Staff Reports
In a rare twist of fate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have found common ground in an unlikely arena: the ongoing port strike that has the potential to send shockwaves through the American economy. Both have zeroed in on a shared villain—the foreign-owned shipping firms raking in record profits while American workers are left to fend for themselves in the face of a job-dangling crisis.
Harris has taken the stage with a passionate plea for “fairness,” insisting that the hardworking Longshoremen deserve a slice of the pie that has swollen to unimaginable heights for their foreign counterparts. The Vice President emphasized the vital role of these dockworkers in transporting essential goods, especially at a time when they have risked their health during a pandemic to keep America moving. Significantly, her focus on these foreign firms highlights just how detached the elite corporate ships are from American laborers struggling to negotiate wages that actually reflect their contributions.
Trump wasted no time to chime in on the issue, pointing the finger squarely at the foreign involvement in the shipping industry. Recalling the struggles and aspirations of American workers, he argued that these laborers should be able to stand toe-to-toe with foreign corporations and demand better pay. Companies like Singapore-based ONE, along with other global shipping titans like Maersk and COSCO, are catching heat from politicians who would rather see American labor flourish instead of profits soaring overseas. While foreign corporations literally ship profits out of the country, American workers are left hoping for a chance at wage negotiations worth their while.
Adding to the intrigue is President Biden, who has crowned himself the most pro-union president in history—yet has been more hesitant than a cat at a dog show to take decisive action to resolve the strike. Despite foreign ownership of these shipping companies being a major talking point, Biden has so far been resistant to invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, which could compel the striking workers to return to their jobs. It seems that the administration is caught between the need to maintain an image of union support while confronting the reality of big corporate lobbyists whispering sweet nothings into their ears about backdoor solutions.
Washington Examiner: Harris and Trump find common enemy to blame for port strike https://t.co/pi6hDk4DGs
— Ian Hansen News 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenNews) October 3, 2024
As inflation continues to rise and shelves start to show signs of emptiness, panic-buying has entered the shopping lexicon once again, reminiscent of the early pandemic days. People are rushing to stockpile toilet paper—not that it will directly be affected by the strike, but in a world where consumers want to prepare for the worst, it shows the lengths to which voters will go for assurance in uncertain times. Politicians cannot hide behind statements about foreign ownership much longer if they want to stay in the good graces of American citizens who are demanding tangible results rather than empty rhetoric.
Meanwhile, experts like Scott Lincicome from the CATO Institute argue that the focus on foreign ownership is missing the larger picture. He points out that U.S. domestic policies, such as the beneficial but ultimately stifling Jones Act, have demonized competition rather than encouraged robust domestic shipping industries. Lincicome advocates that a more effective route to revitalizing American shipping would hinge not on tariffs but on deregulation, allowing American builders to be competitive once more against their foreign counterparts. Whether or not this approach would resonate politically remains uncertain, but as the strike continues, it’s clear that both politicians and the average American consumer are feeling the pressure.
