[arrogantsob]

There have been about 24 true civilizations in the history of the world according to Carroll Quigley in “The Evolution of Civilization”. Those civilizations have risen and fallen and been supplanted by their successors.

When civilization is at its peak it exhibits the same characteristics: high volumes of international trade, democratization, high levels of literacy, an increase in knowledge, geographic expansion, increased population and increased production and rising standards of living.

When civilizations collapse or are conquered most of this disappears particularly international trade and literacy. Then a Dark Age sets in until the next civilization rises.

Tariffs, quotas and prohibitions all DESTROY trade and spread misery relative to free trade. Local production ALWAYS means LESS for everyone. That is the status of a pre-feudal and feudal society where no one trades and no one travels.

There is no such thing as “global economics” only capitalist development. America’s economy is PART of the world economy and there is no escape from that FACT. Political divisions never increase the level of wealth. Free trade is NOT a zero sum game but INCREASES the amount of wealth as economists have known since Adam Smith over two hundred years ago.

Corporations are individuals under US law and have been for over two hundred years. They have certain rights which are protected by law which prevents them from being raped by totalitarians such as hedgie and his pals.

As is easily seen hedgie knows nothing about “free trade”, nor economics nor almost anything he blabbers about. He prefers to pretend our problems are because of trade rather than a government bent on destruction of individual liberty and control of the economy. He is blind to the effect of taxes and unions as well as the overbearing and crushing regulations which drive industry out of our country.

[hedgetrimmer]

Corporations are individuals under US law and have been for over two hundred years. They have certain rights which are protected by law which prevents them from being raped by totalitarians such as hedgie and his pals.

You're a collectivist! LOL, like I can do anything to GE except buy their poison trash fluorescent bulbs made in CHINA because they CORRUPTED our GOVERNMENT to pass a law prohibiting safe, inexpensive, made in America incandescent bulbs. Global corporations have destroyed INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS in this country! Do you know what else? I PAY taxes GE doesn't you free traitor and they take subsidies from the US taxpayer even though they aren't even close to being an American company anymore and they are richer than many countries on this earth. I DON'T take subsidies free traitor, but your transnational trash globalist corporations do. YOU know the system is now rigged against the founding principles of this country of individual rights not corporatist collective rights. You're already sounding the death knell of American civilization, due to your free traitorous agenda. Sadly you seem to be happy about the death of this great nation. But nations get in the way of free traitors, with their borders and national laws. That's why you have to destroy us.

If you say the 'government bent on destruction of individual liberty', you are correct! Government by GE and their Chicom partners, corrupted them all due to 'free trade'. And ludicrously you state I'm blind to taxes! What TAX did GE pay last year? Tell me! Inquiring minds want to know!. I guarantee that I send my hard earned wages to the US Treasury department-- so those criminals can give it away to China via TARP and the international bank bailouts.

You can't be such an idiot! You must be getting paid to post here.

[1rudeboy]

Don’t you understand that our leaders in Washington are wise enough to save us from the perils of “crony capitalism?” Oh, wait a minute . . . .