8/25/2010 - The truth about free trade agreements

Approval of the long-pending free trade agreement with Colombia, and two others, is promoted as part of the Obama administration's initiative to double exports in the next five years.

Even cursory evaluation of economic data and the substance of "free trade agreements" should raise grave doubt about the effectiveness of these treaties as a viable route to economic recovery.

We are told that Colombian goods arrive in the U.S. without duty, and that Colombian tariff reductions are in the proposed agreement. Don't expect any increase in U.S. exports to Colombia, however, due to the 16 percent value-added tax imposed on imports.

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7/25/2010 - Tell your elected representatives to keep Colorado tax dollars local

Government in our state and country is set up to represent our interest as citizens. We provide the government with substantial sums of money, $18 billion for Colorado and $3.5 trillion for the federal government, including debt incurred on our behalf.

Although some legislators view spending our tax money on our products and services to be protectionist, I absolutely disagree.

All this money is given to our government in trust, to be spent responsibly and in our best interest. It is absolutely in our best interest to spend this money on our own products and services. In fact, it is simply irresponsible for our government to do otherwise.
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6/20/2010 - If world won't play fair, let's keep dollars home

I recently attended a meeting of business leaders and international trade experts. The panel of experts described for the leaders in attendance what it is like to do business internationally. I'm highlighting what I consider to be the most important points.

It is OK to do business in Russia, as long as you are prepared to lose your entire investment. Although it doesn't happen often, their government could take it from you. Chinese markets are semi-closed — you need a partner to help you do business. Corruption is one of the biggest challenges of doing business internationally. Intellectual property is not well-protected.
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5/16/2010 - Buying American goods is tough but can fix the economy

The power to fix the economy is within our collective control. Although it is likely the hardest thing anyone will ever ask you to do, the challenge for us is to focus 90 percent of our spending on U.S. products and services until we have surpluses again.

Let me explain why it is so important and how every time we spend our money it makes a difference in the U.S. economy, one way or the other.
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4/18/2010 - Commitment to Buy American

Somewhere along the line, we collectively lost sight of the relationship between manufacturing goods and related services and our prosperity as a country.

Maybe it is because we have been successful for so long or because it is harder to see the effects of the relationship with 300 million people. However, the relationship exists. We will not be able to become prosperous again if we make nothing and count on other countries to make everything we consume. The goal of this column is to help us recognize the nature of the relationship and realize the power we the citizens of Colorado and the United States have to shape our future.
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1/15/2010 - How to ensure free trade is fair trade

There is much said about free trade these days. We should be reasonably supportive of a free trade system.

I have always gotten great satisfaction from buying products made in the United States, and in particular Colorado. But if free trade really existed, I wouldn’t be encouraging all citizens and businesses to spend 90 percent of their money domestically in 2010.

So why do I say genuine free trade doesn’t exist? Easy. From a factual standpoint it doesn’t, and here are a few examples to prove my point.
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12/20/2009 - A Formula to Create Jobs

President Obama just held a summit on creating jobs and is open to hearing ideas as to what can be done to put America back to work. Here are a few good ones that will get our economy going again.

• Work with Congress to pass Senate Bill 1027 and House Bill 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009. China is undervaluing its currency by 35 percent and it is leading to the de-industrialization of America. Other countries manipulate their currency as well. This 17-page bill, an earlier version of which was co-sponsored by then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, levels the playing field as it relates to currency valuation. Make it a priority and get them passed.
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10/30/2009 - A call to action to repair U.S. economy