Posted on 05/21/2003 2:07:28 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
We were told that GATT and NAFTA were going to be the salvation of the world. Trade barriers were to be removed and farm prices would improve, not only in the United States but around the world. Our exports would increase, higher income would prevail and the entire world would be a much better place in which to live. I was listening to talk radio when a caller tried to explain to Rush Limbaugh how disastrous the "giant sucking sound" would be. Rush cut the caller short by saying that his advisers who were economists told him that NAFTA was a good thing for our country. Since that time jobs have left America and incomes have fallen. Farm prices have not improved and farmers continue to be forced off the land. Were our leaders really that stupid to believe globalization was going to be an asset to Americans?
I believe many of the farm publications and commodity organizations did think global markets were the coming thing and would benefit our nation's economy. They bought into the lies that had been lavished upon them by the oneworlders in charge of destroying our national sovereignty. Editorials were printed explaining how farmers and ranchers would profit from these global markets and many unsuspecting farmers, businessmen and even bankers fell for these diabolical plans.
At first it was only the menial jobs that moved to Mexico and China. Jobs, that our hard working, red-blooded Americans didn't want to perform in the first place. Then the auto manufacturers began moving their automotive plants out of the country. The United Auto Workers (UAW) were without jobs. The textile business was transferred to China and our food products (fruit, vegetables and meat) began flowing in from other countries.
While millions of people were being put out of work here in the US, wages in other countries were not improving. Only highly trained individuals with computer skills in the field of high technology would be capable of maintaining a high standard of living. Now those Information Technology positions are being "out-sourced." The February 3 edition of Business Week explains how US companies such as Bank of America, Texas Instruments, Intel, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Hewlett Packard, American Express, Dell Computer, Eastman Kodak, IBM, GE, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and even Massachusetts General Hospital are hiring high tech workers in the Philippines, India, China, Russia, Eastern Europe, Costa Rica and South Africa.
India seems to be one of the big winners in this "new economy." Indian radiologists interpret CT scans for Massachusetts General Hospital. Indian engineers design mobile-phones chips for Texas Instruments, while other Indians process claims for US insurance companies and home loans for US mortgage companies and design software for Microsoft.
Our Us (multinational) corporations can hire these foreigners for an annual salary of $5,000; about 10 to 20 percent what it was costing them here in America. According to Business Week some four million jobs have already been moved to India. Proctor & Gamble's tax returns are prepared by accountants in the Philippines and Microsoft is spending $1.15 billion for out-sourcing in India and China over the next three years. Many of these high tech employees have PhD's from US universities and our taxes paid for their education.
According to an e-mail I received from someone named Wayne, a few people are just starting to get a little common sense about what globalization, NAFTA and GATT economics really mean. Wayne then quoted a man from Mexico saying, "I do not see why the USA wants to do this, because in order for a world economy to work, all economies must be at the same level. I don't think the USA can bring everyone up to your level, so you are going to have to come down to our level. We will all race to the bottom... . Like there is some great reward for having the lowest standard of living." The race is on and the one-worlders are standing on the sidelines cheering us on.
Isn't Global Trade Great?
© 2003 Derry Brownfield - All Rights Reserved
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Derry Brownfield was born in 1932 and grew up during the depression. He is a farmer and a broadcaster. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught Vocational Agriculture several years before going to work as a Marketing Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Derry served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting.
Derry started farming when he was 16 years old and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Since that time the Brownfield Farm has grown to over 1000 acres maintaining a herd of 200 registered Charolias cows.
In 1972, Derry and his partner established the Brownfield Network which now serves 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with news and market information.In 1994, Derry started his own syndicated radio talk show and he is one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show can be heard on approximately 80 radio stations in 23 states. With his entertaining sense of humor and witty commentary he has captured audiences for over 30 years. His ability to present an informative talk show while being light and colorful is why he has a large loyal listening audience.
Derry Brownfield is a practical farmer, a practical business man and a very entertaining speaker. He travels extensively throughout the country speaking about his common-sense point of view. Web Site: www.derrybrownfield.com
We raised their boats by draining our reservoir. What imbecile could ever have believed otherwise?
We were told that GATT and NAFTA were going to be the salvation of the world.
First sentence out of the blocks, and he’s already lying, or at the very least hyperbolizing ridiculously.
Trade deals can only work to our benefit when they're made with countries on economic par with us. It's impossible for the American worker to compete with someone making $1.00 an hour, either they accept lower wages or the company moves.
I just wonder who these businesses think is going to buy their products when there's no middle class left?
And they won't care, until they find it life-threatening to limo (bullet-proof) from their gated-community to the cocktail party.
GATT, however, IMHO has been economic suicide.
Derry Brownfield does an excellent job in describing how "globalism" is bringing down the standard of living in America. It leaves me wondering at what level we have to sink as a nation before people wake up and demand that our government dump its industry destroying, job-exporting Globalist (not-so Free) Trade policies. Same for Immigration, which is also playing a prominent role in the debasement of America. Is anyone in the Beltway listening?
What is true in physics is not necessarily true in economics. Mexico, as the article slightly insinuates, is suffering economically by the GATT treaty. Originating goods in the Orient and shipping them to the USA is cheaper than Mexican production.
The new wave of illegal immigration won't be Mexico's fault, it will be due to the Chinese.
Which means in order to complete the plan the Second Amendment will have to go. But I suspect the real rich will be living on a nice cozy island somewhere anyway.
I agree.
Oh I don't know about that. I'd say Canada, Western Europe, Japan and a few others in Asia come pretty close. Mexico was nowhere near being ready for such trade deals with the US.
If there were any
truth to this absurdity,
then Bill Gates would get
poorer every year,
and we'd get richer. Sadly,
it don't work that way...
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