Why Free Trade Works for America

The Heritage Foundation ^ | April 16, 2007 | Daniella Markheim, "traitor."

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Good post. Where is Willie Green, so we can fight this out with him.

[1rudeboy]

Willie Green’s job was off-shored. Turns out that it was discovered that his duties here were more cheaply and efficiently performed at DU and DailyKos.

[holyscroller]

I’d prefer FAIR Trade to Free Trade. There’s nothing fair about what we’ve got now.

[1rudeboy]

Let's play pin-the-quote-on-the-presidential-hopeful! Mark Steyn writes,

[this person] started out deploring the violence of Virginia Tech as yet another example of the pervasive violence of our society: the violence of Iraq, the violence of Darfur, the violence of . . . er, hang on, give him a minute. Ah, yes, outsourcing: ''the violence of men and women who . . . suddenly have the rug pulled out from under them because their job has moved to another country."

No cheating.

[Toddsterpatriot]

- just agreements that put America at a disadvantage.

Our $13 trillion economy and 4.4% unemployment rate shows that trade is just killing us. LOL!

[Toddsterpatriot]

Sorta like saying there's little to no inflation when you take energy and food prices out of the equation

You know they very publicly issue both sets of numbers, don't you?

I noticed there wasn't one word about importing oil.

You don't think we should import oil? That would crimp our economy.

Isn't the call for eliminating the dependency on foreign oil a call for a "protectionist" act?

You can call for eliminating dependency on foreign goods, just don't do it by making them expensive. Do it by making American goods more affordable.

Why is it freetraders are such hypocrites when it comes to dependency on foreign oil?...

I think we should get our oil cheap, cheap is better than expensive. Boosting our domestic production will make all oil cheaper.

[Toddsterpatriot]

If “Free Trade” is such a good thing for America, why are we running a continual trade imbalance?

If running a continual trade imbalance is such a bad thing for America, why do we have a $13 trillion economy and a 4.4% unemployment rate?

[lewislynn]

Boosting our domestic production will make all oil cheaper.

It ain't gonna happen. Why would record profiting oil companies want to "boost" production to make oil cheaper?

[Toddsterpatriot]

Why would record profiting oil companies want to "boost" production to make oil cheaper?

If we open up ANWR, oil companies won't drill? That's funny.

[gas0linealley]

If running a continual trade imbalance is such a bad thing for America, why do we have a $13 trillion economy and a 4.4% unemployment rate?

If we have a $13 trillion economy the reason is that Treasury has well oiled printing presses. If you think that isn't so, then tell me what makes a gallon of gas worth more today, at $3+, than when it sold for 25 cents.

And as for the unemployment rate, do you believe everything the government tells you?

[1rudeboy]

Maybe they’ll decide they’ve earned enough money?

[1rudeboy]

If you think that isn't so, then tell me what makes a gallon of gas worth more today, at $3+, than when it sold for 25 cents.

Let's see here . . . thumbing through notebook . . . inflation, demand, supply, regulation, taxes . . . .

[Toddsterpatriot]

And as for the unemployment rate, do you believe everything the government tells you?

As compared to you? LOL!

[gas0linealley]

Let's see here . . . thumbing through notebook . . . inflation, demand, supply, regulation, taxes . . . .

Not a bad answer...if I'd asked why gasoline costs more today than when it sold for 25 cents a gallon. But, of course, I didn't ask why it costs more, I asked why it's WORTH more.

When you can understand the difference between "cost", and "worth", then perhaps you'll understand why I have no confidence in cheerleader's glowing economic reports.

[gas0linealley]

Your mock laughter fails to conceal your gullability.

[1rudeboy]

Worth may be folded into demand, if you think about it . . . if you choose not to, then gasoline is worth more today than when leaded regular was selling for 25 cents because of “urban sprawl,” and related factors such as improved road networks, less emphasis on public transportation, the decline of “nuclear” communities, as well as rising incomes, etc. We are simply more “mobile.”

[1rudeboy]

I’d be interested in hearing your answer to the question in #34, if you have an opinion.

[Wolfie]

Why Free Trade Works for America

I'd feel better if it worked for Americans too.

[1rudeboy]

I believe the author spoke toward your concern in the second sentence.

[expat_panama]

understand the difference between "cost", and "worth"

Maybe it's a guy thing.  Guys like Rudy and me work with what we can see; that's why we make the money that pays the bills and the ladies in our families deal with the feelings.   Rudy and I know where we can find a market price for something because the price is something that everyone can see.  Afterwords, you and the rest can go ahead and really really feeel whether things are worth a lot more or not really worth anything at all.

Don't get me wrong, I understand we need both.  Prices exist so I can make sure we have food and clothing so we can survive. Afterwards you can talk about how much something is worth say, spiritually or something.