Once again, the spectre of American jobs taking leave of these shores has hit close to home.
The corporate restructuring announced for the UCAR Anmoore facility will result in a shift of production to a French plant, with a loss of 73 jobs here in West Virginia.
The loss of jobs is bad news for our community, our state and for our nation. For the workers and their families, it's potentially devastating. We hope that everything appropriate and possible is done to assist the displaced employees.
What bothers us is that the same situation occurs with disturbing regularity here in West Virginia, nearby in Pennsylvania, and in other states throughout our nation. American jobs leave for another country. Another American factory is downsized. Many of them ultimately close.
Each situation is unique. There may be underlying economic realities that contribute to the loss ... but the result is the same. Americans lose jobs. America loses another product that is made here, with American materials and American labor.
We understand that some of these "realignments" are a part of the new world economy. But we suggest that the frequency of these job losses should concern our political leaders. They answer not to the corporate boardroom or the stockholders, but to the American electorate.
We suggest that it is common sense for Americans to look out for American interests. We are not trying to stop the clock on the world economy, but we think it is reasonable to put our own security first.
Is anyone listening in Washington?