Free trade loses lustre

The Sunday Times ^ | February 29, 2004

[sarcasm]

WASHINGTON: Free trade is losing support in the US, in particular among high-income Americans, as more professionals feel threatened by job outsourcing to low-wage nations.

A recent poll by a Washington research group found falling support for free trade but the shift was most dramatic among those earning more than $US100,000 ($A130,000) a year.

The University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes found the percentage of those earning more than $US100,000 who actively supported free trade slid from 57 per cent in 1999 to 28 per cent in January 2004.

These results surprised even the researchers.

"It is rare in any case that any demographic slice drops 20 or 30 points on any issue," said research director Clay Ramsay.

"It certainly provides evidence for the theory that job insecurity is creeping up the income scale."

The poll showed more white-collar Americans joining the blue-collar outcry against globalisation and cast a cloud on the ability of the US to remain a leader in free trade. It also suggested protectionist talk would rise during the presidential election campaign.

But researchers said the results showed a majority of Americans endorsed free trade in principle, even if they believed it was being handled poorly by Washington.

"Feelings about international trade have gone from lukewarm, to luker," said PIPA director Steven Kull.

"Two-thirds say they support the reciprocal lowering of trade barriers but feel more needs to be done to mitigate the effects on workers and the environment." But the trend towards outsourcing of software and engineering jobs to countries such as India had led to a rethink of the benefits.

Senator Charles Schumer wrote recently in the New York Times that free trade had to be reconsidered in light of new economic realities, notably that much of the outsourcing was going to "a relatively few countries with abundant cheap labour".

"When American companies replace domestic employees with lower-cost foreign workers to sell more cheaply in home markets, it seems hard to argue this is the way free trade is supposed to work," Senator Schumer wrote.

[sarcasm]

That charge would only be valid if you believe that communists tell the truth about their platform and their beliefs. A communist renouncing "free trade" would be a communist renouncing communism. I guess that they'll next be renouncing their slogan "workers of the world unite" and you'll believe it.

[1rudeboy]

You are a little slow on the up-take today. I believe the Communists are full of crap. Under your standard, you are also.

[rdb3]

So ethics are geographically based?

Told you. Stevie Wonder saw that coming.

[hedgetrimmer]

We have a government that has switched from loyaltyto the people of this country to loyalty to the internationalists that manage global trade. Congress has taken their constitutional authority to regulate trade and given it to an unelected "minister"(we don't even have minister as a job description in our Constitution) and a global trade organization through GATT. They have nearly destroyed the balance of power by giving fast track trade authority to the president.Fast track now allows the president to negotiate trade deals-- also an unconsitutionaly usurpation of congressional authority.

Everyone who promotes "free trade" never tells you the unconstitutional measures that were taken to implement it. They don't talk about how setting America up for global free trade has nearly destroyed our Constitution and reorganized the balance of power away from elected representatives and the people to the unelected and foreign entities in the global trade organizations.

In short, "free trade" has been nothing less than the total usurpation of the sovereignty of the American people and the rendering of our Constitution as meaningless. When free traders say, "don't I have the right to do whatever trade I want in a free country?" You can say, the Constitution doesn't protect you anymore because it has been usurped. No, you only have the rights that the WTO, NAFTA, GATT and the FTAA gives you which really are none.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I don't know what needs to be done, but I know that what is happening right now is only good for the country that is on the receiving end.

You might try reading this author, he seems to be on top of economic thinking: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1087789/posts

[Iscool]

could you tell me how you can whine about imports while stuffing your shopping cart with same?

Because that's all that's available, thanks to the likes of you...Just bought a new washer/dryer...Thought if I bought Maytag, I could still get American made...WRONG...Came from Mexico...You got a Ford??? I got a Ford...Most of mine was made in China, Japan, Mexico and Canada...Where'd you get the all American made one???

In that regard, WE BOTH buy Chinese junk...The difference is, I don't like it and YOU DO...

[rdb3]

---but the government very much controls, practically owns, the corporations.

So the government owns shares of corporations. Who wudda thunk it?

[hedgetrimmer]

Yes, but Bush did accept Fast Track authority-- redefining the balance of power of the federal government and usurping Constitutional authority from Congress.

[sarcasm]

If you believe that communists are full of crap you must also believe that their statement in opposition to free trade is also crap. The socialist New York Times editorial board, however, believes in "free trade" - as a way to redistribute American wealth to the third-world. Some allies you have.

[1rudeboy]

I got a Ford...Most of mine was made in China, Japan, Mexico and Canada...

Should've bought a BMW or Toyota . . . made in the USA with pride.

[hedgetrimmer]

One thing that must be done ASAP is a massive campaign to let our elected leadership know that the FTAA must never be implemented . The FTAA open border wealth redistribution policies and partnership with the communist socialist governments here and fealty toward a system of government consisting of regional economics based governments with fealty to the UN means no less than the end of America.

[Iscool]

I don't know what needs to be done,

It's called Protectionism...Enough FReepers and media nuts have twisted the meaning to get many to believe that it is really isolationism...But it's not...We have to protect what we still have and gain what we have lost...Protectionism and America First is the only solution...

[1rudeboy]

[sigh]
Last time. The communists oppose free trade. You oppose free trade. Get it?

[Doohickey]

My Ford was built about 110 miles down the road in Norfolk. *shrug*

[1rudeboy]

Here's some working (pun intended) material for you:

Stop the FTAA, On to Miami!

[sarcasm]

Only if you believe that communist are telling the truth about their beliefs. You have already said that they are full of crap - what makes you believe that they have changed their stripes? You, however, are in full agreement with the socialist New York Times editorial board with regards to the "free trade" issue - they are articulating the traditional leftist pro "free trade" mantra.

[1rudeboy]

Only if you believe that communist are telling the truth about their beliefs. You have already said that they are full of crap - what makes you believe that they have changed their stripes?

Back to your game, I see. Here, let me try:

Only if you believe that [the NYT is] telling the truth about [its] beliefs. You have already said that [it is] full of crap - what makes you believe that [it has] changed [its] stripes?

Gosh, this is easy. I'm bored.

[sarcasm]

The New York Times, unlike the communist party, has been consistent in its support of "free trade" - check their record over the years. How does it feel to be an ally of their socialist editorial board?

[hedgetrimmer]

FTAA - TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE on theTHE TREATMENT OF SMALLER ECONOMIES AND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

In the negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the issue of the treatment of the abysmal differences in the size of economies and of the extraordinary differences in the levels of development has still not been satisfactorily resolved.

A project to create a free trade area that will truly be an opportunity for all the countries must set the necessary mechanisms into motion that will contribute specific and effective responses so as to reduce the immense initial inequalities.

Solidarity is the key to ensuring that a free trade area becomes the opportunity for all that it is touted to be.

Hence, Structural Convergence Funds to correct the disparities in infrastructure and services, technological and innovative capacities, and human capital among the countries must be created in order to prevent a free trade area from becoming a space with some winners and many losers. Structural and technological convergence is essential to ensure that the FTAA becomes a win-win alliance.

1rudeboy, the communists are in the OAS which is the enforcing agency of the FTAA.

You are falsely making relationships that do not exist with members of this forum. You cannot defend the FTAA treaty language because it is communist in nature and a clear threat to the sovereignty of America so you try to throw in a completely unrelated comment as a red herring. Your insults belie your true affilitation.

[1rudeboy]

Asked and answered. Is that all you have?
Talk about a one-trick pony.