Posted on 01/10/2005 4:29:24 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Why is 43 a supporter of the WTO? Why does he back NAFTA? Why does he champion illegal immigration?
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to answer these questions, folks.
We know the questions related to the problem and pretty much who are the blatant supporters. Now exactly what are the answers that will stop foreign blackmail of American business and people? How far are we willing to go to solve the problem of incremental socialism's implementation into the American dream?
So you want to scrap a trade pact that for the most part benefits us in order to protect cotton subsidies? That's crazy. We get much more in terms of keeping foreign capital markets open via the WTO.
Cotton subsidies are socialist - no really, they are literally socialist, New Deal nonsense. If cotton producers can't compete without subsidies then they need to go out of business. That's called the free market.
Nor does the WTO cut into our sovereignty since we can leave at any time if it is no longer an advantage to us. On the other hand, if the WTO does stop stupid government regulation that redistributes money from winners to losers, then more power to it.
Right. The WTO and NAFTA have been a godsend in stopping local evironmental labor regulations that either keep out American companies, or act as a stealth tariff.
Take a look at the Seattle riots in 2000. The lefties were the ones protesting the WTO.
BTW, if you want to complain about "foreign bueraucrats", then at least find a better case than complaining about cotton subsidies.
"The American cotton grower," but a component part of a small segment of America's new welfare rich, "the American 'farmer'" -- and one who has long waxed fat on the confiscated wealth of America's most creative, innovative and industrious, that has for far too long been squandered on him -- is pissing and moaning about the WTO?
Those who profit from the bureaucratic squandering upon them of the confiscated wealth of others, would best shut the Hell up and get real jobs before complaining too loudly about the "bureaucratic influences" in their lives!
[That said, our beloved fraternal republic's feral gummint has no business subjugating our National Sovereignty to any such malignant obscenity as the un and/or to such of that abjectly and sytemically corrupted and criminal organization's metasticized offshoots and outgrowths as the wto!]
Q: How soon do you think it will be until we convert to the Euro?
A: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/P91828.asp
(the guy who invented the Euro, invented also the Dey, which stands for D. E. Y.: D.ollar E.uro Y.en)
"Properly understood, free trade results when a mutually beneficial exchange occurs between buyers and sellers, unimpeded by government intervention.
It sure would be nice if this fact was not glossed over.
This piece is littered with inconsistencies and half truths. Just one for instance, and as far as I know, is the author's discussion on regional trade agreements. As far as what I've read, regional trade agreements are made outside of the WTO's frame work and they have no "jurisdiction" over enforcing the terms of the agreement. If I am wrong about this, someone please link to the information from a reputable source.
You've got it backward. It's incremental capitalism, the spread of American hegemony, and a system that leads to the betterment of mankind. Think of it as a "race to the top".
LMAO!!!...not with you, rather at you.
It could be considered incremental capitalism I guess. Depends on which nation or the WTO believes to have the upper hand.
I fear that any American entity that depends on exports of their products is not being allowed to compete in the law of supply and demand. Regulating the price of imports (or exports) puts a cap on profits.
In the case of agricultural exports, farmers are barely making production costs as it is. We should not have to subsidize their incomes to make up for trade deals that purport fairness in the marketplace for all competitors.
That my friend, is socialism. What ever happened to rewarding efficiency?
I don't know any wealthy fat farmers around here and I live in the middle of farm country. Most farmers I know can barely pay their taxes, maintain their machinery and feed their familys. If farmers didn't have a Chicago Board of Trade, a single entity, controlling the prices they get for production, the free market would dictate prices.
Agricultural prices are kept low by the government for two reasons. One is so our exports are cheap enough for every starving nation in the world to purchase (with subsidy) food. The other reason is purely political. Keep food prices artificially low so consumers can keep well fed, food stamp programs cost less, etc. Hungry people complain a lot more than well fed people.
Most of the wealth you percieve in the farm community is probably based on the land ownership. In the land of gated communitys with 5 acre "lots" there is the appearance of being wealthy compared to a home on a 100' by 100' lot.
So a farmer with 500 acres must seem to be extremely wealthy. In the age of volume and small profit margins for farmers, a farmer with 500 acres survives. They survive only because they use their equity of ownership to finance operating loans that have to be repayed when crops or livestock are sold. If the price of their product is low they have no choice but to sell because the Board of Trade has blocked competition and sale of product to the highest bidder.
The years of somewhat high prices are usually because of drought or flood. High prices do not necessarly mean the farmer profits because maybe he grew half the corn he grew last year. So the profit margin is a wash. Demand is still the same and one entity the CBT controls the storage capacity of grains.
Most farmers survive, some do well financially but for the 24/7/365 hours they commit to with no overtime or paid vacation or company health insurance bottom line is they really have to like their job to put up with the socialist crap that American agriculture has had forced on them.
The price of Your ribeye steak that cost you $8.99 a pound didn't all go to the farmer. He probably got about 10% of that. He took all the risks that the cow didn't get struck by lightning. He fed and watered and fenced the animal. He spent a lot of money on vet bills (talk about the high cost of health care, try animal medicine). He does all this knowing that there is a possibility that could still lose money because of situations or regulations that are beyond his control. In my books, a 10% margin in business is very slim profit that either has to be made up with volume sales or a prayer that noting goes wrong. And how many businesses invest in infrastructure when their product price is regulated and profits are low? Not many.
Farm economics are a whole different game compared to most other businesses. We cannot import cheap food or products and provide good paying jobs for Americans. And for the matter of national security, dependence on foreign countrys for our food, cotton, or whatever is a disaster waiting to happen. It is no more evident that oil imports and the dependence on foreign oil as to what potentially will happen.
Thanks for the essay. I grew up on the land and between stints in air forces and with airlines and international covert ops etceteras also spent most of the past 40+ years as an ag-pilot ["Crop-duster"] -- so I'm still in first-hand contact with my farmer/rancher roots.
And know what I'm talking about.
Blessings -- Brian
<< Chirac's nose is still out of joint. >>
Especially at the knowlege that several millions more Americans VOTED for our President and Armed-Forces Commander-In-chief, George walker Bush, than the entire population of FRance!
I wasn't addressing the posted article in particular but I am talking about WTO's expanding(?) role.
The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is just one place business elites and heads of governments meet to discuss the global economy. Our own leftist elites e.g., DLC New Democrat Third Way progressives, are among them. They and leftist elites from around the world have many ways to discuss and influence globalization matters year around. These are of course the UN, the World Bank, and various agreements and treaties.
Our New Democrat Third Way progressives have no use for 20th century liberalism. They praise "free trade" transfers of western technology, jobs, know-how, and wealth to emerging nations. They know they need the free market to create wealth. They do not intend to let laissez faire capitalism dominate globalization.
Perhaps I read too much into the writings at New Democrat On Line, ndol.org, but there is no question in my mind that this version of globalization is a virtual Marxist revolution from the top down.
If corporations want to stay in the game they will have to follow the rules and New Democrat Third Way progressives and their comrades from other countries intend to make the rules. There is talk of expanding the WTO authority to include some aspects of the ILO and "social justice" in general.
It may take years but I really do believe that one day New Democrat Third Way progressives, et al. will be looking to buy that rope from western corporations.
New Orleans Slim, the WTO street protesters in Seattle were addressed by Mr. New Democrat Third Way progressive himself, Bill Clinton. The protesters are simply asked to be patient. To wit, "While criticizing the violence in Seattle, President Clinton has urged the WTO to heed the legitimate complaints of the protestors."
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