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Trade War with China: Is balance of trade a real problem?
American Thinker ^ | 05/31/2019 | Richard Jack Rail

Posted on 05/31/2019 7:15:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

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To: Alas Babylon!

RE: That’s because ALL those advances in technology (like analog switch boards to automatic switching, or horses and wagons to automobiles—did you even acknowledge what I said about Henry Ford???) happened HERE. Not in China, or Vietnam, or Myanmar.

so, you’re saying that we do not manufacture ANYTHING overseas from now on and make ALL things here?

And speaking of jobs, India and the Philippines are huge call centers for American companies ( relatively good paying jobs there too ). Are you suggesting that we also bring all those jobs back home?


41 posted on 05/31/2019 9:35:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind

There is an argument that “a negative trade balance” does not matter because in order to be achieved it is always offset by “a positive capital balance”. There has to be a “balance” of dollars that flows both ways - foreigners who export to us get paid in dollars, which go into world-wide circulation, and since they are not “legal” tender for domestic use elswhere, they are traded with those who need dollars to either buy goods from the U.S. or buy U.S. domestic assets. Rarely do the “trade balance” and the “capital account balance” not reconcile.

O.K. Those accounts usually do reconcile.

But is that (a) the only issue or (b) can it still be an economic negative to the domestic economy even if the two sides - trade and capital - are in relative balance. I think there can still be an issue, because there is an issue that is not necessarily resolved even if trade and capital are in balance. That issue is what is the “balance” of JOBS that results from a negative trade balance. Is it “neutral” when there is a large negative trade balance??


42 posted on 05/31/2019 9:36:57 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: SeekAndFind
Or do you suggest that we don’t EVER establish any manufacturing elsewhere in the world and make all of them here REGARDLESS of cost.

NOBODY is saying that at all, especially President Trump.

Either/or is a logical fallacy.

We can level the playing field by negotiating with each and every nation as to what trade will be like, preferably trade that benefits BOTH sides.

However, I expect the AMERICAN president to first support AMERICANS. We can do better, far better, on these issues with fair and BALANCED TRADE. Not a free for all, vultures pick the American carcass clean approach, nor a tariff everybody forever.

43 posted on 05/31/2019 9:38:59 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The media is after us. Trump's just in the way.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Either/or is a logical fallacy.

I want fair and balanced trade, with a government ensuring vital industries don’t shut down completely.


44 posted on 05/31/2019 9:40:39 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The media is after us. Trump's just in the way.)
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To: central_va

LOL... like the German Chinese food. And hour later, you’re hungry for power.


45 posted on 05/31/2019 9:40:51 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DesertRhino

RE: Our Founders had no issue with tariffs. They use them to fund the country for about the first hundred years, until the Wilson era.

The same observation made in Post #34 is what I would have said, but he did a better job than myself.

If we are to return to the tariff system that made us prosperous at the turn of the century, then we have to return to the tax and non-welfare system that we had then as well.

One of the reasons companies move manufacturing internationally is because of COST. It is currently impossible to remove all of the costs involved in manufacturing here -— Payroll taxes, state and local taxes, environmental regulations, OSHA requirements etc. Those things were not issues of concern during the time of the founders up to the turn of the 20th century.


46 posted on 05/31/2019 9:41:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
We could make it here. I know that's outlandish to those who believe the US is incapable of competing with the rest of the world, but I disagree.

Wanna be a Free Traitor, fine, move the damn government employees, all levels of government, that aren't elected positions to the low cost labor provider, too. That at least drives down the cost of government the same way and to the same degree that the cost of manufacturing labor is driven down.

Screw the future generations, you saved two dollars and twenty cents when you went shopping so you'll have that $2.20 to take to your grave with you.

Good for you and screw fellow Americans, right?

Now someone can chime in and tell me what a damn good Christian they are for putting the Almighty Dollar in which they trust ahead of the welfare and future of their fellow Americans or how Christianity doesn't extend to economics.

47 posted on 05/31/2019 9:43:34 AM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
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To: Alas Babylon!

RE: Either/or is a logical fallacy.

I want fair and balanced trade, with a government ensuring vital industries don’t shut down completely.

________________

OK, I am not trying to be a wise guy or to argue with you. I am trying to understand what BALANCE and FAIR means when people use that term.

