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Today's Free Trade is not about the Free Market
JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | 08/01/2003 | Jeff Head

Posted on 08/01/2003 2:05:33 PM PDT by Jeff Head

TODAY'S FREE TRADE IS NOT ABOUT THE FREE MARKET

We are in a very real battle in this nation and it is a battle for our heart and soul. It is spread out on many, many fronts...education, foreign policy, work ethic (individually and societally), immigration, the economy, moral values...and the list goes on.

Let's focus on the economy and one significant part of it...a major, growing part of it. Free Trade and foreign outsourcing.

I was going to entitle this article..."I used to make something"...or..."We used to make something in this country". But, I thought better of it and realized that such a statment was really focusing on the tail end of the issue as opposed to the root.

So, instead, I am simply calling it, "Today's Free Trade is not about the Free Market."

And it is so, today's Free Trade is NOT about the free market. Instead, in a very similar manner to other key issues in this battle for the heart and soul of America, what is happening is that a very craftily wordsmithed message of "Free Trade" has been put forth that people have bought into, thinking "How could anyone be against free trade? Why, isn't that all-American?".

Like with abortion, "How could anyone be against a woman's right to choose? Isn't that all American?".

In both cases, the craftily worded title has nothing remotely to do with what is actually going on.

The free market is the system our founders based our commerce on, where the intrinsic, underlying moral values of the people involved in the free market governed the equitable, free exchange of goods and services for other goods and services or currency. Sort of like John Adams said regarding the Constitution...

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."- John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798
It is that underlying moral foundation coupled woth our liberty that made the Free Market in America the envy of the world, just like those same issues made our governmental form the envy of the world.

Well, as far as I am conerned, Adam's words could be tailored to this topic like so, ie... The Free Market was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the economy of any other.

This is a basic truth. Like our government, our free market was not supposed to be very regulated or burdened with miriad rules. The people and the companies were to use their own moral foundation to govern themselves. But, when the moral foundation is removed, you do not have what was intended for the Constitution, and you do not have a true free market.

When we use our foreign policy and economic policy to set up shop and trade with countries, societies, organizations or to implement policies that exploit their people's mercilessly, who keep them down without a hope for true liberty or freedom, who trample the moral values our own system was based upon...and when we do it knowingly, without compuction for those very underlying values, then we do not create a free market...no, that free trade has nothing whatsoever to do with, and is in no way similar to the FREE MARKET, rather, it serves to corrupt it.

Such notions, such actions are in fact wordsmithing for popularizing and putting forth a policy to drain the United States manufacturing, technological, agricultural, energy and other critical industries in order to weaken us...plain and simple...and it is working.

Based on my own travels on behalf of US firms and then later consulting for them...that is what is really happening here in my own opinion, and until we refocus as a people on that underlying moral foundation and the absolute need for it...we will continue to lose ground.

By the way, those same principles that are working at the societal level, have equal application at the personal level too...in fact, in the end it is the sum of their working at the personal level that creates the issue at the societal level.

Jeff Head
Engineering Consultant and,
Author of The Dragon's Fury Series
How current conditions could lead to World War

August 1, 2003
Emmett, Idaho


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: foreignmfg; freetrade; geopoliticalrisk; landgrab; outsourcing; peterprinciple; soveriegnty
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To: off-ramp
"...except I would have used the term "Third World"

Of course you would.

241 posted on 08/01/2003 9:14:56 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Yo soy la Cuba libre.)
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Comment #242 Removed by Moderator

Comment #243 Removed by Moderator

To: off-ramp
The part about adopting those moral principles just mentioned, and become true Americans you must have skipped over.

That would exclude illegals, gravy-trainers, those who want on the federal welfare tit, those who do not believe in the foundational principles of this Republic and those who do not want to become American but want to live off of the rest of us while they tear down what made this nation what it is.

The people who want to do the opposite of those things? You bet they are welcome. Most of our root stock (and as a Son of The American Revolution, I trace four of my own direct descendants back to active involvement in that fight) come from just such immigrant peoples. We are made stronger by the latter, and are weakened and ruined by the former. Which is precisely what is happening due to our current immigration laws.

So, before jumping to conclusions about what I meant, please ask me to clear it up or to clarify, because I am more than happy to do so.

