Replies

>>I disagree. Trade is a big issue this year. A recession is looming. The Dems will trash McCain using free trade. This will have an impact.<<

I think you are right.

Wait... in about 30 seconds they will hurl “protectionist! tariffs!” charges at me.

I believe that, all other things being equal, high tariffs are not good. Case in point: Smoot-Hawley 1930. All other things equal, trade is a good thing.

I think that Dems are responsible for making US companies less competitive via taxes, and have contributed to the high price of oil via restrictions on drilling and refineries.

However, I do not agree that our trade relationships with China and India are really “free.” US companies who want to set up there have restrictions that would not apply to a foreign company setting up shop here. High taxes here should not be an excuse for Bush to let China get away with cheating.

I think we should have policies that encourage our students to study engineering and science. The offshoring of too many tech jobs and the greed that leads to ever higher demands for cheaper (although in many cases US workers don’t even have a chance to tell the employer how much they will work for) tech workers, will result in more lawyers. Including the ones who make videos showing companies how not to hire US workers.

And it’s not just jobs. Last year a Chinese stealth sub surprised a US carrier group by surfacing in it. The Chinese are using the profits of our trade deficit to become much, much stronger. Anti-satellite and space weapons, nanoweapons, you name it, they want it. If China invades Taiwan and, after they disable our satellites, they sink one our carriers in the conflict, remember the trade deficit.

The economy really is likely to have a real downturn this year. If McCain ignores these issues and says, “I’m sorry, that’s just the way it’s going to be,” I predict he will be sorry in November.