Boetcker wouldn’t have liked outsourcing, trickle-down economics

The quotations of the German-born Presbyterian clergyman William Boetcker that were included in the Monday, Oct. 20, opinion page were quite interesting. Being the child of a low-income, small farm family (supporting three generations) in the Depression of the early ‘30s, and being a lifelong Presbyterian who has been taught to help struggling families, I questioned why his “Ten Cannots” seemed rather harsh, except for, “You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.” This was spoken in 1916, before outsourcing, but I believe Rev. Boetcker would not have approved of “outsourcing” jobs as Mr. Romney and many wealthy investors have done.

Rev. Boetcker’s statement, “You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred,” is also fitting at this time. Those who are low income and now do not pay taxes have been lumped into the 47 percent who Mr. Romney classifies as people he won’t worry about. I would guess that several veterans who have suffered war trauma or severe injuries (in an unnecessary war) and cannot find suitable work are in that 47 percent as well as some who have had their jobs outsourced.

It took eight “President Bush” years of “trickle-down” money management, war and outsourcing to exhaust the good financial condition of the United States that existed when he came into office. I believe President Obama is making good progress in health care, funding education, creating jobs, protecting the rights of the people regardless of financial status and working to keep America safe. I believe President Obama should be given four more years to keep us on the right track.

Here are some Iowa statistics (Bureau of Labor):

• The auto rescue saved more than 9,000 jobs in Iowa

• The Iowa manufacturing sector added 19,200 jobs

• President Obama signed 18 tax cuts benefitting Iowa small businesses

• Every working family in Iowa got a tax cut of about $3,500

Here are some Massachusetts statistics:

• Under Gov. Romney, Massachusetts dropped to 47th out of 50 states in job creation

• Massachusetts lost manufacturing jobs at a rate twice the national average