Posted on 03/19/2018 12:50:03 PM PDT by Thalean
Where I draw the line is with tariffs being used to protect inefficient industries.
All industries are inefficient if they are not manned with what is essentially slave labor as they are in China.
Not necessarily with the unions. It was competition with Japanese and German vehicles which helped to improve our car quality.
I agree with you about the purpose of tariffs though
The UAW is the opposite end to slave labor?
Not to mention the fact that in China and many other countries, you have state-subsidized industries that can afford to sell goods barely above (and sometimes below) production costs thanks to those subsidies. Additionally, industries in the developing world don't have to worry about pollution regulations - they can just dump their industrial waste raw, wherever they please.
The bottom line is that unless the US wants to convert its economy to a system of de facto slave labor, state owned/funded industry, and an environment of toxic air, water, and soil, imposing tariffs on the manufactured goods of China and other "developing" economies is the most reasonable way to account for our own overhead costs and level the playing field.
Corporate mergers are as much if not a greater impediment to efficiency and good service as labor unions, which is why I'm also in favor of strong anti-trust laws.
You are correct IF there is domestic competition. Some of our industries are ground into dust.
Agree
It’s non sequitur, well-outlined in the OP article. I’m happy to have finally found an argument which mocks the free-traders on BOTH sides.
Plus the apt comment by MNJohnnie on “managed trade globalists.”
The situation is DYNAMIC and not STATIC. Factories are being built all the time, even in the USA.
I’m not against organized labor. just its criminal and political activity.
The situation may be dynamic now, but starting Ninties it has not been.
I am not against organized labor either. But I am against forcing someone to join a union as a precondition of employment.
And, of course, unionized government employees.
What Free Traitors want you to believe is that the supply function is static and no new domestic suppliers will EVER come on line. Despite their best efforts brand new factories are still being built in the USA all the time. Not as many as are closed mind you but the situation is dynamic and not static. With more domestic supply will mean pressure to reduce prices.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.