It's about ownership

Read up on the business that is booming under George Bush: Industrial Auctioneers.

"Globalization has transformed our business," said Richard Kaye, executive vice president of Hilco Corp., the holding company for Hilco Industrial auctioneers. Like many of the industrial auctioneers, Northbrook, Ill.-based Hilco has offices or representatives in Michigan.

Since 2000, Hilco has held more than 500 industrial auctions, helping businesses liquidate at least $2 billion in assets and real estate connected to manufacturing.

"In fact, I don't think we've ever experienced that type of growth (in the past). We anticipate continued growth," Kaye said.

Other industrial auctioneers have experienced similar success.

Prior to 2000, industrial auctioneers mainly helped companies that had spiraled into bankruptcy.

"More and more, we are doing business with companies that had healthy balance sheets," Kaye said. "But those manufacturers are subsidiaries. And the (parent company) has decided to trim nonstrategic, noncore assets. Or simply ship that work elsewhere."

Now foreign companies can say they own something that was used by American workers until their job got shipped overseas. It's part of the ownership society that Bush has helped create.

And that line about percieved growth? I bet he's voting Bush this fall.