"we had (have) trade policies on autos for example - import quotas and tariffs - that are responsible for most of the foreign companies building cars in the US."
hogwash. There are no auto quotas and havent been for 20 years.
These companies build here because it was the right business decision.
Companies who let Govts bully them into making bad business decisions end up bankrupt fairly quickly.
"free trade is simply a giveaway to corporations who want to offshore jobs and plants to lower cost locales, and bring in products to the US market tariff free."
"free trade is simply a giveaway to corporations: =
That's Democrat-speak, FREEDOM IS NOT A GIVEAWAY. Translation: Free trade means that corporations are not captives of a single nation-state that could force them to follow certain regulations, whether good or bad for their future.
... "plants to lower cost locales" ...
Lower-cost means higher output per $, means higher standard of living. Do you have a problem with a higher standard of living? You really think companies can survive competing with the higher cost solution? You really think it's a good idea to protect high-cost inefficient producers just to 'save jobs'?
I guess you are aware that every job 'saved' by steel protectionism in America actually cost more than half a million dollars in lost economic efficiency. A study concluded that protectionism cost more jobs than it saved.
"We want sane trade policies, agreements and the use of tariffs and import quotas were applicable against nations that do the same to us"
of course this is what CAFTA represents - bilateral tit-for-tat trade barrier reductions. So opposing CAFTA on this ground is nonsensical.
"if you work in tech or manufacturing, even in alot of white collar backoffice jobs which can be done offshore (accounting, financial services, etc) - you are dead meat."
IF a backoffice can cut costs say 30% by offshoring, then you have a company that is more productive and efficient. You are 'dead meat' only if you are doing a mediocre job in a job that can be done by less-educated foreigners at a fraction of the cost. In that case, I have to ask you: Do you really have a 'right' to that job if someone can do the same thing for 1/2 off? Does a store have the 'right' to sell you $2 items that you can get elsewhere for $1? So why is it different for a service employee?
If you are a *good* engineer, accountant, doctor, lawyer, admin, truck driver, welder, builder, etc., there are more jobs in USA today than ever; unemployment is down to 5%, near all-time lows.
One has to ask, given our amazing productivity, jobs, and income surge of the last 3 years ... if offshoring was such a BAD thing and is a big deal today, why is the economy doing so GOOD???
maybe the real lesson is that offshoring and outsourcing are *not* evil practices, but a part of an increasingly globally efficient economy.
How true. Remember Japan Inc? They were going to buy all of New York and take over America, according to the Democrat and Republican protectionists. Instead, they got bankruptcies and a deep fifteen year recession for their misinvestments.
import quotas for autos ended in 1994, and light truck tariffs remain. those two policies are responsible for almost all of the foreign transplants manufacturing autos for the US market, in the US.
you obviously don't know too many workers in the tech industry. many have left the field entirely, just walked away to become math teachers, government employees, or work selling real estate and other services. I know one guy who does roofing now.
go pitch your ideas to the furniture manufacturing workers in north carolina. you can probably find alot of them working at Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart now.