Free trade's victims turning against Bush, GOP

The Herald Sun ^ | August 25, 2003 | associated press

[aristeides]

Seems to me I recollect that Thomas Jefferson had unpleasant dealings with merchants in Britain, to whom he ended up in a lot of debt. I do not think they had Jewish names. If memory serves, their names were Scottish.

[aristeides]

How about this: we just remove the deduction limit entirely?

Why?

[Texas_Dawg]

Why?

Because as Milton Friedman says, "I never met a tax cut I didn't like."

I support lower taxes. For anyone, anywhere, every time.

[PGalt]

When Americans can't afford the goods and services being produced overseas by our globalist corporations, they will: 1. Create something to replace it. 2. Work a 2nd job to afford it. 3. Do without it.

We are all economic free-agents. The power is in our mind and then our pocketbook.

[aristeides]

I wonder if what he does for a living has something to do with his pinging one particular person so much.

[Texas_Dawg]

I wonder if what he does for a living has something to do with his pinging one particular person so much.

Nope. Don't personally know any other FReepers. I work in institutional equity sales as I've said many times. What do you do?

[ARCADIA]

Then there are other costs

Perhaps, we should ask ourselves what kind of employees would best fit in the idealized free trade, free market, environment that so many endorse here. They would be the kind of people who work well in a machine designed to treat people like cogs, and replace them effortlessly at the first sign of failure, or at the first sign of a better marginal alternative.

They would be cleaver, charasmatic, tuned in, and remarkably successful. People well adept at selling themselves and their ideas, while avoiding failure. Masters at covering their own tail, with no real affiliation to the company they work for or the people they work with. They would learn to move around frequently to avoid the potential consequences of their actions. Always, heroically cleaning up and "solving" someone else's mistake, while never actually sticking around to work through the full impact of their own "solution". Flexible and versatile workers equally incompetent at everything they do with no sense of responsibility for anything they do. Eveything is but a temporary opportunity to demonstrate your leadership, and a platform from which to sell yourself into your next position. Many would claim the laurels while few would own the consequences.

You would end up with a company full of Bill Clinton clones, while the Einstiens peddle newspapers on street corners. I believe that there were practical business reasons for organizations to evolve into stable nurturing structures. In the real world you reap what you sow.

[aristeides]

Clearly this is true but why did you specify white? Doesn't it apply to everyone everywhere?

Nowadays, imputations of racism happen to be the last refuge of one particular type of scoundrel.

[Texas_Dawg]

Nowadays, imputations of racism happen to be the last refuge of one particular type of scoundrel.

Is it OK to imply that the words and actions of anyone are racist?

[scottlang]

We are all economic free-agents. The power is in our mind and then our pocketbook.


You are right about that. I believe in buying American worker when ever possible no matter the price. I will pay three times as much to buy products made by Americans. Please however notice I did not say American companies. The global corps. are all the same. Earlier this year my wife and I bought a Honda. It was made in Ohio with 65% of the parts fron US or Canada. As far as I am concerned I bought a product of American workers.

[FITZ]

1. Create something to replace it. 2. Work a 2nd job to afford it. 3. Do without it.

4. Buy it with a credit card. That's another thing --- we've got huge consumer debt that isn't healthy. Or maybe you think it is. How much of our huge trade deficits are actually part of our huge debt?

[PGalt]

4. I have credit card debt that I am paying down. I know first hand that it is not a good idea, but am on track to be plastic debt free next year this time. The recent expansion of credit is unprecedented in human history. We can all pass on the perils to our children and grandchildren.

[scottlang]

4. I have credit card debt that I am paying down. I know first hand that it is not a good idea, but am on track to be plastic debt free next year this time. The recent expansion of credit is unprecedented in human history. We can all pass on the perils to our children and grandchildren.

This is very true.

[FITZ]

1. Create something to replace it. 2. Work a 2nd job to afford it. 3. Do without it.

I forgot the other one --- obvious in our Socialist economy --- 5. Go on welfare, sell some food stamps and buy it. You are naive if you believe we are free agents --- not when our government is crushing our freedom. Look what a tool and die shop owner in the USA is up against --- he can work hard, put in lots of overtime, save money to invest in a building, land, expensive machines. He has to pay very high taxes on labor, every profit he makes, his property and comply with all kinds of government regulations. OSHA can come in and search for any minor thing he might have overlooked and slap on a big fine. Now the government is telling him his shop must compete with a shop in China where that government is providing the land, the building, the electricity, and is actively promoting that business. If an American would want to accept a job at $4.00 an hour he won't be allowed to --- but property taxes alone would make that impossible. Or watch what happens if someone tries to set up a store in their garage. We're far from being free agents.

[FITZ]

I don't have any debt but my mortgage ---- still it doesn't matter overall if I am happy to live without a bunch of electronic junk and the newest car on the block ---I can live in the black and have 2 jobs --- but if too many other people start foreclosing on their homes --- it's going to affect the value of mine.

[FITZ]

The recent expansion of credit is unprecedented in human history.

What I don't understand is how the government is actually encouraging consumerism. They even try to measure our economic health in terms of consumer spending which seems very stupid ---- a lot of our trade deficits is backed with plastic cards. Even the tax refund was to encourage people to do some more spending --- not investing. Americans should be paying off their debts and saving money.

[PGalt]

Gotta go, running late, working both jobs today. Be back after midnight. Been a pleasure.

[scottlang]

What I don't understand is how the government is actually encouraging consumerism. They even try to measure our economic health in terms of consumer spending which seems very stupid ---- a lot of our trade deficits is backed with plastic cards. Even the tax refund was to encourage people to do some more spending --- not investing. Americans should be paying off their debts and saving money.

It is a way of keeping up the illusion of a good economy and job situation. And that free trade is good for us. The good jobs are leaving this country, so someone somehow still has to buy the good. The only way to consume at this rate since our income has dropped is to either cash out equity or credit.

[FITZ]

Me too ---- Dang job!

[TaxRelief]

You are gonna suffer, too!

Stupid commie scare tactics.

God will show you the way, not President Bush.