244 posted on 08/01/2003 9:31:19 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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Comment #245 Removed by Moderator

To: off-ramp
"Our nation should be open to anyone who wants to come here and adopt those principles just mentioned and become a true American..."

That's what Jeff said.

"So, according to you we should open our border to anyone who wishes to come (except Europeans, of course) and continue to welcome criminal aliens, terrorists, foreign murderers, America haters, and the rest of the world's undesirables so we can continue in our relentless march toward job loss, educational chaos, cultural erosion, language barriers and the ultimate destruction of our country, its culture and values?"

That's what you said Jeff said.

If you have to twist his words into the exact opposite of what he said, you have no argument.

Don't put words in people's mouths then attack them for something they didn't say.

246 posted on 08/01/2003 9:47:03 PM PDT by Luis Gonzalez (Yo soy la Cuba libre.)
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To: Jeff Head
A friend was going to Shanghai for business--frequently--complaining "thirteen hours to Japan", "two more hours to Shanghai". Complaining "I'm supposed to set them up with a turnkey operation, training their people, etcetera."

It has seemed the Chinese would not allow foreign ownership of Chinese business, that foreigners seeking to build empire there would leave without their pants.

The friend said change would come only when the current rulers are dead.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese are hungry and dissatisfied, and their four main banks are virtually insolvent.

They add to their IRBM array opposite Taiwan, while acquiring Russian technology intended to neutralize U.S. intervention.

Mao's mountain of skulls, his little red book and green teeth--what a heritage, what a foundation.

The beetles of Beijing scramble to control the anthill, crying, "Hegemon!"

Their only hope is the Cellulite Dragon engineering another act of domestic terrorism to shoehorn her coup.


247 posted on 08/01/2003 9:53:41 PM PDT by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: off-ramp
Sorry, your suspisions as voiced in your first post were not correct.

You said, when speaking of me...

according to you we should open our border to anyone who wishes to come (except Europeans, of course) and continue to welcome criminal aliens, terrorists, foreign murderers, America haters, and the rest of the world's undesirables so we can continue in our relentless march toward job loss, educational chaos, cultural erosion, language barriers and the ultimate destruction of our country, its culture and values?
Which was voiced as a stateement of what I believed, and, I might add, took my own comments so far out of proportion and context as to make them unrecognizable..what was the I would call "wholly wresting" my comments IMHO.

I responded to your assertions with this when speaking of those who we should not welcome...

That would exclude illegals, gravy-trainers, those who want on the federal welfare tit, those who do not believe in the foundational principles of this Republic and those who do not want to become American but want to live off of the rest of us while they tear down what made this nation what it is.
Which is very similar to your own list...and you come up somehow with you were correct in your original suspicions? I'm sorry, but there is some kind of real comprehension issues going on here, because I refuted, and intended to refute everything you said about what I believe. In fact, and on those issues, according to our own two posts, it would seem we agree about who we should close the doors to.

Like I said, initially you missed the entire point and meaning about welcoming those people who adopt the moral principle and want to become real Americans...those others you and I mentioned are not and can never be considered real Americans.

As to not allowing Europeans...didn't you get the point man, my own stock is European...I have nothing against Europeans who want to adopt the fundamental moral and liberty oriented principles that made this nation what it is coming here...or anyone else for that matter. Those type of people do not equate at all to what you inferred and stated as my own belief.

The ones you mentioned, that I also mentioned in my response back to you...can stay home...and furhter, if they should get here, they should be rounded up and sent packing.

If that doesn't clear it up for you...you are simply believing what you want to believe and holding on to a false impression for the sale of holding on to it, because I promise you, your impression is wholly incorrect.

'nuff said.

Jeff

248 posted on 08/01/2003 10:00:49 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: PhilDragoo
Those in power there are being empowered by the current conditions...and they are doing all in their power to continue it and enhance it.

Sadly, they are currently being successful.

We need to deal with The Dragon the way Reagan dealt wtith the "Evil Empire". Dry up their sources, then challenge them to keep up while they bankrupt themselves. Problem is, at this point, that would be very painful for us...but not as painful as what is coming some day if we do not.

