Oppose Outsourcing of Private Sector & Privatization of Public Sector Jobs

Whereas, a strong Middle Class is essential to a healthy democracy and a decent society and,

Whereas, the Democratic Party has long championed the interests of the Middle Class, and

Whereas, the outsourcing of good jobs with benefits to low wage States and foreign countries not only destroys the tax base of our communities but, exacerbates the downward spiral of earnings of all wage earners, and

Whereas, the corporate takeover of public resources and enterprises is part of a 30 year old orchestrated Republican Party movement known as Privatization, and

Whereas, Outsourcing and Privatization takes the form of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries and subletting good Middle Class private/public enterprise jobs here at home to lower paid, usually non-union privateers and,

Whereas, privatization schemes involve the eventual corporate takeover of all of America's public enterprises and resources, including public education, Medicare, Social Security, Human Services, local and state government functions, our local police departments, our water purification and treatment systems, prisons, possibly the military and even tax collections, and

Whereas, privatization of government functions including water systems, public education and prisons have produced poorer quality results at ever increasing costs, and

Whereas, outsourcing and privatization exacerbates the massive transfer of wealth and power from “We the People,” to huge corporations and the elite few, and

Whereas, outsourcing and privatization typically entails the elimination of collective bargaining rights for unions and curtailment of the right to organize, and,

Whereas, outsourcing and privatization constitutes not only a threat to the existence of the Middle Class but to the very nature of Democracy, which depends on a balance of public and private interests,

 Be it therefore Resolved, that the Democratic County Committee of Berks County  opposes in principle and practice any and all overtures by elected Democratic officeholders to embrace or endorse the Republican theory on government and private/public enterprises known as Outsourcing and Privatization, and

Resolved, that the Democratic County Committee of Berks County advise in writing all Democratic officeholders elected by voters of Berks County and advise those who would seek such elective office of our strong commitment to the preservation of Middle Class American jobs, social and economic security and justice for the Middle Class through this resolution of Principle.

Recommended by

Democratic County Committee of Berks County Executive Board

Moved by TOM HERMAN to accept the recommendation of the Executive Board.

Seconded by G. Fred Shaeff, Jr.

Unanimously approved.            Resolution adopted April 16, 2005.