tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post6850976739413767719..comments2024-03-26T17:58:22.711-07:00Comments on HAWSEPIPER: The Longest Climb: Additional thoughts on the Jones ActPaul, Dammit!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02264872375942355609noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-7687638646139925642010-07-08T20:02:42.649-07:002010-07-08T20:02:42.649-07:00(Small item: thumbs down indicated letting the guy...(Small item: thumbs down indicated letting the guy live; thumbs up was to kill him. Down to stay down on earth, up to send him to up to heaven.)Halleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04674376282205979582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-48284447165379158312010-07-07T06:35:57.797-07:002010-07-07T06:35:57.797-07:00Paul, while I disagreed with you on some finer poi...Paul, while I disagreed with you on some finer points of your argument, you did make a case for importance of the Jones Act. As for the opponents of the Act, they're probably looking for a quick political fix to increase their share of the pie. Of course, the situation in the Gulf makes the Act an easier target if the Act's opponents can ensure that no one fully views the alternatives.<br /><br />Given you're experience and background, maybe you should consider working on behalf of mariners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-79118256202949938082010-07-06T20:18:58.495-07:002010-07-06T20:18:58.495-07:00Link here. I'm a lously speeler http://cdrs...Link here. I'm a lously speeler http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/bigsoxfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415669952554171048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-41461099423472918212010-07-06T20:12:07.879-07:002010-07-06T20:12:07.879-07:00CDR Salemander at blog spot radio is throwing an i...CDR Salemander at blog spot radio is throwing an internet disucssion on the jones act this Sunday coming. Not sure if you will be in range, but a good chance to rebut further dilution of jones.bigsoxfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415669952554171048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-72052389792080394632010-07-06T19:01:47.689-07:002010-07-06T19:01:47.689-07:00Don't get me started on the US sugar subsidy. ...Don't get me started on the US sugar subsidy. If there is something that should go away this is on top of the ag hit list.<br /><br />The Jones Act can be fixed to reflect the needs of the Country and not the needs of the special interests and their DC connections.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-3445374949216684612010-07-06T08:23:52.403-07:002010-07-06T08:23:52.403-07:00Anonymous, I recognize that Sen. McCain had to pic...Anonymous, I recognize that Sen. McCain had to pick sides when he changed careers, and that this would alienate some of his constituency. I'm not above pointing out when rank hypocrisy rears it's head, and that's the case here. Sen. McCain is heavily invested in agriculture, so he'd be expected to look after his own interests, but as a vet, one would think that he'd be more circumspect about shitting where he eats. <br /><br /> As for the Jones Act, I've done myself a disservice by cranking out a blog entry without fully fleshing out my opinion. I DO view the Act as having great necessity and value... that being said, I also view it for what it is. <br /> My view on economics is that simplicity and efficiency are two sides of the same coin: with rare exception, the best thing for the economy is usually also the easiest thing to implement. This is obviously not the case with the Jones Act. <br /> There's certainly nothing simple about how we handle the Jones Act now- cherry picking of which aspects to enforce, and which to ignore (the ship rebuilding rule, for example), it's only natural that now that we've watered it down, it's going to come under increasing pressure- there's a chink in the armor, and we'd be fools to think that opposing forces won't try to exploit any weakness. <br /> Anyhow, the bottom line is that my (full) opinion is that for the most part, the people who are in opposition to the act do view it purely as a subsidy, and, if someone with more brains and patience than I were to address and rebut their talking points and couch their terms purely in terms of the economics, it would still be possible to justify the continued existence of the Jones Act, and, further, to dollar-for-dollar show the benefits in far more positive terms than our continued investment in ag subsidies. <br /><br />Hmmm, maybe I should have just written that all out yesterday.Paul, Dammit!https://www.blogger.com/profile/02264872375942355609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-18240833010780644062010-07-06T06:26:41.888-07:002010-07-06T06:26:41.888-07:00Paul,
I must respectfully disagree with two of yo...Paul,<br /><br />I must respectfully disagree with two of your points. First, McCain, by choosing to be a political leader once his military career ended, put himself in a position to be criticized for his political actions (though he does rely heavily on the kudos his military record gives him). <br /><br />Second, and most importantly, it is short sighted to view the Jones Act solely as a subsidy (though it does have that affect). The purpose of the Jones Act was, and is, to ensure that a maritime infrastructure remains in this country for purposes of national security. While the nature of warfare and national security has changed during this period of complex interdependence, relying on other countries for the work provided by the merchant marine makes this nation especially vulnerable to the shifting winds of geopolitics. John McCain should know this. The problem we face is that most people in this nation fail to understand that the United States is a maritime nation. The basic infrastructure kept in place by the Jones Act ensures, at the least, that the US is less vulnerable from outside powers. <br /><br />There are lessons the merchant marine needs to learn from the agriculture lobby. Most importantly, to let America understand how much this nation relies on it for commerce and national security.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2527913791294258201.post-73282143484671922592010-07-05T06:26:01.453-07:002010-07-05T06:26:01.453-07:00Well said, I couldn't agree more. Here kitty,...Well said, I couldn't agree more. Here kitty, kitty....Bill Brucatohttp://captbbrucato.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com