This Land Is Our Land!

Don't you think it's about time someone show us pie charts of just how much of America is now in the hands of foreign companies and foreign governments and which ones?

Shouldn't Americans be aware of what percentage of our various industries are now owned and governed by people with different national allegiances and with different economic and security interests - foreign owned multi-national corporations that are concerned only secondarily about the welfare of the United States and perhaps even work against us?

How many foreign nations are homes to corporations that either own outright or now have controlling interest over huge blocks of American business, manufacturing and service companies? How many of these same countries at the same time do not allow American corporations or investors to own and operate like businesses in their countries?

What percentage of American industries are now controlled by foreign interests? How about the chemical industry? The insurance industry? The healthcare industry? The hotel industry? The electronics industry? The heavy manufacturing industry? The weapons industry? The food production industry?

I think these are things Americans need to know. And they need to know what industries in other countries are owned and controlled by American companies and what percentage. And in the case where our congressional representatives were complicit in passing legislation that allowed for, paved the way for and approved these acquisitions. And we need to know which elected reprehensive support this takeover of our country and in what way they may have benefited from the selling off of America. And what are the implications over the long term if this trend continues?

We need to know these things so we the people can better decide as a nation whether or not this sell-off should be occurring, and whether or not these actions compromise our military and economic security.

If Americans or others want to manufacture products in other nations rather than here in America and then sell them to Americans, there should be proper tariffs and taxes that offset the loss of American jobs and loss of revenue to American companies. Foreign owned corporations should not be allowed free access to our markets without adequate checks and balances to prevent an unfair advantage over American owned companies who employ American workers and market American manufactured goods.

Even at this writing the Governor of Indiana is attempting to sell Indiana's 157 mile East-West Toll Road to a Spanish-Australian consortium that already leases and operates the 8 mile Chicago Skyway. Foreign corporations should not be allowed to own, lease or operate our air and sea ports, our transportation systems, our rivers, our roads, our bridges, or any part of our infrastructure.

I understand this is a global economy but that should not mean America can no longer have secure borders and ports, or no longer have trade agreements with adequate provisions and restrictions that protect our workers and our companies and protect the American economy from complete foreign takeover. It should not mean that America can be divided up piecemeal and sold to the highest bidder.

This country does not belong to corporations whether American owned or not. This country does not belong to a small group of wealthy individuals whether or not they advance technology, create jobs and promote industry. This country does not belong to other nations. Other countries and their corporations have no rights greater than or even equal to the rights of any single American whether wealthy or poor.

Neither does this land belong to our government, our congress or to any ruling party. This country belongs to the people, me and you - it is our country, our land and our water. These are our ports, our airspace, our borders. Our government governs at our direction, not at the direction of corporations. Corporations exist here and do business here with our approval and for the mutual benefit of both company owners, investors and the American people - not for the exclusive benefit of corporations. Corporations shall not dictate how we run our affairs. This is a republic, a democracy, not a corporatocracy!

This land is our land!

Gary