Meet the Poor Republicans

NY Times ^ | May 15, 2005 | DAVID BROOKS

[A. Pole]

Yes

[listenhillary]

So when the unions had driven the price of steel up to astronomical levels due to out of control wage demands. They effectively priced themselves out of a job. Then logically the tariffs should rise accordingly to protect those jobs? At some point does government say enough? We're going to cap your wages?

Aren't we saying to the rest of the world, we've got ours screw you?

You don't think that spreading capitalism makes for a safer and freer world? Yes, you can cite China that is repressive and we are selling the hangman our hanging noose. I agree with you to a point.

The Honduran that now has a job at $.90 an hour had nothing before. Aren't we saying "we've got ours, screw you?" We'll price you out of a job by raising tariffs to protect our jobs.

How many aircraft will Boeing sell if they pay 4 times the market value for materials? Do we subsidize Boeing even more to offset the increase cost of tariffs?

If the US has closed markets and most of the rest of the world has open markets, do you see us remaining an economic engine for the world?

[Nowhere Man]

So you are for protecting our jobs with tariffs and taxation on imported goods? Americans should pay whatever the domestic market charges for goods to protect American jobs? Or are am I misunderstanding what you are tying to convey?

I can't speak for anyone but myself so here goes:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. You are receivng me "wall to wall and treetop tall" (as we used to say over the CB radio), "you're pegging my RF meter at 40 decibels over S-9" (a little amateur radio slang) or if I geeked to many people out, "you are receiving me loud and clear."

[Nowhere Man]

IMO, that's not exactly something to be proud of, considering that the democrats have run Pittsburgh for the last 70 years, and the city and Allegheny county is an economic basket case.

Yeah, I used to blame the Democrats for al ot of the messes but when I take a look back, I see more as collusion of special interests and the "good old boy" network in the party itself. The Republicans are not immune either to the same problems. Basically when the movers and shakers of any political group get so entrenched, they don't care for the average person anymore. It reminds me of the story where Chicago was so corrupt, Al Capone was seen as more caring to the average person than the Cook County Democratic Machine.

[Nowhere Man]

In the "People's Almanac #1" (IIRC), there is an interesting article on how a newspaper would be run if Jesus was in charge. I kind of had a thought on "What Would Jesus Do" if He was running a company. Only a thought experiment, but it would be kind of interesting to ponder how He would run things, IIRC, I do rmemeber Him tossing the tables of the moneychangers at the temple. Maybe I'm a sap, a sucker or whatever, but I do consider myself a Christian and adhering to the Judeo-Christian morals above all, at least to the best of my ability in the business world. In fact, the question I ask is, "is it right or wrong and will it be best for the people at large?" I know a bit of a tangent, but all of this talk has me pondering about all of this.

[listenhillary]

Where do we sell any items produced? Grain, farm products, software. Other countries will just keep our products tariff free just because we're so special?