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I am an Electronics Technician and was in the Navy in the 70's, lived in Europe (Spain and Scotland) for 6 yrs, then rode a motorcycle from Scotland to the northern tip of Norway and down to Morocco while camping in a tent. Moved from my home state of MN to CO in early 80's and like the milder weather here. I've been a ham radio operator since high school and met my wife on the radio 8 years ago when she was in North Carolina, we were married in 2000! I might write about books I've read, or the latest fun I've had with ham radio, we'll see where this goes!

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Can you say NAFTA in Chinese?

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Contributed by: Glenn Pladsen on 2/28/2007

Last week, the Bush administration announced a plan to have U.S. inspectors check trucks in Mexico that would be allowed to cross the border and deliver loads ANYWHERE in the United States. At this time they are limited to areas only near US entry points.

This is interesting in light of the record stock market drop today, where the Chinese stock market caused our stock market to plummet. What is the connection, you ask? China is a threat to our economy, our stock market, and soon to our trucking industry.

American companies have closed US factories and moved production to China, killing American jobs and gaining cheap labor, never mind environmental disasters and inhumane treatment of workers in China. How to increase profits even more? Ship goods to Mexican ports instead of US ports, and have Mexican trucks deliver them across the US instead of US trucks. Are these jobs that US truckers don't want to do?

George Bush and his big-business cronies have figured out another way to hurt the average American and increase their big profits.

The scary part is that trucking industry voices are saying it will be impossible to run a 30 minute safety and drug inspection on every one of the thousands of Mexican trucks that will be lined up to cross the border every day. The NTSB has said that about 25% of US trucks on the highways are unsafe, and those are the ones already subjected to US safety checks. Imagine our highways flooded with thousands of trucks every day that may be much more dangerous to those of us traveling in cars!

Some media people have said that the Mexican drug cartels are already buying trucking companies, obviously because this will be a boon to smuggling drugs into the US. Where does the big money stop? Probably not in our wallets, that is for sure - maybe some CEOs wallet?. I doubt the US companies that profit from the cheaper transportation will pass it on to the American consumers! Cheaper prices mean nothing without a job.

Who owns America, anyway? And when did China join NAFTA?

Congress will discuss the issue of opening the border to trucks as early as next week, there is still time to contact your representatives with comments. They have small staffs, 100 telephone calls a day to one office will certainly be noticed. You can find the contact numbers for local and Washington offices of our reps at www.congress.org.

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Submitted By: Glenn Pladsen

posted on 3/16/2007 @ 8:52:24 AM

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The truckers from Mexico are willing to haul freight for much less pay than US truck drivers. Also, less is spent on vehicle maintenance. Thus, lower freight costs.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 3/13/2007 @ 10:44:04 AM

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Compelling. However, you'll have to explain to me (the way you would to a four year old) how shipping US-bound goods into Mexican ports then trucking them is more cost efficient than shippping into US ports. I'd like to hear from US truckers, railroads and air carriers.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Glenn Pladsen

Arvada , CO

Glenn Pladsen has posted 3 blog entries and 7 comments since joining on 12/22/2006. Glenn Pladsen 's average blog rating is 5.

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