249 posted on 08/01/2003 10:07:37 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Thanks bro., you stated exactly what I have been trying to point out to Off-ramp.

Unfortunately, there's something basic with the exchange with off-ramp, like a simple misunderstanding or reading comprehension issue with my style which I have tried to clear up that they don't appear to want to let go of.

They misunderstood or misconstrued what I said. I have pointed that out as directly as I know how...that's all I can do.

I got to get back to work...it's going to be a long night. Got a customer with a virus infested and fried Office 2000 Professional machine they need working tomorrow.

Best Regards.

BTW...if you haven't already, read this and let me know what you think of how I handle that issue in Volume IV. I'd be interested in your take.

250 posted on 08/01/2003 10:15:45 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Quix
Glad you enjoyed it...as far as I am concerned, this type of thing needs saying.

To put it in an older way of speaking, it needs to be shouted from the rooftops.

251 posted on 08/01/2003 10:21:18 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Eustace
Looks like they pulled your post my friend.

Well, as you pointed out, this has been building for a long, long time...and supported by forces wholly dedicated to our destruction.

Many people do not know why or how it is happening...and what is sad, many don't want to know or even consider it.

But there are many who are interested, and who are educated as to the underlying struggle...and they are working honorably and hard at overcoming it. It's the same struggle in essence we fought at Jarbidge, in Klamath and in so many other places. It's been going on since the outset.

But in all of my travels and involvement, I am convinced that there is enough virtue, strength and commitment to fundamental moral principle and to the very Author of them, to God, to allow us to retain and preserve our liberty in the end. It just may be a very hard row to hoe between here and there.

Give my best to your family there Rick, God's best yo you each as well.

252 posted on 08/01/2003 10:26:41 PM PDT by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head; Eustace
Why did they pull Eustace's post?
253 posted on 08/01/2003 11:17:26 PM PDT by HighRoadToChina (Never Again!)
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To: off-ramp
Thanks. But I would not lump all struggling to get ahead, poor but free 3rd world nations with slave nations like China.


254 posted on 08/01/2003 11:17:44 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Jeff Head
Thanks for the heads up!
255 posted on 08/01/2003 11:26:24 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Texas_Dawg
Are you going to be fine when your $500.00 electric bill goes to $670.00? My neighbor was telling me she read that the Texas senate had approved a 34% rate hike.
256 posted on 08/02/2003 1:25:41 AM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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To: editor-surveyor
BTTT!!!!!!
257 posted on 08/02/2003 3:06:43 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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To: tiamat
Hey, I just found someone else who wants to "reign in" capitalism. Like you, she objects to:
"...an agenda that truly is intent upon turning the clock back on" the New Deal laws that 'saved capitalism' -- laws favoring unions, mandating overtime pay as well as work health and safety standards, and "rein[ing] in uncontrolled economic power" of monopolies," she said.

Who was it? Hillary Clinton.

Hillary to Lawyers: Public Unaware of 'What's Really Happening'

258 posted on 08/02/2003 3:51:27 AM PDT by snopercod
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To: Jeff Head
TRUE!

. . . uhhhhhhhhhhh . . . "enjoyed" it?

. . . . in a manner of speaking!

How did you first become aware of such facts about such forces?

How long did it take you and approx how many pages of data before you became convinced?

And how many of your closer relationships include people who are convinced?

And . . . do you or do you not see all this fitting well with Bible Prophecy being mostly fulfilled in our era?

Not often I can ask such questions of those who believe in such facts. Feel to answer by Freepmail though here would edify more, probably.
259 posted on 08/02/2003 4:07:43 AM PDT by Quix (PLEASE SHARE THE TRUTH RE BILLDO AND SHRILLERY FAR AND WIDE)
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To: JNB
"If a country signs a free trade agreement with the US, again it should have provisons to have workers have the same labor protections US workers have, that will give that countrys workers the ability to imporve their standard of living, rather than be de-facto slaves, and also the countrys that sign free trade agreements need to enact similar enviromental standards.

You realize, of course, that these are the positions of the big labor unions and democrat politicians? These positions allow one to impose unfettered regulation while avoiding their consequences.
260 posted on 08/02/2003 4:52:54 AM PDT by DugwayDuke
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