Obama's outsourcing policy may be too late for laid-off machinist

I could not believe my family was struck by the unemployment bug.

My father's layoff was something we were not expecting, and when it happened, it came at us with a hurricane's force.

My father's job was moving to Mexico.

I got word today that President Obama will pull the reins on big business by enacting stricter policies on abusive tax loopholes. I was overjoyed and angry at the same time. Why did it take this long for this type of action? This policy may have saved my father's job at the TRW automotive plant in Danville, Penn.

My father, Wayne Yeager, is a typical blue-collar worker who lost his job in 2004. He was a machinist for the automotive department at TRW, specializing in manufacturing metal products for United States Postal Service trucks.

TRW moved this department to Mexico because a cheap labor force, not to mention a tax credit, was too good to pass up.

When the plant moved, my dad felt betrayed. In addition to working as a machinist, my father was a retired master sergeant in the National Guard. He'd served for 25 years, a man dedicated to his country. The move of his job across borders made the loss even greater.

My father's co-workers were just as dismayed; some had young children. After the severance package ran out, some co-workers went on temporary cash assistance and food stamps. Some withdrew life savings to survive.

Since my dad lost his job at TRW, he has gone back to school at the McCann School of Business through a government displaced workers grant. He earned an electrician's degree and found a job using his new skills.

I am optimistic in our president's stance. I believe this new policy will be the shot in the arm this country needs to keep our jobs where they belong.

For the first time since losing his job in 2004, my father is optimistic about his future. To some, this looks like a happy ending to what was a sad beginning.

But he's starting over at 46. How optimistic can he be?