In this week’s issue of Port Technology, the leading article covered President Obama’s State of the Union address. The writer began the hogwash with these words: “President Obama stresses need for port investment in State of Union address,” and then fed us pabulum with this subheading:

“First-class jobs demand ‘first-class infrastructure’, says US President.

“President Obama yesterday used his State of the Union address to reiterate the importance of continued investment in the US port sector.

“Continuing the trend of greater attention being paid to America’s seaports in the national media, among policymakers on Capitol Hill and top officials within the administration, President Obama referenced ports in his annual report for the second year in a row highlighting the important role the industry has not just for the economy but for job creation.

“In his speech, the President encouraged Congress to close tax loopholes and end incentives to ship jobs overseas, and suggested using the money saved from the tax reform ‘to create jobs rebuilding our roads, upgrading our ports, unclogging our commutes – because in today’s global economy, first-class jobs gravitate to first-class infrastructure.’

“‘We’ll need Congress to protect more than 3 million jobs by finishing transportation and waterways bills this summer,’ the President added.

“In response to the State of the Union address, Kurt Nagle, President of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), said that he was thankful that the importance of US ports to the nation is finally getting the recognition they deserve.

“‘Although America’s seaports create millions of jobs, help secure our borders, serve as stewards of valuable coastal environmental resources and deliver prosperity, their importance has too often received scant attention by federal policymakers and top Administration officials. Thankfully, in recent years the needs of our ports have gained increased prominence in the national dialogue.’

“‘What is becoming more evident to top government officials and Americans everywhere is that our ports are crucial to our economic resurgence because they are responsible for over 13 million American jobs, are vital to our international competitiveness and generate more than US $ 200 billion annually in federal, state and local taxes. Federal investments in America’s seaports are an essential and effective use of limited resources,’ he said.” –

The Pied Piper of Hamelin was a piker. We’ve sent hundreds of e-mails and faxes to “policymakers” and “top officials” in the past ten years – and every one of them was crumpled up and discarded.
Why? Because Washington’s elitists want no part of a legitimate economic recovery.