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The Free Trade Myth
Benzinga ^ | 6/28/10 | steven schuster

Posted on 06/28/2010 12:42:09 PM PDT by Willie Green

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1 posted on 06/28/2010 12:42:09 PM PDT by Willie Green
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To: Willie Green

America needs less government interference in the economy — not more. The free market did not fail causing the recession; it choked on government regulations and Fed Reserve phony money.


2 posted on 06/28/2010 12:55:44 PM PDT by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)
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To: BfloGuy

I think when the history books are written about the economy of the late 90’s through 2020, it will be an interesting read with many surprises for those on both sides of the fence.


3 posted on 06/28/2010 1:01:46 PM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: Willie Green

“The fact that the free market failed catastrophically during the recent financial meltdown doesn’t deter them.”

This has what to do with free trade?


4 posted on 06/28/2010 1:08:37 PM PDT by Pessimist
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To: Willie Green
You know, I keep hearing that the US has "open borders" for trade, that we unilaterally allow free trade. A quick examination of the facts show this to be false. For example, take a look at the tariffs in the area I work in; most items have tariffs applied - duty-free is the exception, NOT the rule!

Take a look at this section, Willie, relating to trains and parts. You'll find 31 sections, and only 9 are "duty free". The strong majority are taxed. It's not free trade.

What we have is NOT free trade, we have highly-managed trade. If you don't like what's happening, it's because the Government is involved - yet again - in the private sector.

5 posted on 06/28/2010 1:09:44 PM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the defense of the indefensible)
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I don’t know what you call the US economy since 1913, but it certainly isn’t free or capitalism.

In some ways it is just a slow return back to feudalism.


6 posted on 06/28/2010 1:11:20 PM PDT by Crimson Elephant
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To: Willie Green

Seems our comparative advantage is in exporting jobs, factories and Treasuries in exchange for goods.


7 posted on 06/28/2010 1:11:59 PM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory")
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To: Willie Green
My goodness. We beat this dead horse to even deeper death ten years ago on FR.

And this guy is just now trying to sell a book?

David Ricardo was a scumbag so vile that his own father disowned him and his own mother refused to speak to him for the remainder of her life.

His whole theory of comparative advantage works only if trade between nations is totally owned and controlled by certain favored elements within some favored inner circles. The crooks get wealthy; the vast majority of people in the so called free-trading countries descend into long-term economic depression.

Look at the economies of the world right now. There has been no restraint of international trade for the past two decades (except those restraints against US citizens).

The evidence is overwhelming. Globalist "free trade" is a scam to consolidate wealth into the hands of a few favored crooks, and devastate the rest of the people in all the participating economies.

Such is the case with all communist economic plans.

8 posted on 06/28/2010 1:14:11 PM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: Willie Green
We need to develop public private partnerships that will foster our leadership in key manufacturing industries like clean energy.

Oh-ohh!

9 posted on 06/28/2010 1:16:34 PM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Napolean fries the idea powder.)
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To: BfloGuy

Problem is capitalism not free market. People successfully create huge companies also become politically powerful in the country. They use their huge employment capacity and income to lobby Congress for their corporate welfare and interests. Politicians are more then willing to accept donations and quickly cater to these rich guys. Same with banks and many small business that cater to them. Consequences we end up with crony capitalism. Less government is not the answer. The problem is not regulations and authority, the problem is governement forget that businessmen are capable of being greedy and wicked. Some will attempt to corrupt officials and cheat the people. A wise government does not need regulations, but ability to monitor business activity to make sure that bad behavior does not happen, bad practices are stopped and violators are arrested and punished. Otherwise the bad behavior will grow and become widespread and ultimately destroy the country. Willingness to investigate and punish is what Obama failed to do as POTUS. Last banking crisis (Savings and Loans) under Bush 41, he and later Pres Clinton arrested, tried, imprisoned and/or fined over 1000 bankers, CEO, executives, exec staff, accountants and investors. How many of the major bank execs and investors were investigated and arrested in this recent crisis. Nada. Reason, when Wall Street gives over 2 to 1 to Obama 2008 campaign, what does one expect? No one goes to prison and the bankers get a loan, and the feds give them cheap money to earn profits to pay back the loan, leaving future generations a devalued dollar, huge debt and potentially high inflation.


