Stop the leftoid equivalency spinning.
A balanced, equitable trade agreement fair to both parties is not protectionism.
And it certainly is not welfare.
Posted on 03/30/2016 6:26:02 AM PDT by central_va
“Free trade” would more accurately be called “freedom for other countries to undercut and destroy American domestic production” because in practice that is what is happening. This is an undeniable fact that should be obvious to any consumer or business in this country. Very little of what is consumed here is made by American-owned companies operating in America. This was not formerly the case, and it was not how the wealth of this country was created.
Proponents of “free trade” justify their position by saying it is supplying American consumers with access to the lowest cost, most competitive market. However, this does not justify the terrible consequences. Proponents dismiss the destruction to American domestic production by wishfully thinking we will find new ways to reinvent ourselves. How will we continue to pay for these cheap foreign goods with no industry to generate our own wealth?
“Free trade” proponents fail to say that free access to subsidized foreign production is destroying America’s chances to be competitive.
(Excerpt) Read more at economyincrisis.org ...
You think these people would have been all in favor of Obama’s “Community Re-investment Act”, since it was just redistributing wealth from the many to create menial jobs for the few, which is what they are intent on doing now.
Stupid and irrelevant analogy.
So you would have supported FDR’s New Deal “make-work” programs too?
Reagan did, and he never disavowed that support.
China and many other countries engage in different forms of protectionism.
China subsidizes their trade advantages not through superior inventions or innovation but by underbidding everyone through cheap labor and having pretty much NO standards.
Why should we sacrifice millions of jobs, and empower China’s rise?
Keep in mind in the beginning, “The New Deal” was just a rehash of stuff that Hoover already had in place.
But the true Free Traitor™ will have none of that, nope. Their position is their can only be only free trade and there are no losers. End of discussion. Those Fascists will not tolerate any facts or discussion to the contrary.
Stop the leftoid equivalency spinning.
A balanced, equitable trade agreement fair to both parties is not protectionism.
And it certainly is not welfare.
Actual free trade and low to no taxes and regulation on business would advance the most productive economies, bring such economies ever increasing prosperity. That would be us as we have the most productive and innovative labor force on earth. Free trade and deregulation and detaxification would also bring the world’s greatest industries to HERE. “Free Trade” as practiced by statists includes no elements of free trade as every relationship is determined by politicians and includes trade definitions and controls and assignations of favors and quasi monopoly status. The only way to implement free trade and benefit immensely as society from it is to simply cut off the taxes and regulations on business and eliminate all tariffs, limits, controls of any sort.
“So, what is the brilliant solution for the American middle and working classes NOT collapsing? What is the brilliant solution for bringing jobs back?”
Well, just about any solution is better than tariffs, since we already know those won’t work. Getting rid of minimum wage laws would be a great start, and it would have the added bonus of disincentivising hiring illegal immigrant labor.
“Do we want NO regulations like China?”
No, that’s absurd.
“So pick a year out of US History where regulations were lax enough that they would entice manufacturing to come back to the US from China, that would not lead to the US cities and rivers looking like China.”
We don’t need to. We have so many regulations we can slash for years before we even need to look at the environmental ones. If we cut all the other ones first and still can’t compete, then we can worry about that stuff.
“Also elaborate on how you plan on punishing or preventing China from stealing US tech, US movies, software, etc?”
Meh, I’d rather not confuse the discussion by bringing in a whole separate issue like that.
“What “comparative advantage” does China possess, besides low-wages and no environmental or safety standards?”
Their population doesn’t feel they are entitled to wages that will buy them a house, two car garage, cable tv, college educations for the kids, etc, just for screwing on a widget?
We’re still going to be in competition with them even with protectionist policies. Those policies don’t protect us from competition, they just shift the cost of the competition around, from one segment of the population (manufacturing workers) to another (consumers). It’s socialism by a different name.
That’s not really an answer to my question, is it?
You are singularly focused on comparative advantage when you should be concerned with freedom. My conclusion is that you want government to make things right again so you must believe that government is reliable, capable and responsible. Sorry, I'm conservative and know better. You think the middle class is taking it on the chin now? Just wait until you and your economic illiterate buddies start picking winners and losers rather than hundreds of millions of people making billions of transaction in their best interest. When the people who believe they know what's best for everyone else (the elites) start deciding what you can buy and whom you can buy from, the middle class is really going to eat dirt.
We've already been through this before. The Boston Tea Party happened, and facilitated the American revolution, because our forefathers were tired of being taxed on the things they needed and hated being told who they had to buy from. The fact that these guys called themselves the Sons of Liberty should be a wake up call to everyone looking to government to make things better. Government needs to get the hell out of the way.
Blaming the welfare state on the freedom to trade requires an uncommon misunderstanding of basic economic theory and current events.
Clearly yo do not understand how tariffs work.
To an extent, yes I do believe in “Economic Nationalism.” Now that can be done the right way, or the wrong way. But I believe the pursuit of absolute “Free Trade” is a fools’ errand.
How can anything that requires an agreement that is over 20,000 pages be considered “Free Trade”?
So, you think China and other countries actually favor “free trade” like you do?
Are you serious?
Do you think China shares your viewpoints on “freedom”?
They're against outsourcing but remain silent about insourcing. Maybe they don't want that either. Instead of criticizing government for allowing an environment of high taxes, endless and onerous regulation, and continuous assault by trial attorneys, they rail on industry that is trying to survive under these circumstances. Never once do they blame their beloved big government for making this country such a challenging place to conduct business.
Want to know what happens if a member of my family buys something that came from China (brought in by one of those willing buyers/sellers) that harms them, like toys with lead, or contaminated tooth paste?
One of those willing buyers/sellers is going to get stabbed in their eye.
You blame this on free trade? Good grief. Yeah, it has nothing to do with government trying to make people dependent or on idiots who refuse to get an education, or learn a skill, trying to make ends meet with a family of four on minimum wage.
Do you find yourself cheering when Bernie demands a $15 minimum wage?
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