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One of the
goals of the
Ripon
Forum
has always
been to
shine a
spotlight on
little known
issues that
were not
receiving
much
attention.
In this
edition of
our journal,
we have
decided to
do something
slightly
different –
mainly,
shine a
spotlight on
a well known
issue that,
we believe,
is being
virtually
ignored.
The issue is
global
trade. Over
the past
eight
months, it
has become
increasingly
obvious that
trade has
become less
and less of
a priority
on Capitol
Hill. Trade
agreements
reached with
other
countries
have not
been voted
on, and the
President’s
Trade
Promotion
Authority
has not been
renewed.
As a result,
America has
been left
handcuffed
on the world
stage. Of
course, the
real victims
here are the
American
consumers,
who lose the
opportunity
to have
better
choices and
better
prices for
the things
they buy.
In this
edition of
the Forum,
we take a
look at what
some of
these
benefits
are, and the
politics
that are
standing in
their way.
We have an
exceptional
group of
leaders and
experts to
help us do
this,
including
Secretary of
Commerce
Carlos
Gutierrez,
former U.S.
Trade Rep
Carla Hills,
and Governor
Tim Pawlenty
of
Minnesota.
In addition
to trade
policy, we
also examine
some other
pressing
topics in
this
edition.
Congressman
Fred Upton
writes about
the coming
transition
from analog
to digital
television
broadcasting
and what it
means to
first
responders.
Homeland
Security
expert
Randall
Larsen
assesses the
performance
of the
Department
of Homeland
Security six
years after
9/11. And
Jim Squires,
who served
as Ross
Perot’s
press
secretary
when he ran
for
President,
reflects on
the ’92
campaign and
offers some
advice for
third party
candidates
running
today.
As with all
editions of
the Forum,
we hope you
enjoy what
we have put
together,
and
encourage
you to
contact us
at
editor@riponsociety.org
with your
thoughts and
comments on
anything you
read.
Bill Frenzel
Chairman
Emeritus
Ripon Society
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