Is globalism and "free trade" what's destroying the GOP? (America-first vanity)

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Yesterday I happened upon a post by a fellow FReeper. In retrospect, I am sorry for responding rudely to their post - and I hope they happen upon this apology.

The post was presenting their heartfelt opinion that American industry and our system itself must be allowed to come apart so that something better can replace it.

It was a Rand-ian position. The system is becoming oppressive, therefore we must weaken it.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

I didn’t ask the question, I wasn’t asked the question, and I didn’t try to answer the question with a non-sequitur. Remember, it’s OK to say “I don’t know”.

[1rudeboy]

How can he not know it if you’ve told him?

[1rudeboy]

He won't even say whether he has such figures. How about you?

Seriously, what are you doing? I thought you posted them . . . they're from some professor at Georgetown via CNN. Or have you confused yourself, already?

[Mojave]

How can he not know it if you’ve told him?

Are ya drunk?

[Mojave]

I thought you posted them . . .

Nope. You seem to extra slow today.

[Mojave]

I wasn’t asked the question

I just asked you if you knew the answer. Either you do or you don't.

Which is it?

[1rudeboy]

Now you are demanding that Toddsterpatriot answer his own question because you answered one he did not ask.
I'd be interested to see your answer to the original question which you claim you weren't asked....

I'm not drinking enough for this thread yet. Are you saying that Mojave posted a number, Toddsterpatriot asked a question and received a non-sequitur instead, then Mojave claimed he didn't see the question, and now is asking Toddsterpatriot to post the number he originally posted?

[1rudeboy]

Who posted the the CNN number? I thought you did. What sort of a number are you looking for now? Seriously . . . answer a question for once instead of being a prick.

[investigateworld]

Only protectionists think merchandise goods trade deficits matter! None of them stop and think that they PERSONALLY run such deficits with dozens of people - the grocer, the gas supplier, the butcher, the shoe salesman, etcc.

Kind of basic, but at the end of the month or some other financial reporting period, you'd better not have a deficit of income vs. out go.

Otherwise, you would have to borrow at market rates to finance that lifestyle.

Oh how much do we owe the Chicoms/Japan?

I know the free trade crowd is bad at math, but it can be found on Google.

There is no free lunch!

[PugetSoundSoldier]

No, I do not.

Do you know the answer?

[Mojave]

Who posted the the CNN number?

Me. You do realize that Reagan didn't leave office in 1986?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Toddsterpatriot in post 305 asked Mojave if Reagan reduced or increased the average tariff.

Mojave answered that Reagan increased the number of tariffs, and posted that quote from the Georgetown professor. That is a different question, however!

Since then, Mojave has been using his nonsequitur answer to base his claims that Reagan increased tariffs. When in fact he has not shown his claim to be correct, nor has he answered the original question.

[Mojave]

[I said I didn't have the numbers.]

Do you know the answer?

Have you lost your grasp of the English language in China?

[PugetSoundSoldier]

Please explain how the trade deficit - a private enterprise metric - is related to the budget deficit and the national debt - a Government metric.

Once you realize those two are completely isolated from each other (for we have had trade surpluses and trade deficits for decades, yet the national debt and the national deficit has always been) then you will understand why a trade deficit is irrelevant.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

No, your answer is for a DIFFERENT question; I have a wonderful grasp of the English language!

You say you don’t have the numbers; that does not imply that you do not know the answers.

For example I don’t have the numbers on the masses of the planets but I do know that Mercury is smaller than Earth! And I do not have the numbers, but I know that the amount of rain that Seattle gets annually is less than that seen in Hawaii.

So, again, do you know that the average tariff under Reagan increased?

[Mojave]

Dishonesty is your SOP.

Post #319:

I don't know what the figures were for 1988. Here's some numbers for 1986.

“Of the $387 billion in goods the U.S. imported in 1986, more than 20% was protected by special tariffs, quotas, or other types of restraints, according to Gary C. Hufbauer, a Georgetown University professor. When Reagan took office, the figure was 12%.”

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1987/03/02/68728/index.htm

[Mojave]

So, again, do you know that the average tariff under Reagan increased?

Don't have the numbers.

没有数字。

[PugetSoundSoldier]

And thus we can assume you do not know the answer?

[1rudeboy]

There’s that number again. You keep posting it, why? What makes you think people didn’t see it the first time?

[1rudeboy]

Kind of basic, but at the end of the month or some other financial reporting period, you'd better not have a deficit of income vs. out go.

Your grocery store issues you credit? Is this kind of like that Saturday Night Live skit where Garrett Morris(?) observes how people interact when there aren't black people around?