The 'conservative' approach was has been to keep and maintain tariffs and other benefits for local production.
The end result of globalization and wage arbitrage is that American wages will stop increasing, while 2nd and 3rd world countries will rise. One does not have to be Ross Perot to see that.
Secondly, our trade policies hurt local production. A prime example is simple Reciprocity. We don't use it. A surfboard made in California will be slapped a tariff on by the Taiwanese, while a Taiwanese surfboard comes in duty free.
In the long run we need jobs. There won't be many to come in the future. I'm realizing that the 'middle' class was a short, and odd occurrence that will eventually be washed away.
With the coming importation of millions of illegal aliens and advances in technology that destroys manhours we will see less and less jobs required or needed, and at wages that will be less beneficial.
theoria, great points. And what bert posted also makes sense too along with the poster who basically was saying you can’t force business to stay here. All points are true.
But Cringing is also correct. Nothing good for the overall US lifestyle/health comes from outsourcing or insourcing. Sure, wealth will still be made. But one thing that escapes most (or is ignored); who the heck wants to live in a crumbling society.
Iron bars around residence, armed private security. Awesome, sounds great. Let’s welcome crime and live like some do in South America. Because that’s where this Country is heading. No sense arguing about all this, it’s inevitable.