TRADE: Need to close gap

The question is “What do we make in the USA for the USA”? It was very disconcerting to read last week that the largest container ship in the world, at over 1,000 feet long, arrived in the Port of Long Beach, Calif., with 18,000 containers onboard.

If we think that our trade deficit has a chance of moving downward, we had better be rethinking that thought. The USA has become a dumping ground for the world’s manufacturing capacity. The voters this year should keep a close eye and ear open to candidates who address our jobs and manufacturing abilities. Our dependence on imports is not healthy for our future. The report continued to say Long Beach is planning infrastructure to receive even larger capacity ships.

2016 is the “Year of the Monkey” in the Chinese zodiac. The USA in 2016 seems to be more of the same: “Year of Smoke and Mirrors.” One man’s opinion.

CLINT BOWER

Rathdrum