Larry Kissell’s June 20 column began: “Over the past two decades, our state has experienced several damaging blows to the manufacturing sector of our economy.” He is right.

His second paragraph began: “Far too often, misguided policies are crafted and adopted in Washington by many who seem to have little understanding of how things are made, the importance of manufacturing jobs or their impact on local economies.” He is wrong! Dead wrong!

Misguided policies are not misguided in the minds of the crafters, and they are not crafted in Washington; they are adopted in Washington after they are crafted in the boardrooms of U.S. corporations now exploiting cheap foreign labor and U.S. markets simultaneously. The crafters have a very clear understanding of “how things are made.” Things are made from raw materials with labor; the cheaper the raw materials and labor, the higher the profitability! The crafters could care less about the importance and impact of manufacturing jobs on local economies. The “well-guided” policies these corporation’s lobbyists dictate to the legislative recipients of their campaign contributions are based on the cheap, if not slave labor available in third-world countries.

Congressman Kissell wrote: “The idea that our government continues to make policies that tempt yet another part of our manufacturing sector to move overseas to remain competitive on the global market is further proof Washington doesn’t get it.” Does our government “make” or “adopt” policies already made and dictated to Washington by the corporations which finance politician’s campaigns? “Remain competitive on the global market” with whom? Do you see Ying Wong Chow or Yow Ming Chong brand names on those “foreign” products? Or the brand names of U.S. corporations which abandoned our nation and their American workers? How do you trade with nations having nothing to trade, other than cheap labor for American jobs, and limited if any regulation for U.S. workplace safety?

Congressman Kissell said, “We must never forget the industries that made us great…” Why not? Haven’t many of those industries forgotten, as well as abandoned the American workers who made them great? Yes, industrialists supplied the capital, but who supplied the labor? Globalization advocates claim excessive U.S. corporate tax rates drive U.S. industries overseas. That might be true were it not for corporate tax loopholes, but have you noticed that political apologists rather than corporate executives lead this charge? Why would U.S. corporations want a fair tax system when the unfair corporate loophole system they enjoy now stacks the deck in their favor? Doesn’t the Buffet Rule prove that although corporate tax rates are higher, due to loopholes, corporations and their CEOs pay taxes at a lower rate than the workers corporate executives displace? Why should corporate America protest the high tax rate they do not have to pay, when it enhances their excuse for exporting U.S. jobs?

The simple solution — eliminate all taxation of any industry or business that creates jobs, from the largest corporation, to the smallest domestic service company, to the plumber or electrician with one paid apprentice. Tax only the take home pay of everyone from the corporate CEO and stockholder to the minimum-wage hamburger flipper. But tax everyone at the same reasonable rate with no deductions for any reason. And prosecute all tax evaders, including the privileged super-wealthy! This would not only create an equitable, therefore fair system, it would simplify the tax code, and eliminate the major corporate excuse for the exportation of American worker’s much needed jobs, now wouldn’t it?

Think about it, please!

Robert C. Currie Jr.

Laurinburg