10 posted on 06/28/2010 1:18:49 PM PDT by Fee (Peace, prosperity, jobs and common sense)
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To: meadsjn

Some good points. I have always thought free trade only works between like economies. Where there are imbalances like there are now in the world, some folks will win for a while being able to by cheap toasters at walmart, but in the end the majority of folks loose.


11 posted on 06/28/2010 1:19:14 PM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: Willie Green
The fact that the free market failed catastrophically during the recent financial meltdown doesn’t deter them.

How could the free market fail when it was never allowed to even breathe? It was massive regulation, and the abuse of that regulation to benefit mainly Democrat & RINO investors and operatives, that created the crash.

No one has seen a free market in a very, very long time.

12 posted on 06/28/2010 1:24:39 PM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: DonaldC
I have always thought free trade only works between like economies.

Common sense, reasoning, and empirical evidence support that statement.

It takes a lot of twisting of the facts to suggest otherwise.

Adam Smith understood the national security ramifications of international trade. Each country has to act in their own nation's best interest.

Ricardo and his ilk did not recognize interests of any nations or peoples; only the interests of their circle of crooks. In recent years, we have seen the same sort of crooks; some masquerading as Republicans, some as Democrats, but all of them Free Traitor globalist communist scumbags.

13 posted on 06/28/2010 1:34:04 PM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: Willie Green
Free trade was hijacked by Globalization which is nothing more than Redistribution of wealth.
14 posted on 06/28/2010 1:42:54 PM PDT by wolfcreek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsd7DGqVSIc)
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To: meadsjn

Comparative advantage actually means completely opposite.. it show how trade can and DOES work between countries where one country can produce everything another country needs absolutely better/cheaper. It is a basic principle that you can see in action on market place all the time that vast majority of even business grads can not grasp. US can trade with place like Somalia Gambia for example and both would benefit.

Problem for US manufacturing is NOT free trade, it is gov regulations, unions etc. China is poisoning their own people and destroying any livable areas they have to produce most of the stuff they do as well. I can subcontract and hire some really great software guys that operate from US, if they payed taxes like in east europe or India..

Tax reform that abolishes income tax and sets single sales tax would fix all of the problems US has with trade. US economy is still one of the most dynamic and with capital and labor available we would have a crazy growth boom.


15 posted on 06/28/2010 1:51:04 PM PDT by dimk
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To: Willie Green
Free trade is simple. I get to purchase whatever I wish free from government interference. If you get to impose your purchasing preferences on me (even via a ballot box) I am no longer free.

I really don't care about the economic or political reasons for trade restrictions. Why should the government tell me were I am allowed to purchase rice or sugar from?

Let's have free trade even unilateral free trade. If not then explain to me the alternative system. Who is in charge? What are the rules? More importantly how does my company get protected?

16 posted on 06/28/2010 1:55:10 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: Paine in the Neck

‘We need to develop public private partnerships that will foster our leadership in key manufacturing industries like clean energy.’

Yep. It sound like central planning to me.


17 posted on 06/28/2010 2:25:00 PM PDT by steveab (When was the last time someone tried to sell you a CO2 induced climate control system for your home?)
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To: meadsjn

So, not having the government decide from whom or from where I obtain my goods and services is Communism?

I thought government control of the economy was the definition of Communism.


18 posted on 06/28/2010 2:46:13 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: FreedomNotSafety
So, not having the government decide from whom or from where I obtain my goods and services is Communism?

Having government subsidize and legislate to favor cronies is redistributionist policy, which is communist, which is crony capitalism.

"Privatize the profit; socialize the risks and costs" has been the common theme between the commie Democrats and the commie RINO/neocon Free Traitors for the past two decades. The current state of our and other economies is a result of Free Traitor idiocy.

19 posted on 06/28/2010 2:59:23 PM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: FreedomNotSafety
"I really don't care about the economic or political reasons for trade restrictions. Why should the government tell me were I am allowed to purchase rice or sugar from?"

Obviously you must not be in favor of NAFTA type Government to Government negotiated 'free' trade agreements.

20 posted on 06/28/2010 3:09:11 PM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory")
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