THOUGHTS FROM CAPITOL HILL: Not Made in America
Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Dear Friend,

American jobs continue to be shipped overseas, while unemployment numbers at home remain at alarming levels. With high taxes and an increasing amount of regulatory restrictions placed on American businesses, it seems that this trend will continue until changes are made. Regardless of political affiliation, most people agree that we need to bring jobs back home to America.

Recently, this issue arose when it became known that the U.S. Olympic uniforms were made not in the United States, but in China. Along with promoting camaraderie, athleticism, and sportsmanship, the Olympics ignite a sense of patriotism. Therefore, it seems logical that our athletes, who are proudly representing this great nation, should be wearing uniforms made in the United States.

This incident just re-emphasizes the urgent need to return jobs back to America. Clearly, business owners are finding foreign markets more appealing, as litigation, regulation, and taxation are pushing jobs out of the U.S. We need to create incentives for keeping our businesses at home. This includes lowering taxes for small-business owners and decreasing the massive amount of regulations that stifle economic growth. We certainly have a long way to go, but presenting our Olympians to the world in uniforms made in America is a good start.

Sincerely,

Rodney Alexander