The Hindu Business Line : `A job for every American'

AMERICA'S economy is the "strongest" in the world and it is getting stronger thanks to "lower taxes, fewer burdensome regulations and a focus on encouraging investment," according to the Republican Party Platform for 2004. And "our goal is to make sure America remains the strongest economy in a dynamic world and to make it possible for every American who wants a job to find one," it adds. The Republicans have essentially stayed away from the specifics of what could be in store in the next four years of a Bush administration, especially as it pertained to such contentious issues as outsourcing and immigration. Rather — and expectedly so — the focus has been on the very general of what it would take to keep America up and running against the increasing challenges in the global system.

"By keeping the costs of running a business low and ensuring that our workers have the skills to compete in a dynamic global economy, President (Mr George) Bush and the Republican Congress will continue to ensure that America is the best nation in the world in which to create jobs," the Platform says.

The Grand Old Party (GOP) has hailed the "historic transformation" in the country's relationship with India, crediting it to the Bush leadership and the president's "conviction" that American interests require a strong relationship between the world's largest democracies.

The Republicans have also applauded India's move toward "greater" economic freedom. "We hold a common interest in the free flow of commerce, including through the vital sea lanes of the Indian Ocean," the GOP Platform says. It points out that bilateral trade increased from about $16 billion in 2002 to around $18 billion in 2003, with US exports to India increasing by 22 per cent — the largest-ever increase.

More generally, in the realm of trade, the GOP has decided to stay on line with tough rhetoric to match that of the Democrats. "The vitality of the US trade agenda depends upon the vigorous enforcement of US trade laws against unfair competition. We will not tolerate foreign practices, rules and subsidisation that put our exports and manufacturers on an unequal footing. It is not enough to secure signatures on a piece of paper: Our trading partners must follow through on the promises they make," it says.

No one expected the GOP to defend outsourcing, and the Platform has references to the ongoing debate without committing to a formal stand on the subject. For instance, in one section, the Platform says: "As the dynamic global economy forces many workers to consider changing fields or adding new skills, the President and the Republican Congress want training for new jobs easier to come by and more flexible in providing individualised assistance. Ensuring that workers have the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century economy is a critical step in helping Americans to be self-sufficient and successful," the GOP says. On immigration, the Platform says the Republican Party supports "humane and legal" immigration and reforming the system in a way that it ensures it is legal, safe, orderly and humane. Taking note of the temporary worker programme proposed by the president, the GOP makes it clear that it opposed blanket amnesty "because it would have the effect of encouraging illegal immigration and would give an unfair advantage to those who have broken our laws."