama make history not because he is a phenomenon but because he is in country where if you have a dream you can live your ´American dream´.
Hillary haunted by NAFTA ´boon´ ghost will be history after Ohio vote because Ohio knows Bill´s position on NAFTA. It is also clear that Hillary cannot do cherry picking when it comes to her husband´s role in her campaign- Bill as US president had both successes and failures. Obama had a point when he said Hillary cannot continue benefiting from good political decisions of her husband without accepting responsibility for his failures. In my opinion, Hillary´s statement aired on ABC settles the debate in Obama´s favor. In the clip, Hillary said NAFTA is proving its worth.
Reports show that Obama campaign is going strong in Ohio and Texas. There are positive reviews in press about Obama´s plans to ´retool´ NAFTA to improve it.
In Texas the history of African-American and Latinos, forming political coalition could go to Obama´s advantage. Similarly, the Texas voting system will help Obama. The state´s complicated system of voting- involving both a primary and a caucus- awards convention delegates based in part on past voter turnout in state Senate districts. The African-Americans in cities like Houston and Dallas have voted at higher rates than Latinos in the valley, therefore it can be predicted that Obama will have an advantage in the final delegate count.
The issue of fence on US-Mexican border is however high on the voters´ minds who oppose it. Reportedly, both Obama and Clinton voted in favor of funding a fence along the Mexican border. The fence is opposed by Brownsville people who want expansion of commercial and social ties with Matamoros, its Mexican sister city directly across the border. It would be better to solve border crossing issue through effective system of checks and balances than slapping a fence.
In my opinion, Democrats in addition to weighing different immigration options should add clause of ´good governance´ in immigrants´ countries of origin in US immigration bill to reduce pressure immigration pressure. It is the poor governance, corruption, lack of civil and constitutional rights, and lack of economic opportunities in the first place force people to try to enter US. For example, IMF and World Bank gave less than 40 billion in aid and loan to developing world in 2006. In contrast, immigrants remitted some 300 billion dollars to their countries.
Reportedly, most of the money transmitted to third world was ´wasted´ in dead investments by using it for building homes or buying gold etc. The lack of credible state sponsored investment opportunities, corruption, poor judicial systems, unaccountable state machinery, lack of transparency and media restrictions are some of the critical impediments in controlling immigrant pressure on US and other advanced countries. Unless US, like rest of advanced countries and international platforms will not help improve governance systems in third world countries whatever immigration policy Democrats or Republicans put in place back home there will be little change.
In this regard Democrats will have to first cleanse institutions like UN, IMF or WB that are allegedly infested corruption to improve their effectiveness to combat global corruption and poverty. In return the Mexicans, the Cubans, the Asians immigrants will stop knocking, hopping and sliding through every kind of barrier and law to reach advanced world one way or the other-America will be no exception.
US can earn lot of revenue by streamlining its immigration system. For a start, it can document and tax the illegal immigrants. It will allow a comeback of US tourist industry that has suffered due to flawed Bush policies and lack of professionalism on part of US immigration authorities and the national security set-ups. The failure of national security and immigration setups resulting in business failure for tourist industry is a stark failure of good governance and upholding US constitution that protects and guarantees business protection. Democrats must ready themselves to improve professionalism in these sectors to support businesses, improve national economy and earn revenue.
Republicans who are using immigration for political mileage should be reminded that every dollar that comes into circulation in national economy generates business worth sixteen dollars. It is the number of hands in the business that ultimately count. If I were to decide US immigration policy it would be based on national economic policy and annual human resource projections coupled with streamlining of material for local industry from global market. In simple words if a local business requires a professional from global market it will be the responsibility of immigration dept. to help facilitate availability of individual in shortest possible time. This will only be possible if lawmakers redefine and simply immigration laws to help US attract human resource.
Reportedly, US needs some 75,000 doctors, 100,000 nurses and hundreds and thousands of white collar and blue collar workers to sustain American economy.
In this global world, America cannot afford to maintain stringent visa policy because EU, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and even Gulf are offering incentives including family visas to attract skilled labor in fields of IT, doctors, engineers, biotechnology. US needs to liberalize its visa policies in line with rest of the world if it wants to win its share of talent in global market because in it lies the economic success. EU is already heading for deal with ASEAN and China. It will have multiple affects including restricting/pressure on WTO/Doha economic model commonly known as Washington model of business. In simple terms US will have to enter the economic race and woo Latin America, Africa, 57 OIC Muslim states in addition to EU and Asia.
Democrats need to come up with a practical nation/block friendly economic policies to counter McCain´s continuation of Bush´s 3rd term under his banner.
