KEN STREMSKY DISCUSSES INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND OTHER TOPICS You may view the Union Leader dated December 6, 2001 that deals with Trade Promotion Authority by typing trade promotion authority on http://www.theunionleader.com. I discuss Congressman John Sununu's letter dealing with Trade Promotion Authority. Ideas are more important than the presentation of ideas. WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING QUOTE The following quote from William Ellery Channing is one page 28 of Executive Qualities. "I call the mind free which is not passively framed by outward circumstances, which is not swept away by the torrent of events, which is not the creature of accidental impulse, but which bends events to its own improvement, and acts from an inward spring, from immutable principles which it has deliberately espoused." SIR FRANK MEDLICOTT QUOTE The following quote from Sir Frank Medlicott comes from page 47 of Executive Qualities by Joseph M. Fox. "Some people mistake weakness for tact. If they are silent when they ought to speak and so feign an agreement they do not feel, they call it being tactful. Cowardice would be a much better name. Tact is an active quality that is not exercised by merely making a dash for cover. Be sure, when you think you are being extremely tactful, that you are not in reality running away from something you ought to face." WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE QUOTE The following quote from William Shakespeare comes from page 25 of Executive Qualities by Joseph M. Fox. "This, above all, to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst then be false to any man." PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUOTE The following quote from President Abraham Lincoln who would have been a great President of the United States of America if he had not acted like a dictator was in the September 9, 2002 Union Leader on page A12. "It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels he is worthy of himslef and claims kindred to the great God who made him." BUDDHA QUOTE The following quote from Buddha comes from page 35 of Executive Qualities written by Joseph M. Fox. "Delusions, errors, and lies are like huge, gaudy vessels, the rafters of which are rotten and worm-eaten, and those who embark in them are fated to be shipwrecked." THUCYDIDES QUOTE The following quote from Thucydides comes from page 26 of Executive Qualities written by Joseph M. Fox. "So remarkably perverse is the nature of man, that he despises those that court him, and admires whoever will not bend before him." EPICTETUS QUOTE The following quote from Epictetus comes from page 23 of Executive Qualities by Joseph M. Fox. "To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education; to accuse one's self shows that one's education has begun; to accuse neither one's self nor others shows that one's education is complete." MANUFACTURING AND TAXATION Congress should pass a law that says that a product that obtains at least seventy percent of its parts from the United States of America should not have a tax rate greater than 10 percent on its profits. QUOTE FROM CAESAR'S DOCTOR The following quote from Caesar's Doctor comes from page 23 of Executive Qualities by Joseph M. Fox. "The mind of Caesar. It is the reverse of most men's. It rejoices in committing itself. To us arrive each day a score of challenges; we must say yes or no to decisions that will set off chains of consequences. Some of us deliberate; some of us refuse the decision, which is itself a decision; some of us leap gradually into the decision, setting our jaws and closing our minds, which is a sort of a decision of despair. Caesar embraces decision. It is as though he felt his mind to be operating only when interlocking itself with significant consequences." My mind is a lot like the mind Caesar's Doctor descrived. It is too bad Caesar was not more like Cincinnatus. If Caesar had cared more about the Roman Republic than his own glory, the Roman Republic might exist today. THE CONSTITUTION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution says Congress shall have the power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations." Article One, Section Eight of the United States Constitution says "The Congress shall have the Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States." Article One, Section Ten of the United States Constitution says "No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Law: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress." THE CONSTITUTION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE-PART TWO Article Two, Section Two of the United States Constitution says the President of the United States of America "shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur." Article One allows Congress to negotiate trade agreements that do not involve the President of the United States of America. The President of the United States of America has the power to veto a trade agreement law. Congress may override the President's veto of a trade law. When the President of the United States of America negotiates a trade agreement, the Trade Agreement is a Treaty and it requires the Advice and Consent of two thirds of the Senate. The President of the United States of America may bypass the United States House of Representatives on trade treaties because of Article Two, Section Two. Article Two, Section Two does not allow the United States Senate to give up its ability to provide Advice (amend) treaties. Trade Promotion Authority is not constitutional because it takes away the Senate's ability to provide Advice (amend) on treaties. CONGRESSMAN JOHN SUNUNU'S LETTER TO THE UNION LEADER DATED DECEMBER 6, 2001 ON PAGE A21 Congressman John Sununu's paragraphs are indented on his letter to the Union Leader. I do not indent paragraphs when I quote people. I use a - at the beginning of a paragraph when he has a black dot. I was not able to find Congressman John Sununu's letter dealing with TPA on his website. "TPA will allow America to speak with one voice" "Since 1994, the President has operated without Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) despite repeated efforts by the Republican leadership in Congress and Presidents of both parties to grant the office power to negotiate new trade agreements on America's behalf. Fortunately, however, House members will this week have an historic opportunity to demonstrate America's leadership in the global economy when we consider the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001. This critical legislation, approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on Oct. 9, would provide President Bush with the power to unilaterally negotiate the best possible deal for America's global, regional and bilateral trade agenda. The bill's provisions ensure that once the President has negotiated tariff reductions on a range of products, Congress votes on the package without amendments. Because our trading partners cannot negotiate separately with 535 members of Congress, TPA assures that America speaks with one voice - a voice that has the power to ensure export growth for America's farners, workers, investors and businesses." "Why trade with other nations in the first place? Trade enables a country to generate foreign currency used to buy goods from overseas; lower trade barriers give consumers more access to products; and free trade promotoes the most efficient