The Patriot Post® · Crushing the American Dream

In all the huge headlines of recent days, an event took place in Indianapolis that went largely unnoticed here in Washington, D.C., and in many other places. But it was a big deal to the 2,100 men and women and their families who were directly affected.

Carrier, the air conditioning manufacturer and a division of United Technologies, called its workers into a meeting to announce that two plants were being shuttered and their jobs were being sent to Mexico. Here’s a video that captured the emotion of the moment. [WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE]

It is hard to find a state with a more pro-growth, pro-jobs governor than Indiana. Governor Mike Pence strongly believes in democratic capitalism. He was crestfallen by Carrier’s announcement. Here is part of what he said:

“As governor, I was profoundly disappointed to learn that Carrier Corporation and United Technologies would relocate jobs and operations to Mexico, costing hardworking Hoosiers more than 2,100 jobs. My heart goes out to all the families and communities that are affected by this news.”

Gov. Pence went on to demand a state investigation of taxpayer incentives given to Carrier, and he blasted America’s corporate tax rate, among the highest in the world, as well as out-of-control regulations from Washington.

I know all the usually libertarian arguments about the free flow of goods, products and people, and how we are all better off from that process. The executives at Carrier attempted to explain how their decision was a purely bottom line business necessity.

But is it too much to ask executives at an American company to think about what they are doing to American workers when they move jobs out of the country?

What Carrier did has been done year after year countless times all over the American heartland. The Walt Disney Company made headlines recently for similar reasons.

Charles Murray had a must read column this weekend about what has happened to the men and women who made America the greatest industrial power in history. They have been decimated culturally and economically. Many appear to be dying from despair.

There is no “Working Class Lives Matter” movement to speak for them. I know leaders in Congress have a five-point economic plan, one of which is to come up with better ways to help the poor. I’m all for that.

But how about a six-point plan with one focused on saving the American heartland? Without a thriving middle class the chances of helping the poor are next to zero.

Cook’s Contempt

Speaking of American companies, you probably heard [yesterday] morning that Tim Cook, head of that great American company Apple, is refusing to comply with a court order to unlock one of the iPhones belonging to the San Bernardino killers. (Technically, the phone belongs to San Bernardino County, meaning local taxpayers.)

Cook says the order is chilling, explaining that it jeopardizes the privacy of other iPhone users. Surely this one phone can be accessed without every phone being compromised.

I think what is chilling is an American corporation that is willing to risk another mass terrorist attack rather than cooperate with the FBI.

The next time there is a threat against Mr. Cook from the likes of Al Qaeda or ISIS, or the Russian or Chinese governments, the FBI might be tempted to look at caller ID and ignore Mr. Cook’s call.

It isn’t asking too much to expect Tim Cook to remember that his great company exists because of America, and that he owes this nation a debt of gratitude just like the rest of us.

Left-wing Hate Crime

Christopher Marquez was attacked last week after an encounter with Black Lives Matter activists at a Washington, D.C., McDonald’s. They entered the restaurant and harassed him as he was eating. When he left, they attacked him, knocked him unconscious and robbed him.

D.C. police have yet to label the attack a hate crime, but Marquez has no doubt. “I believe this was a hate crime and I was targeted because of my skin color.”

Marquez is a war hero. He received the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq at the Battle of Fallujah. His heroism is memorialized in the “No Man Left Behind” statue at Camp Pendleton.

The left’s constant stoking of racial tensions is leading to violence against innocent people – the very thing the Black Lives Matter movement claims to oppose. Where is the condemnation from the media, the Obama administration and activists on the left?