Party change made to revive manufacturing
SATISH MOHAN Amherst Supervisor
When I joined the Republican Party 12 years ago, we had manufacturing, employment was high, and the potential for continued growth existed. The scenario is continually changing since then. We can see the writing on the wall; we will soon have higher and higher unemployment rates, dependence on foreign countries for scientific and industrial equipment and consumer goods, and declining technological advancements.

A manufacturing industry needs land, labor, and capital for its continued growth. We have more land than any advanced country in the world, and we have, at least for now, adequate capital to fund any manufacturing industry that will competitively produce. And, my varied exposure to several countries has made me conclude the following: the U.S. worker is second to none, both physically and mentally; the U.S. worker, besides adequate compensation, desires job stability; and the U.S. worker takes pride in his or her vocation. Revival of manufacturing through workers' ownership is my direction.

We have two major parties: Republicans promote businessmen, and the Democrats protect workers' rights. The pro-business Republican Party will not own this idea, so I had to switch.

My plan for reviving competitive manufacturing is this: every worker, three years after joining a company, will be given the opportunity to join the company as a partner for life, and every worker will be given a reasonable salary, such that the labor component stays competitive. Each worker will also get company shares and a yearly bonus based on the year's profits. I am confident that given job stability and pride of ownership we can boost productivity and compete with the rest of the world. We all know that business is taking the manufacturing abroad, and I am afraid that it will impoverish our country. In my search for solutions, I fell for the Democratic Party.

I ran as a Republican, and it was expected of me that I complete my term as a Republican. I faulted on this. I know I have angered thousands of Republicans who voted for me. I apologize to my Republican friends. I know you can only show your anger to the one you have loved so much and supported wholeheartedly. My changing in the middle of my term was unusual, but I have little time left in my working life, and I have a long list of to-do's. I could not wait.

I wish to tell you that I will keep working for you all in spite of the party affiliation. I can only tell you that I had no selfish motive in this party change. If you see some benefits, they will all be yours. I also know the Democrats will not welcome me. They will see me with skepticism, and they will see me as an opportunist.

The political parties have a national focus. Will this change help me in achieving my goals for the town? I am not very sure. During the last two years, we had a 5-2 Republican majority, and I didn't have four votes. I like that our Town Board members think independently, but if my change helps us in achieving the public good, I will be very happy.

In the end, I was confronted with two choices: should I stay loyal to the party, or should I stay loyal to the people's agenda? I decided in favor of the people.