Posted on 06/25/2005 7:33:12 PM PDT by CHARLITE
I believe in free trade, but I don't agree that it's bound to be disastrous to pick out one country and decide not to make them (actually their government, people don't see anything of the money, or at least a pittance) any richer than they are if you can help it. Especially if that government is widely seen as our most likely rival.
Uh, all free trade with China does is pump money into a country that we may have to fight one day.
In my personal opinion, they need to double their proposed tariff. There are some people you can trust with Free Trade, the Chicoms are not among said people.
The biggest, absolute biggest mistake Clinton ever made as President was allowing MFN status to go through.
Following the free trade with China logic, I suppose we should immediately set up full and free trade with Tehran
It would be a bad move to start a trade war right now.
Garbage!
'nuff said.
Free trade promotes freedom.
Perhaps free trade is a way for us to strategically prevent the likelihood of having to fight them.
For any reasons less political reasons.
Haven't you achieved the understandable of the Dogma of politics?
Garbage!
Oh, to the lengths some "anti free trading zealots" will go to disavow the title of "The only remaining superpower in the world" a title obtained because of freedom.
Your key assumptions are all wrong.
Why? Explain.
If the Chinese revalue the Yuan upwards, as everybody seems to want, their cost to buy oil will be correspondingly lower. They will be able to buy more, putting upward pressure on crude oil prices.
That's right. Everybody loves us, hates us, admires us, despises us, respects us, dis-respects us. That makes everybody a potential rival, and a potential ally.
Better to engage them in commerce, than to use that commerce to initiate a conflict.
All of this with an eye towards national security, of course.
Catch alls are not the way to go with China... including with trade.
Technically though do you think I am against trade with China? What say ye?
I am for China trade. I am for Free Trade.
Yet your definitions of things are all messed up.
For one, Free Trade is not a concept. It is like a marriage. Its a mutually binding agreement ratified by both official governments.
We cannot hence have Free Trade ourselves. We need a willing other half to have Free Trade.
I can see your concept but it doesn't work like that in real life with China.
Chinese currency is a non-deliverable currency, hence it cannot leave the country.
Hence, China is not buying oil with RMB.
We are a nation that just ruled that people's property is no longer their property, and that any state can seize their home to put up commercial offices.
"Freedom" my ***. Freedom comes with safety and security, freedom comes in knowing that what is yours is yours, and freedom comes in knowing that your livelihood and career is never at stake. You "free trade mongrels" will do anything to promote corporate interests above anything else, even if it means depriving this country of its very own sovereignty in making us reliant on China as a trading partner, and even if it means sending jobs abroad so they can "save capital."
You can call me an anti-free trade zealot if you want; I expect such behavior to take place here at FreeRepublic, where those of you in your nice comfy employment situations have the comfort of being able to promote policy that will not harm you, while the average Joe continues to lose his manufacturing, textile, or technology jobs because of the policies YOU people support.
Now go ahead and call me a socialist if you want, even though it is the farthest thing from the truth. It's the only talking point you free traders have when it comes down to it.
Its a concept thats been in place for years.... like 30 years ala China.
To NOT take China up on some of these issues though is just as bad for our security, economic and otherwise, as it would be as you say to 'start a conflict'.
Its kind of like always saying yes to your kid regardless. Do you say yes to your kid regardless (or would you)? Probably not.
You guys here tend to make everything war or peace. If its peace we have to give China everything they want and enjoy bending over in the process.
Anything else (to some here) is "war".
I am not at all for cutting off engagement with China, nor cutting off trade. I am for hard ass negotiation to get them to change and do it now.
We're talking ultimatums.
Now there's a group we ought to listen to...These are the scoundrels that are pushing Congress to eliminate our borders AND the name of our Country...They want us to join with Canada and Mexico to become the country of 'North America'...
Any opinion or advice they might have, it would behoove us to move in the opposite direction...
How about you read up on Asia and get back to me first.
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