U.S. industries and workers don't get protection they deserve from unfair trade

U.S. industries and workers don't get protection they deserve from unfair trade
EDITOR:
A little comment or two about free and fair trade.
The reason virtually every American Nobel Prize-winning economist (and therefore the last several presidents) have been for "free trade" is that there are graphs, tables, and mathematics which show free trade is perfectly logical. (Who can argue with logic?)
Unfortunately, the U.S. trade balance for decades has been negative -- that is, imports have consistently outpaced exports. Why? Principally because our trading partners worldwide are on an "uneven keel" with the United States. Free trade is not necessarily fair trade. But the federal government fails miserably to punish what amounts to unfair trade -- trade that sends the export-to-import ratio of the U.S. economy into unprecedented downward spirals. Imports always outpace exports, by, for example, exporting goods to America which are actually below the cost of making these goods.
What can be done? Warren Buffet (the second richest man in the world, although not a Nobel Prize-wining economist) suggests import certificates, demanding that, over time, the U.S. send more exports than we receive imports from countries that have historically posted trade balances (exports to the U.S. over imports from the U.S).
Skipping now to present and future behavior issues trade negotiations with other countries. The United States (the White House and the U.S. ambassador for Trade Negotiations, in particular) should collect data on the units and value of imports and their domestic counterparts. With this information, the U.S. should bargain with nations that export goods to America to level the playing fields when appropriate. Where imports to the U.S. have harmed domestic industries, a case can be made before the U.S. International Trade Commission.
The problem is that only a very few cases ever go to the commission because of too little backbone in the White House. The only remedy for workers is temporary unemployment compensation for workers impacted by unfair trade.
LOUIS N. DETORO
Youngstown
Struthers schools do well
EDITOR:
I am a single mother of three children, all with special needs. My children are attending the Struthers City Schools. The schools, the principals and the superintendent take good care of my children. I am proud to say that I graduated from Struthers High School in 1991. I, like many others, moved away from the Valley for a time. What made me come back after a bad marriage and many other hardships, was the belief that I have in the Struthers school system. Please do not take that way from me and my children.
I have walked the halls of the elementary school, I have walked the halls of the middle school, I walked the halls of the high school and all I see is love. The teachers are there because they love my kids, your kids, our kids. In my whole life I have learned so much from my mother, my grandmother and my teachers. These children are our future. These children are our doctors. Please, all I ask is to at least give them the chance to show the world who they are. Just one chance.
Please vote YES for the upcoming school levy.
I thank you for your time. Let the children thank you for their education, their future, their chance.
MICHELLE CARTER-DOUGLASS
Struthers
Open your hearts and homes
EDITOR:
It would be nice if the Romanian community could welcome the workers that the Simon Roofing Co. has hired and introduce them to the American way of life. They could guide them through the economic as well as the social benefits in this country. They would probably enjoy a home cooked meal or some conversation with their compatriots.
MRS. CLARA M. GEISE
Youngstown