Job creation . . . or dissipation?

The Washington Times ^ | 2/26/2004 | Paul Craig Roberts

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

The dollar keeps going down, and the trade deficit keeps going up. Economists and reporters explain this in terms of American appetite for foreign goods outstripping overseas demand for U.S. goods.

There is another explanation, one perhaps closer to the truth. Americans are buying the same goods as in the past made by the same U.S. multinational corporations

[ZeitgeistSurfer]

The key idea in this piece is the difference between trade among equals and moving jobs to low-income countries. That always seems to get lost in the argument.

[dennisw]

the truth!!!!

[dennisw]

Top 20 economic lies that defy common sense

Wow, another self-fulfilling prophecy from the Republicans and Democrats. So, let me get this right, in order to be a part of this guild, I have to throw out common sense and adopt the pseudo intellect which says:

Deficits are good
People losing their jobs is good
Having to change jobs every few years is good
Jobs moving overseas is good
A weak dollar is a good
Importing workers is good
Americans are stupid and lazy
People from the developing world are geniuses and hard workers
High wages are bad for the economy
Cheaper is always better
Subsidizing business is good
Unemployed workers will have better jobs waiting for them
There are many jobs that Americans just won't do
Cheaper prices are more important than high paying jobs
Increasing minimum wage is bad, setting an average wage is good, and setting a maximum wage is bad
It makes no difference how free your trading partners are, you must unilaterally provide a free market to them
You are better off employing yourself
You can train yourself for the jobs of the future at your local community college
Job training is the responsibility of employees, not employers

[reluctantwarrior]

It seems the pols are saying tough luck to the average worker, the amnesty proposal is really stupid, too.

[vannrox]

Yes this is the TRUTH!

[EdReform]

BTTT - read later...

[chimera]

The key idea in this piece is the difference between trade among equals and moving jobs to low-income countries. That always seems to get lost in the argument.

Good point. Also something that is often lost in the argument is the incongruity of the concept of "free trade" with countries that aren't free. Starts you off behind the eight-ball right away.