Steel industry needs addressed

Last week, Gov. Frank O'Bannon gave what was billed as a comprehensive analysis of Indiana's economic woes in his state of the state address. While the governor addressed the run of the mill recession that has hit most of Indiana, along with the rest of the country, he tragically omitted the near depression that could destroy Northwest Indiana.\nIn Bloomington, we tend to lose track of what is happening in the rest of the state. Many students might not know that Northwest Indiana is on the brink of economic collapse because of a failing steel industry. This failing industry is the backbone of a region that now finds itself in a vulnerable economic position.\nThere are 32,600 Hoosiers employed by the steel industry, most in Northwest Indiana. These workers produce top-quality steel, but, unfortunately, the steel market is being flooded (often illegally) by foreign products that are frequently of lesser quality. Because of this steel dumping, most companies are forced to declare bankruptcy or lay off workers. For example, Pennsylvania-based Bethlehem Steel claimed bankruptcy and defaulted on $10 million that it owes to Porter County, Ind., and LTV steel laid off 2,500 men and women last year when it closed its East Chicago, Ind., plant. \nNot only do these moves affect those who work for the companies (and those who stand to lose their pensions), but they also affect all of those who live in the region. One such case is the Chesterton school corporation, which just built a new, multi-million dollar high school based on expected property taxes from Bethlehem, which has been forced to cut its spending severely. Will organizations in the same position as the Chesterton schools stop providing services? They certainly have to make cuts, but, eventually, they will turn to the state for money. The region is relying on the state, which Gov. O'Bannon declared to be in recession, to help make ends meet. This means more taxes and reduced spending (i.e. higher tuition) for a state that already has economic woes.\n While the potential effects of a steel industry collapse are concentrated in Indiana, they extend to the entire country. The economic effects might be restricted to this state, but our military infrastructure could be crippled by an industry collapse. Every day, we see Air Force jets, Navy aircraft carriers and other military machinery on TV. \nWhat does all of this equipment have in common? It all contains steel. And, if we allow the steel industry to collapse (which is its current direction), the U.S. will be completely dependent on foreign steel. As the saying goes, you're only as strong as your weakest link. The same holds true for the U.S. military. If we are completely dependent upon foreign steel, an embargo could cripple our ability to defend ourselves.\nBloomington is fairly isolated, but this campus of 36,000 is also very diverse. When students concentrate on a goal, they are tough to stop. Now is the time for students to call upon their representatives in Congress to remember the failing steel industry. We must give American steel a fair chance in the global market. We all need to make sure that our legislators do not forget the steel industry like Gov. O'Bannon did in his speech. If they do, the domestic steel industry might become nothing more than a memory.