Another factory near my home closed this week, the owners sending nearly 500 jobs to China. For economics, they say. Cheaper labor, they mean.

This particular company, a manufacturer of quality furniture, had been in the community for nearly 100 years and was a vital part of its economy. There had been rumors of a potential shut-down for sometime but no one wanted to believe it, especially not those who depended on the plant for their livelihood.

Economics, the CEOs told the employees - who were among the last to be informed. Not to worry, they said, the state and federal governments will provide re-training and you'll soon find another job.

Training? Training to do exactly what? This is, and has been, an economically depressed area.

Not to worry, said the CEOs who aren't losing their big salaries and fat perks. And, the Bush administration will see to it that the company continues to get tax breaks even as it sells out those who have been loyal workers for years.

Economics.

Perhaps these companies should consider the additional economic option of putting the CEOs who will continue to direct operations on the Chinese wage scale. Why not be really economic?

Let's out-source these CEOs with their million-dollar salaries and who never work up a sweat anyway if they think out-sourcing is such a good idea.

Methinks any one who runs for public office should first have to live at minimum wage for at least six months so they would understand the economics a majority have to live by.

The Bush-Cheney team thinks out-sourcing is a good idea. They don't think raising the minimum wage would be fair to these poor, struggling companies. They don't even think a majority of workers deserve over-time pay.

Bush has proposed reforms that would have people "saving" for medical insurance and retirement. Apparently he doesn't understand you have to have an income in order to save money.

Of course he never had to work for anything, did he?

Economics?