Posted on 12/02/2017 9:57:48 AM PST by Jim W N
Free Trade: Both political parties these days give short shrift to the idea of free trade. It's a pity, because, as a new report shows, it's the key to a better life for all.
In its "2018 Index of Economic Freedom," the Heritage Foundation reminds us that not only is the idea of free trade appealing, but the evidence for its importance in raising standards of living is overwhelming.
"Countries with the most trade freedom have higher per capita incomes, more secure food supplies, and cleaner environments," the report notes.
Or, put even more simply, "Citizens of countries that embrace free trade are better off than those in countries that do not."
Exaggeration? They back it up with data. Applying standardized measures of free trade to 183 countries around the world, the report's authors break it down in thirds: A bottom third, with the lowest degree of free-trade policies; a second third, right in the middle; and the highest third, with the most free trade.
It wasn't close. On every measure, the free-trade nations scored highest on all conventional measures of economic well-being.
For instance, nations in the bottom third of free trade averaged $3,145 a year in per capita income. The middle third, $7,432. The top: $27,037. The free traders have nearly nine times the average income of the non-free traders, and almost four times the income of even the middle group.
The fact remains that free trade has a huge positive impact on a country's well-being far in excess of any costs it incurs. Rather than reimposing protectionist measures to revive defunct industries, we should help those who lose their jobs with transitional aid, training or education. But don't give up on free trade. It's a winner
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Freer trade creates a higher standard of living. Common sense, really, if one thinks it through. Reality, as here, usually backs up common sense and reason.
Reality also backs up Economics 101 which is really what this is all about - the economic laws of supply and demand that work to create wealth in a free environment or when violated by government, leads to wealth shrinkage and poverty.
Common sense and thinking things through seem to be rare birds these days. In the meantime, freedom and the free market economy isn't perfect, but it is way ahead of whatever is in second place.
The Chinese military loves free trade and thanks you for their new Aircraft carriers and submarines.
The Chinese government also hates freedom and loves government oppression and thanks you for your support of federal curtaliment of freedom and the free market.
If foreign governments subsidize products you don’t have free trade.
On our end, we still have free trade.
If another country decides to shoot itself in the foot and raise taxes on its own consumers, it certainly doesn’t mean we have to do the same stupid thing also.
Free Trade’s ultimate goal is to normalize wages between the US and 3rd world nations.
It will make implementing a world government that much easier.
So much for Freedom.
Something to keep in mind here is that we usually think of international trade only in terms of the last transactions -- with someone here on the U.S. who buys something in WalMart, for example. But as products get increasingly complex you're more likely to run into situations where a product is manufactured from parts and components with multiple countries of origin. A lot of folks might be surprised at how heavily U.S. manufacturers would be penalized if stiff tariffs were imposed on imports.
I am completely for free trade, but I just want to tax items and services from outside the country.
I am completely for no income tax, but we somehow have that.
I am completely for no sales tax, but we somehow have that.
I am completely for no property tax, but we somehow have that.
I am completely for no inheritance tax, but we somehow have that.
All taxes are penalties for behavior, but they are penalties we believe we need to levy to fund government. Why penalize income over buying foreign?
There is absolutely nothing that makes it preferable to tax only products and services that originate from a US worker and are used in the US over products and services from foreign lands that are used in the US.
“Free trade” in its ideal form does not exist ANYWHERE in the world. Stop with this fake mantra over that which you do not understand.
Free Trade also is a plus for peace.
Nations are reluctant to kill their customers or suppliers.
The Roman Empire was managed this way. Where there is no trade: your tribe/kingdom gets conquered so that you can’t threaten the empire, and the flow of goods and services at market prices continues.
Something about correlation and causation. Although, it’s not that free traderites are wrong; it’s that their thinking is 1-dimensional. No political realities, no national security concerns, terrorism (who cares?), burgeoning welfare class (irrelevant!). Nope, getting cheap goods today is everything.
Great article. Free trade is not complicated. As the word “free” means absent restraint or force and the word “trade” means to freely exchange items. I am not sure how anyone could be opposed to that. The alternative is to have an exchange of items compelled by force or restrained by force.
Since private citizens are not allowed to use force on each other to compel a preferred exchange of items they turn to the government to enforce their preferred outcomes. Many Freepers seem to know just how much is “fair” for tires, steel, appliances, and etc.. and they are willing to empower the government to enforce their wisdom.
Why would anybody use China as an examples of the failure of “free trade”. Free trade does not occur with China. NAFTA is another great example. Derided on FR quite frequently I must ermine people that “free” does not require 1,000s of pages of rules and regulations.
Well, here’s another FRreeper who hates freedom. In this case, your arguement is freedom leads to implementing world government.
Incredible.
Repeating your off-point post again after being hit upside the head that the American consumer pays for U.S. tariffs resulting in a lower standard of living for the American consumer???
Go back and take a remedial Econ 101 course.
No, it’s that anti-fee marketers confuse
- the Free Market Economy which is the VOLUNTARY cooperation between buyers and sellers without government interference and is not a threat to political borders or national sovereignty versus
- FORCED Global Totalitarianism that threatens national sovereignty.
BTW, every time you go to the store, you try to find the best product for the price. The stupidity of the vague anti-free trade mantra of “cheap goods” is astonishing. People don’t buy “cheap quality” but they will buy the best quality for the lowest price which makes their hard-earned income more worthwhile.
The type of trade we have had with China over the last 30+ years is not free trade.
We have transferred much of our industrial base, impoverished many of our workers and allowed our
Intellectual property to be stolen.
You’re just mad that the American people have woken up to the Free Trade scam.
Who the heck did you vote for in 2016, Hillary?
You’re already lost, confusing as you anti-free-market people do, either deliberately or ignorantly,
- the Free Market Economy which is the VOLUNTARY cooperation between buyers and sellers without government interference and is not a threat to political borders or national sovereignty versus
- FORCED Global Totalitarianism that threatens national sovereignty.
It is GOVERNMENT that threatens national sovereignty, not the the free-market voluntary cooperation between buyers and sellers without government interference.
Get a clue dork.
Perhaps you can explain how you reconcile this statement: “The type of trade we have had with China over the last 30+ years is not free trade.” With this one: “...the Free Trade scam.”.
So if you agree that we have not had free trade what is the Free Trade Scam? Why are you bashing free trade when you say we haven’t had it?
To that degree, many FReepers are Socialists.
If that's true here, where freedom and representative government are supposed to be paramount as the title of the website suggests, that doesn't bode well for the rest of society? If they are that confused here, how confused is the rest of society?
These anti-freedom rants are of the same cloth as the support here for Net Neutrality. So long a a law benefits them many people here will support it matter its impact on our freedom. For NN most freepers are worried about their bill for unlimited movie streaming.
Free trade is easy and only requires the absence of laws. The managed trade schemes preferred by the “anti” crowd here require layers of government enforced laws and enforcement which invariably lead to cronyism, unions, and decimated industries.
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