In your response, you are simply concerned with Vital Industries. You want them made here and not overseas.

OK, can you define what vital industries are... are clothes, toys, appliances, computers and smart phones vital industries?


48 posted on 05/31/2019 9:44:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: reaganaut1

The problem is the Chinese communist are liars cheats and Steelers


49 posted on 05/31/2019 9:47:57 AM PDT by Truthoverpower (The guvmint you get is the Trump winning express !)
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To: Rashputin

RE: We could make it here. I know that’s outlandish to those who believe the US is incapable of competing with the rest of the world, but I disagree.

So, bottom line -— Our policy should be to OUTLAW all manufacturing overseas. In other words, for Apple, a law should be passed requiring that Apple should manufacture their iPhones here. All iPhone components, chips, cameras, sockets, switches, etc. should be made HERE in the name of national security ( otherwise you’re a traitor <— your words, mine ).

How will a law like that work realistically?


50 posted on 05/31/2019 9:48:47 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: Alas Babylon!

“So basically, you’re saying, “Learn to code.””

When we have people who can code, they get fired and are required to train their H1B replacements. Happened at Disneyworld. Happens all over, openly. As little as 20 years ago, a company had to demonstrate a need that could not be filled by an American worker. Today, they just have to show that an H1B would be cheaper.

Wall street waves the flag when they want support for outsourcing. When the American people want something, they lecture us.


51 posted on 05/31/2019 9:49:31 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: SeekAndFind; Alas Babylon!

Only a Free Traitor™ could not understand AlasBabylon! post.


52 posted on 05/31/2019 9:51:53 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: entropy12

“(1) Trade deficit has lost millions of manufacturing jobs.
(2) Manufacturing jobs are middle class & upper middle class jobs.

(3) Manufacturing creates more wealth than any other activity.

(4) Loss of wealth in the country is the reason people can’t find jobs with better wages.”

And...that just about sums it up.


53 posted on 05/31/2019 9:52:18 AM PDT by The Antiyuppie (‘When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day.’)
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To: central_va

RE: Only a Free Traitor™ could not understand AlasBabylon! post.

It is patently unfair to call someone a traitor when he is asking legitimate questions. I WANT to agree with AlasBabylon!, but I want him or you to answer them with reason, not name calling. You are very close to violating the FR rules against doing this.


54 posted on 05/31/2019 9:53:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
No "build here" law, tariffs if it come here from elsewhere.

That's how it gets made here and it worked just fine to build the US into an industrial powerhouse when we weren't the low cost labor provider on the planet before in our history.

55 posted on 05/31/2019 9:53:42 AM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory !!)
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To: Alas Babylon!

Love your post!


56 posted on 05/31/2019 9:56:40 AM PDT by entropy12 (Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself.)
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To: The Antiyuppie

RE: Trade deficit has lost millions of manufacturing jobs.

How do you account for the very low unemployment rates that we have today even BEFORE the tariffs were applied to China?

We are told that there are more jobs open than workers who can fill them.

These jobs are being created even as we speak. So, millions of jobs lost in manufacturing, but millions more created. Can’t those who lost their manufacturing jobs apply for these millions of jobs that are crying out for people?


57 posted on 05/31/2019 9:57:42 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind

Zero balance of trade and ALL industries are vital ESPECIALLY if you need a job and you want your home town to not die. Get it?


58 posted on 05/31/2019 9:58:33 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Alas Babylon!

All Americans could be winners in our economy but Wall Street wants to squeeze out every cent of profit instead of being happy with 95%. Apparently wages of Americans cannot be driven low enough for these blood suckers.


59 posted on 05/31/2019 10:01:20 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Rashputin

RE: That’s how it gets made here and it worked just fine to build the US into an industrial powerhouse when we weren’t the low cost labor provider on the planet before in our history.

I hasten to remind you that we did not have payroll taxes, environmental regulations, labor laws, OSHA, etc. at that time.

We built the Empire State building in 18 months during the height of the great depression and you can still see the pictures of workers having lunch on steel beams foisted hundreds of feet high up in the air. Those would be a no-no today.

Are you suggesting that American labor laws go back to what we were before?


60 posted on 05/31/2019 10:01:57 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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