uses of resources resulting in higher productivity, economic growth, and employment. In particular, free trade promotes sustained prosperity in a number of ways by: · Controlling inflation. Keeping inflation in check has been a central pillar of America's economic growth, consumer confidence and financial market strength. Free trade leads to more competitive, more choices of goods and lower prices for consumers. · Accelerating innovation. Advances in high technology, and the productivity growth that technology has helped to bring about, are strongly encouraged by free trade. Free trade not only reinforces the discipline of competition and promotes the rise of efficient companies, but it also provides expanded markets for new products, thereby rewarding investment in innovative technology, goods and services. · Replacing government intervention with markets. Worldwide deregulation is producing economic efficiency and opening markets around the globe. Nothing has given a greater boost to deregulation than free trade. Competition undermines inefficient state-run industries and has led to across-the-board deregulation in areas such as transportation, telecommunications and financial services. · Reducing conflict. Free trade can break down political divisions. European unity, unthinkable 50 years ago, is increasingly apparent as the Common Market matures. Historical rivals including Argentina and Chile, Japan and South Korea, and Russia and Turkey, have built cooperative bilateral relations on a foundation of common economic interests. Trade expansion will encourage economic development, and promote democratic principles throughout the world." "-Giving America the edge. Free trade opens up overseas markets to U.S. products and services where America has a comparative advantage over foreign producers: for example, the high technology, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, intellectual property, software and entertainment industries. In this way, expanded trade will create and sustain millions of high-paying American jobs. In New Hampshire, trade has been a driving force for our economy throughout the 1990s as total exports more than doubled. Exports to Canada and Mexico, our NAFTA partners, grew by 140 percent and 280 percent respectively during the decade. TPA would further enhance this expansion, bringing increased employment, higher living standards and a stronger economy. Failure to provide the President with the power to negotiate lower trade barriers diminishes hope for significant trade gains for workers and consumers. Already, there are 130 preferential trade agreements in the world today with the United States party to just two. In fact, for the first time in our own hemisphere the European Union has signed a free trade agreement with Mexico and is aggressively seeking trade agreements throughout South America. The lapse of TPA diminishes America's global leadership and limits the ability of our economy to grow. America, of all nations should be the first to open wide the doors to the economic opportunity in foreign markets -not close them." The article said "John E. Sununu, a Republican, represents New Hampshire's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives where he is vice chairman of the budget committee." SOME MORE COMMENTS ON TRADE FROM ME I agree with Congressman John Sununu that there are many benefits that come from trade. I think deregulation can be a good thing if it takes place in a way that makes sense. I think our government has deregulated some industries more than it should have and needs to regulate better than it has in the past. Trade sometimes promotes democratic principles. Trade agreements that do not include human rights improvements, worker protections, fair elections, and environmental protections are not likely to do much good. I would prefer that Congress negotiate trade agreements instead of the President of the United States of America because trade is discussed a great deal in Article One of the United States Constitution. I think a lot more trade agreements will be passed if Republicans in the United States House of Representatives choose five Republican representatives for a trade agreement team, Democrats in the United States House of Representatives choose five Democrat Representatives for a trade agreement team, Republicans in the United States Senate choose five Republican Senators for a trade agreement team, and Democrats in the United States Senate choose five Democrat Senators for a trade agreement team. The trade agreement team may If Congress wants the President of the United States of America to negotiate trade agreements, those trade agreements are Treaties amd the United States Senate may not give up its right to Advice (amend) on treaties. The United States House of Representatives is not allowed to vote on Treaties and that is why I do not think the President of the United States of America should negotiate trade Treaties. If I am elected the President of the United States of America and Congress wants me to negotiate trade Treaties I will do so and I will ask members of the United States House of Representatives to give me their opinions on trade issues. The United States House of Representatives will not have a vote on trade Treaties because that is consult with the President of the United States of America on trade issues if it wants to. SOME MORE COMMENTS ON TRADE FROM ME CONTINUED An amendment to the Constitution could be passed that gives the United States House of Representatives a vote on Treaties. I think giving the United States House of Representatives a say on trade Treaties is a good idea. I think giving the United States House of Representatives a say on non trade Treaies could be a very bad idea. Giving the United States House of Representatives a say on non trade Treaties could cause wars to be fought longer than they should be fought. I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY GIVES THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A LOT MORE POWER THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD HAVE AND I WILL NOT USE TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY IF I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE POWER SIMILAR TO THE POWER THAT AN EMPEROR HAS. I BELIEVE CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE MORE POWER THAN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TOBACCO AND CHILDREN I have never used tobacco. I hope parents will decide not to smoke tobacco when their children are in rooms with them. Second hand smoke sometimes harms children significantly and may cause children to have significant health problems later in life. Hopefully, parents will take personal responsibility for their actions and not smoke tobacco when their children are near them. THE GIFT OF LIFE I wrote most of THE GIFT OF LIFE last year. THE GIFT OF LIFE Life is a gift. Each day of life is a gift. You should make the most of the gift of life. You could be alive today and dead tomorrow. You should of course be able to believe that you are a good person who usually treats others at least as well as you want your loved ones to be treated most of the time. You should remember that many people throughout the world are starving on any given day when you start feeling sorry for yourself. If you have poor mental health, I hope you will see a psychiatrist and/or a psychologist. If you have poor health, I hope you will see a Doctor.