Stars Shine Light on Industry Issues at Democratic National Convention

Hollywood’s stars and Washington D.C.’s stars stood together at the Democratic National Convention to illuminate one of the big problems facing the entertainment industry and outline a plan to help maintain the industry’s prosperity.

“Hollywood is our single biggest export and our last great industry that’s still here,” actor Ben Affleck said. “This is still a trade where crew members can make a living wage. That’s the kind of high-paying job Sen. Kerry wants to grow in the United States.”

Pointing to the loss of nearly 3 million manufacturing and service sector jobs over the past three years, vice presidential nominee Sen. John Edwards articulated part of the Kerry plan which will help grow jobs in the United States – especially for the entertainment industry.

“We're going to get rid of tax cuts for companies who are outsourcing your jobs. And instead, we're going to give tax breaks to American companies that are keeping jobs right here in America,” Edwards said in his speech at the convention.

Republicans have nearly a month before their National Convention gets underway, but the party seems unconcerned about jobs lost in the entertainment industry.

"Outsourcing is just a new way of doing international trade.” N. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of Bush's Council of Economic Advisors, said. “More things are tradable than were tradable in the past. And that's a good thing."