Fencing is a tactic not a permanent solution. Otherwise, also America by clamping down on immigrants is developing a kind of ´dislike for immigrants´ despite the fact that it is country that owes its stature to its immigrant friendly ´melting pot´ policies.
Unlike Obama and Clinton who opposed Central American Free Trade Agreement and supported a trade deal with Oman, a country on the Arabian Peninsula, I would recommend facilitation of unrestricted free trade based in the principle of ´free flow´ with Latin America, Gulf and rest of the world. If the Democrats look at US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stats- 2006 the will come to realize that Venezuela´s 40 billion US deposits in US banks-allegedly corruption money siphoned off from public sector- are more than total US FDI for the same year. In addition reportedly some two billion dollars are injected daily in US economy from rest of the world that is mostly public money siphoned off by public representatives.
Democrats need to help end this ´parking of illegal money" in American banks. Democrats need to adopt two-pronged strategy to bring that money to American economy: 1) eradicate/control/minimize corruption in third world countries. 2) Help develop businesses in those countries on modern lines so that they link up with advanced world. Democrats need to see through the reports that use fear to affect US policies on financial transactions. Following British PM Brown´s visit to China, British and in turn European financial system will be open to Asian markets. It will provide a viable alternate route to global financial system.
Democrats need to come up with possible options to challenge McCain on this issue to secure national economic interests as global financial systems brace for possible viable option in post dollar de-pegging. Democrats need to make Republicans accountable for their flawed foreign policies including Iraq and Afghanistan resulting in current fiscal developments including 30 percent devaluation of dollar (IMF Dec. 07 report).
Despite botched port privatization deal with UAE, due to its pro-business policies US can still attract lot of FDI from Gulf provided Democrats are ready to find a way forward. The investments can and will generate business in US economy and in turn create jobs. Japanese retired population has over 1.3 trillion dollars in savings but due to public´s disapproval of Indian Naval mission and continuation of US base the business communities and politicians from both countries are failing to find a way forward to utilize the savings for collective benefit.
Reportedly, Venezuela has earned over 120 billion US from the latest oil boom but due to Bush-Chavez individual standoff both countries failed to use this money for collective benefit. Democrats need to ensure that it is the policies not individuals who dictate trade and commerce decisions because they ultimately turn into NAFTA like ghosts that come to haunt political parties in general elections. All these development will be only possible if decision are based on policies not personal preferences. Democrats therefore need to expose these drawbacks to average American voter to help him understand drawbacks of continuation of Bush´s war on terrorism and importance of Obama´s call for change in America and Washington.
In terms of trade deals warranting countries to protect worker rights and the environment, I do not think any worker will stand against it across the globe or within America. The fact of the matter is Obama failed to highlight how he will restore powers of unions. Bush has done everything to deprive the unions of their constitutional rights because he was out there to protect the business owners not the workers. Obama at this stage will win Ohio on NAFTA but in the national race, Democrats will have to come up clean on empowering unions, clipping growing powers of security agencies because they cannot be allowed to erode constitutional rights of American citizens due to climbing figures crimes.
Law enforcement agencies including police must watch, ward and protect but it should be done according to constitutional rights of an individual not local mayor and or chief commissioner´s personal style. It is therefore obligatory for the Democrats leadership including Howard Dean to address this issue without undermining state jurisdictions, civil and constitutional rights of unions and individuals. The Justice Dept., Attorney General, district attorneys need to play their role to do the needful. A clear policy on the issue will give Democratic Party an edge over Republicans in national race.
Obama's appeal to younger Americans is going to play an important role in Ohio and Texas.
A look at pledged delegate count also shows that time is up for Hillary. With 161 delegates at stake in Ohio and majority set to vote for Obama Hillary should be history because even if she wins all 228 Texan delegates Obama´s (1370) current 96-delegate lead over Hillary (1294) will help him stay in the lead. 70% of Democratic Party´s primaries and caucuses have been pledged. Ohio and Texas will move the figure to 81%.
The Shifting Support statistics in New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26poll.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin) show Obama leading with 54% and Hillary 38%.
In terms of Uniting, the Country figures 62% of the Americans support Obama, 51% McCain and 34% Hillary. These figures also show that Hillary is on her way out. It also shows that as a Democrat Obama´s message has wider appeal as compared to McCain´s Republican campaign direction already dubbed as 3rd Bush term.
Finally, Hillary is history. Democratic Party should be ready to face the Republicans with Obama as the presidential candidate while rest of the world watches Obama make history not because he is a phenomenon but because he is in country where if you have a dream you can live your ´American dream´.