Thursday, August 06, 2009

Mexican Trucks On US Highways

As President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress continue to try and ram one massive bill after another down our throats, it has become far too easy for other less glamorous issues to slip by without much notice. One such issue is allowing Mexican-domiciled semi-tractor trailer rigs to roam around unfettered on U.S. highways. Not only are serious concerns with the safety of these vehicles and the drivers, the fact is that by allowing these foreign rigs to haul loads across the US, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers of America will be severely undercut. In other words, yet another small American business person will get hosed by our very own government.

Realizing that mainstream media will give this issue little, if any, coverage, the good folks at Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have been keeping their members informed. In turn, friends of ours who are members of OOIA have forwarded the information on to us.

The material that follows comes from OOIDA and is worthy of a few minutes of your time to read and think about. Remember this - the Owner-Operators of America are a crucial part of our economy. Most everything in your home or office was at some point transported in a big rig. We can not afford to stand by and let these folks lose their livelihood to foreign nationals operating within our borders and running on roads built by U.S. taxpayers.

From OOIDA

~ URGENT ~

President Obama and officials in his Administration need to hear from you TODAY!

This Sunday (August 9) President Obama will be traveling to the city of Guadalajara in Mexico to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on matters related to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

A Mexican official told Reuters news service last night that Calderon plans to pressure President Obama to move forward with opening U.S. roads to Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and truck drivers.

Recent statements by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and other officials indicate that the Administration is already on the verge of giving in to pressure from Mexico and the multi-national corporations behind the push for Mexican trucks in the U.S.

President Obama and officials in his Administration need to hear from you, your family members and your fellow truckers as none of the safety or security issues have been resolved on either side of the border!


Call, write, fax to the offices below TODAY and TOMORROW!


Office of the U.S. Trade Representative:

USTR's Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Liaison office: (202) 395-6120
FAX: (202) 395-3692

Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20208


President Obama:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Comments: (202) 456-1111
FAX: (202) 456-2461

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500


U.S. Department of Transportation:

Phone: (202) 366-4000

Secretary Ray LaHood
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Suite W60-300
Washington, DC 20590


Congress:

To call your 2 Senators and your Representative in the House, call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with your home zip code. The operator will connect you with the offices of your elected representatives.

To write and/or fax to your Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


To write and/or fax to your U.S. Representative:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


*You are also welcome to call OOIDA at (800) 444-5791. Association staff will be happy to help put you in touch with your elected officials in Washington.

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Please call, write, fax to the offices TODAY and TOMORROW!

Sabotaging the democratic process

Now that Congress is heading off to their month long, taxpayer funded vacation without meeting the President's deadline for passing health care, it is time for the Democrat party and their minions in the mainstream media to go on the attack. The target of their attacks are those American citizens who have shown the courage to show up at town hall meetings and express their anger. Yes folks, our elected representatives - our employees - are attacking Us. Apparently we are just supposed to shut up, accept their lies and deceptions, pay our taxes and be good little boys and girls.

The most recent accuser is none other than the Senate majority leader, Harry "Dingy" Reid, Nevada DEM. According to Senator Reid, by protesting and letting our elected officals know that we are angry, we are "trying to "sabotage" the democratic process" [READ MORE]. Sorry Senator but this is how the democratic process works.

Senator Reid and his cronies have consistently refused to listen to the concerns of an ever growing number of citizens. Phone calls, letter, emails and faxes have not shaken Reid's loyalty to President Obama and the Democrat Party. Since it is obvious that we don't count, at least not to Senator Reid and other members of Congress, we show up at their staged Town Hall meetings and use that forum to express our anger and frustration. This is the same process that has been in place since the days of this great nations founding.

Perhaps if we were members of an ACORN organized welfare protest Senator Reid would think differently of us. Perhaps if we were anti-war protesters disrupting traffic and business the good Senator would consider our protests as worthy expression of our free speech rights.

During the Congressional recess (taxpayer funded one month vacation), we are going to demonized by the left. Pelosi has already claimed that we show up with swastikas. Well folks, do not be deterred. Be proud of being labeled "terrorists" by the Homeland Security. Be proud of being called a "mob" by Dingy Reid. We must be having an impact and should be very proud of that. Face our accusers and tell them that we are loud, we are proud and we will not be ignored any longer!