Posted on 11/09/2010 1:21:48 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
“they are building mega-cities in China off of our backs”
Whose fault is that?
By the way, assuming Trump is a protectionist, what does he expect to result from our government or our consumers punishing China? China will still have the world to sell to. Meanwhile, we still won’t be producing anything nor would we have their products anymore. What a paradise!
Maybe Trump just bought gold, it disappointed that the price has dipped, and is trying to goose the market so he can make a quick profit.
Arabs are put off by the bluster and arrogance of New Yorkers. They prefer the more laid back demeanor of Southerners.
I can believe that the Donald was screwed to the wall by both mid easterners and Chinese who just plain out traded him.When considering art of the deal, in comparison with those boys The Donald is out of his league.
“this is the same guy who spent a good chunk of the 1980’s going after the NFL for antitrust violations”
Funny thing is, he’s probably right. The NFL ought to be liable for antitrust action. But people like football, and wouldn’t stand for it to be broken up. Microsoft, on the other hand, can be made to look like an Evil Empire, so most people don’t care much what happens to them.
Much like the recent case against the lady advertised for a Christian roommate, the NFL gives the lie to unaccountably respected federal policy. They’re all cherry-pickers, those feds. I know it, they probably know it, and let’s just keep it at that.
Just from Obama’s language, it seems to me that President Obama is OK with him presiding over the US decline from world dominant power.
I just wish him not trumpeting all over the world for confirmation.
“And he’d be a Patton as a US trade representative”
Why, exactly, would we want a Patton in that position?
If Trump took a beating from the Arabs and/or the Chinese, that’s all the more reason to give him a position in the government, IMHO.
I’d way prefer someone like Trump, ego and all, who has won and lost some big deals over the timid, politically correct folks negotiating for us now.
The problem with The Donald is that he’s dealing with people with Eastern sensibilities. With people from the East, they smile, bide their time, and if necessary, endure until they get to their goal. The Chinese might smile benignly as Obama and Trump bluster all the time, but the Chinese are more ruthless and subtle. Courtesy and a laid back demeanor is not a sign of ignorance and stupidity. Easterners prefer to let their enemies make mistakes, draw them in, then strike.
They work in the dark and are a behind the scenes people. Not flashy showmanship.
Here’s one example of why we need a Patton as a trade representative:
Head Ski company wanted to sell skis in Japan. Their application was denied. The Japanese government said that Japanese snow was different than American snow.
Obviously bullsh*t, but the US government trade representatives did nothing.
We are losing the trade wars for many reasons. This type of timidity is just one of them.
If the US does lose it’s superpower status, people like Trump, Obama, Oprah, will be on the bottom of the barrel instead of in the halls of power as they fancy they’ll be. Hollywood will become the brothel for politicians as it used to be; whether the entertainers like it or not.
I certainly second that remark. Trump has not been consistent in the management of his companies. His companies have been bankrupt more than once. He is too much of an egoist for my taste.
If the US does lose it’s superpower status, people like Trump, Obama, Oprah, will be on the bottom of the barrel instead of in the halls of power as they fancy they’ll be. Hollywood will become the brothel for politicians as it used to be; whether the entertainers like it or not.
Trump even said...he does tons of business with China because he has to...they will do all of this with a smile.
“Obviously bullsh*t, but the US government trade representatives did nothing.”
Fine. They shouldn’t bother. Japan was only hurting themselves, ultimately. And that particular company in that particular instance. But, hey, can’t win them all. Patton or no Patton, we can’t treat global trade like it’s interstate trade. As evidence I offer the utter failure thus far in human history of international trade regulation.
I wish more of our GOP leaders would speak clearly to our issues. Stop beating around the bush. I’m not likely to vote for a Trump, but his candor can only help advance public discourse. Sarah is blunt in a similar fashion.
No head of protecting Intellectual Property... Oh man I think he would be a bit bull in that arena...
“...we can’t treat global trade like it’s interstate trade. As evidence I offer the utter failure thus far in human history of international trade regulation.”
That’s very true. But what I would argue for is some kind of fair trade internationally. For example, if a country erects trade barriers against us, we should erect trade barriers against them.
Not to do so means a loss of industry and jobs in our country...exactly what’s happening now.
Someone on FR posted awhile back that if this situation continues, we will be come a defacto colony of China. We will supply raw goods to China. They will supply value-added finished products back to us.
I believe that this poster is correct.
“Not to do so means a loss of industry and jobs in our country...exactly what’s happening now.”
Only now we have cheap Chinese products, which means you propose to enrich jobbers on the back of consumers. Which is exactly what protectionism, like all government programs always amounts to: robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Does Trump want a trade war a la Smoot-Hawley? Maybe some of these uber-rich types want an economic collapse because they are the ones that have hoarded commodities, gold etc, and have fortified mansions on remote islands. When everything goes down, their power will be enormous because the middle class will be wiped out and no one will be able to challenge them. They will be able to buy anything they want for cheap.
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