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Community Corner

China: Threat or Opportunity

Contact :   Marven Moss (203) 268-2961   mmoss36@yahoo.com

 Common Ground to Hold Public Forum on China June 7

    The Common Ground Committee plans a free public forum at the Darien Town Hall, Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. to consider contrasting views on the  topic, “China: Threat or Opportunity.” The Common Ground Committee is a non-profit group that aims to promote constructive dialogue on contentious public policy issues facing our country today.

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    Two widely recognized authorities on world trade and China’s escalating global influence, Alan Tonelson and Dr. John Rutledge, have accepted invitations to serve on the panel.

    Tonelson, a research fellow at the U.S. Business and Industry Council Educational Foundation in Washington, DC, is a staunch advocate of more aggressive government policies in U.S. economic relations with China. 

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    Co-panelist Rutledge serves as visiting professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and is an astute observer of the Chinese economic scene. He is Chairman of Rutledge Capital, a private equity investment company that advises governments, corporations and pension funds on how to create, grow and manage wealth.

    The panel moderator is John Yemma, editor of the Christian Science Monitor, a publication noted for balanced, in-depth reporting of global events.  Another panelist is to be added shortly.

    Bruce Bond, president of Common Ground Committee and a group vice president of the Stamford-based Gartner Group, says: “The loss of manufacturing jobs to China, the huge imbalance of Sino-American trade and the escalating U.S. government debt held by China are a growing source of concern to many Americans. “

    “Tensions between the U.S. and China are increasing, Bond adds, “because of China’s alleged predatory trade practices and currency manipulation. Regulatory discrimination against U.S. companies operating in China, intellectual property theft, and heightened global competition for natural resources are also causing strains between our two nations.”

    “There are conflicting opinions about what actions the U.S. government should take to address these problems. We expect our panelists will shed light on these issues and seek points of agreement  on possible courses of action.”

    The panel discussion is to be broadcast via video-streaming to viewers around the country. Under the format, a Q-and-A follows the discussion with written questions submitted by the audience as well as video-viewers.

     The non-partisan Common Ground Committee was established to stimulate informed opinion on critical issues without engaging in provocative expression or highly charged rhetoric.

    Erik Olsen of Wilton, another committee member, observes: “Too often discussions on matters that affect the lives of Americans take place in a vitriolic style that seeks to score points rather than enlighten the public.”

    “We hope to counter this trend by presenting a series of discussions on a variety of topics aimed at presenting the light of truth rather than the heat of anger. It is our expectation that this light might stimulate progress toward finding the common ground on which citizens can make informed decisions and take intelligent action.”

     A video recording of  the group’s initial forum addressing the role of  government in the U.S. economy is available online at www.commongroundcommittee.org.

     In addition to Bond and Olsen, the other founding members of the board are Judy Kudlow of Redding, Martin Skala of Darien and Cherie Burton of Rowayton.

     Donations to support the committee, a 501©3 non-profit organization, are welcome and further information is available at the Web site www.commongroundcommittee.org.

 

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