For your reading pleasure or pain....you decide
In the extended, you will find the text of my speech in Martinsville, VA on Monday. Tom Perriello announced a 22 city Economic Revival tour to help restore jobs to the Southside.
Hope you like it.
I stand before you today because like you, I am concerned about the world working families across the 5th CD and Martinsville ��" Henry County face in today’s global economy.
We have all seen what has become of the quantity and quality of jobs to be had in our area.
We all remember the days that industry leaders such as Hooker, Stanley and Bassett furniture offered good jobs along with good pay. We all remember when DuPont and Tultex proudly called our area home and drove a thriving economy.
We have all watched as those jobs disappeared overseas, and as our current representation in Congress closed their eyes, and made a lot of empty promises about the future. We see it continue still as American of Martinsville announced just this past week that even with all their efforts, they too are sending another 400 jobs overseas so as to stay competitive in the global market.
We saw it again last week when the National jobs report was released and found out another 62,000 Americans became unemployed during the month of June.
We have watched as basic benefits for working American families have disappeared, some families can no longer afford health insurance. Some families are working more than one low paying job, just to try and make ends meet.
We have watched as our Congressional leaders have empowered the National Labor Relations Board, supposedly committed to standing up for America’s working people; to make it nearly impossible for working men and women to be treated justly in the workplace.
I am concerned, but I am not without hope. I am hopeful because we have the ability to bring about the changes we need ourselves. For far too long, those people that should have been working on our behalf ignored us. We, as voters, and as working Virginians have an opportunity now to make our voices heard.
I say to you now; let us bring to Washington the kind of real leadership that will work for the 5th Congressional district, for Martinsville-Henry County and for all Americans and not Special interest groups that most certainly do not have our interests at heart.
Hope you like it.
I stand before you today because like you, I am concerned about the world working families across the 5th CD and Martinsville ��" Henry County face in today’s global economy.
We have all seen what has become of the quantity and quality of jobs to be had in our area.
We all remember the days that industry leaders such as Hooker, Stanley and Bassett furniture offered good jobs along with good pay. We all remember when DuPont and Tultex proudly called our area home and drove a thriving economy.
We have all watched as those jobs disappeared overseas, and as our current representation in Congress closed their eyes, and made a lot of empty promises about the future. We see it continue still as American of Martinsville announced just this past week that even with all their efforts, they too are sending another 400 jobs overseas so as to stay competitive in the global market.
We saw it again last week when the National jobs report was released and found out another 62,000 Americans became unemployed during the month of June.
We have watched as basic benefits for working American families have disappeared, some families can no longer afford health insurance. Some families are working more than one low paying job, just to try and make ends meet.
We have watched as our Congressional leaders have empowered the National Labor Relations Board, supposedly committed to standing up for America’s working people; to make it nearly impossible for working men and women to be treated justly in the workplace.
I am concerned, but I am not without hope. I am hopeful because we have the ability to bring about the changes we need ourselves. For far too long, those people that should have been working on our behalf ignored us. We, as voters, and as working Virginians have an opportunity now to make our voices heard.
I say to you now; let us bring to Washington the kind of real leadership that will work for the 5th Congressional district, for Martinsville-Henry County and for all Americans and not Special interest groups that most certainly do not have our interests at heart.
So my question to you is: Are any of your speeches on You Tube? I would love to hear them.
That way
it's
easier
on
the
eye
balls.
Good
idea.
It'll
knock
off
posts
that
way
even
my
own.
Hi
J
C
waddup?
In addition, guest worker programs are an issue as well. (Now don't get the impression that I'm an immigration basher. I am not.) These guest worker programs hurt not only the American workers, but they take advantage of the workers that are taken from one country to another to perform work as "guests". These workers are hardly "guests". "Corporate Slave" would be a better term. There should be some global statue in place whereby notification should be given to workers within a country to apply for a job AT LEAST THE SAME RATES AND WORKING CONDITIONS offered by the labor laws and regulations of that country for that work.
AND American corporation should be restricted from paying less than the current going rate in the USA for labor in any country where they hire people.
Then if after a certain period of time (perhaps a month) and no one applies, then workers can be brought in to perform the work AT THE SAME PAY RATES afforded citizens of that country.
An internation labor board should over see this process.