If there was any doubt that Caterpillar Inc no longer considers itself an American Corporation, those doubts should have vanished when the company recently announced its intentions to build its 14th plant in China.  Cat obviously sees itself as a world corporation.  As a world corporation it internally has only one allegiance and that’s to the company.  It’s not about the stockholders, the retirees, the workers (union or nonunion), Central Illinois, or America; it’s all about the corporation and its executives.

It’s not the first American corporation to turn it’s back on America, but it’s the only one headquartered in Central Illinois and the 18th Congressional District. We should be concerned.

We should be concerned because Cat’s actions affect our 2 billion dollar a day foreign trade deficit, one billion a day with China alone. There’s plenty of room on the empty boats going back after they unload their "made in China " Walmart junk, room for Cat wheel loaders made in America right here in the empty Cat factories in Central Illinois.

I’m concerned because Ray LaHood arranges for millions of taxpayer dollars in earmarks to help a hugely profitable corporation that then pays us back by sending jobs to China, jobs that could easily be performed in America by the people who made Caterpillar what it is today.

And finally I’m concerned because Ray LaHood’s election committee (Friends of Ray LaHood) receives thousand of dollars from Cat PAC’s, completely legal of course, when the Caterpillar Corporation is, by its actions, no longer a true loyal American Corporation.

I wonder why any politician, regardless of their party, would take Cat PAC money? Maybe politicians like Ray LaHood care more about being reelected than doing the right thing for the people of Central Illinois.  Maybe he doesn’t know or, even worse, care.