G-20

It seems the City of Pittsburgh has learned from Seattle's experience with the World Trade Organization in 1999. There is something about these large meetings of "world leaders" that attracts protesters in all shapes, sizes, and affiliations. But one thing is for sure, the "Battle in Seattle" set a high bar that every protester wants to match: total disruption of the meetings.

I was in Seattle during the WTO protests. In fact, I was downtown watching the parade of this huge coalition consisting of steelworkers, students, environmentalists, service workers, marching to various "citizen" bands. Then all hell broke loose. I'd heard there was tear gas which is why I was downtown, to rescue my parents who'd lived quite close to the protest areas. No one warned them there was going to be a riot.

I knew a lot of people who'd organized teach-ins about globalization, who were involved in the parade, and citizen's events. I didn't know anyone who came with the intent to throw bricks or rocks at Starbucks, yell at Gap employees, or burn dumpsters. Along with the smoky haze that took over Seattle, the important messages about the relationships between globalized corporations, poverty, environmental degradation, and unlimited consumption, got hidden in the tear gas. Rather, Seattle became all about anarchists and unbridled rage.

In the ten years since those tense days in Seattle, the world economies have churned at levels never seen before, and collapsed to the brink of an unprecedented recession. Poisoned pet food, lead filled toys, and knocked-off luxury goods flooded markets. Oil prices soared then plunged. Complicated financial products were sold and simple Ponzi schemes were devised. And no one world leader is asking "what is wrong with this picture?" Rather the world leaders continue to meet trying to figure out how to put the economies back to the same positions. "Really, it's getting back to normal..."

Pittsburgh's glass windows are covered in plywood. Police and National Guardmen and women stand on street corners protected with gas masks and riot gear. Since Seattle, cities that host these international events become symbols of power and might versus small, roving bands of angry young people looking for something to throw.

Perhaps if these so-called world leaders thought to understand the discontent and pain outside of their bunkers and the loud youngsters who area adding protester to their resumes, if they peered outside the lavish dinner parties, art gallery tours, and swanky tour of Teresa Heinz Kerry's farm, they could see the damage they have brought in the ten years since Seattle. And that almost nothing they are doing now, the small, incremental changes they are tinkering with, will help. These world leaders, doing the bidding of globalized economies dominated by the companies "too big to fail," have brought the world to the brink, but not back.

At least the lumber mill that supplied the plywood (probably from Chile or China where an employee makes virtually nothing) made some money this week.

Sustainable Economies

There are many things I never expected to write in one sentence.  The following is one of them: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania may be an example of sustainable economies.  In a fascinating article from January 8, 2009 New York Times, Pittsburgh appears to have brought itself back from economic ruin when the steel mills closed and everyone ran from the city in the 1980s.

But the renewal of Pittsburgh's economy was not because of some instant "stimulus" but rather because of diligent efforts over years and years from dozens of sources to diversify the economy and to ensure that the region does not fall prey to boom and bust urges.

The down side to Pittsburgh's renewal has been a deindustrialization, which, I think, does a disservice to any economy.  Folks, we simply have to acknowledge that we need to make things.  It's one of the only ways for us to provide middle class jobs for skilled labor.

But much of the renewal of Pittsburgh came from retraining of steel workers.  And I think one of the most important elements of any "stimulus" plan has got to be a commitment to ensure we are providing employment, not just jobs, for people.  Hiring folks for construction jobs which may terminate when the bridge is built or for other infrastructure jobs is great as long as we are providing skills which can be translated into long term employment.  If we fail to do that, we are back at looming and chronic unemployment, which is, of course, not a good thing.

One  huge hurdle for any stimulus to work is the fact this economic melt down has crossed all sectors.  Journalists, mechanics from Boeing, aluminum workers, bankers, medical professionals, retailers, construction workers, real estate salespeople...and while education seems to so-far be insulated, we know that is not long.  Even the government, state, local, and federal agencies are at least in hiring freezes.  It is going to be very difficult to find areas where cash infusions are going to initiate long term employment.

In the meantime, maybe we need to really look at communities like Pittsburgh, long ago declared dead, rising from the ashes, and seemingly sustainable.