Free Republic

The originator of the free trade argument is David Ricardo, who lived from 1772 to 1823. You can read a brief biography at the link: Ricardo Here's an excerpt: At age twenty-seven, after reading Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, Ricardo got excited about economics. He wrote his first economics article at age thirty-seven and then spent only fourteen years—his last ones—as a professional economist. The world has changed considerably since 1823. We have new technologies, new political and social paradigms, and entire new fields of science. Nevertheless, we ignore all of that and continue to use economic ideas from...

TRINITY - A third Randolph County company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the success of its international trade efforts. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., presented Trinity Furniture with the Export Achievement Award. "This is a success story," Coble told the audience. "And success stories don't just happen." Coble added Trinity Furniture's success is especially noteworthy in the context of the past several years of "tight times" for the country in general and the furniture industry specifically. "This is for you all. Thank you," said Jorge Lagueruela, Trinity Furniture president, to the company's 50-plus...

The job market for tech graduates is tight and getting tighter. People with years of technical experience are working at flipping burgers and saying “Welcome to Wal-Mart.” Outsourcing every corporate function except senior management to low wage nations such as India and China has become the latest fashion in the executive suites. There are many reasons why this has become the fad du jour but if the USA is to remain a livable nation it is time for Government policy to change in order to maintain the American economy. Those technical jobs that remain inside the USA are being given...

Argentina is poised to leverage its nascent economic recovery for closer trade and infrastructure ties with Brazil. This heightened integration between South America's two largest economies could provide the region with a more reliable engine for growth. But it could also signal trouble for the prospects of creating a free trade zone in the Americas by sometime near the 2005 goal -- an initiative supported by the United States. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeks to bolster commercial links with Argentina and put in some cash to facilitate trade. This is what da Silva and Argentina's likely next...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. AYER - With the closing of the Chandler Machine Company, the community has lost a 103-year-old business. Along with it, a bit of Americana is slipping away. The Chandler shop manufactured industrial sewing and stitching machines for customers all over the country. Its hand-operated and electrified sewing machines and button sewers have been used in the garment industry and by dry-cleaning establishments and laundries, its pleating machines by upholsterers and other tradesmen. What finally brought the plant's closure, according to Vice President George Matthews, was foreign competition. With cheaper labor available...