Posted on 04/18/2005 6:37:40 AM PDT by A. Pole
Come on, Racehorse, it isn't that difficult. Would Cuba benefit from trade with the US, or wouldn't it?
See # 87.
Since there is not much possibility of real free trade in today's world, there are going to be times when protectionism is appropriate. Probably not too many, but some. Also, in my very first reply to you, I noted the importance of national defense, I had meant to imply that there will probably always be at least a few industries that need to be kept local, thus protected.
Nevertheless, the concept of free trade is one with which I am comfortable, its opposite, Central Planning, with government deciding price and wage, and directing the econony, is one which I oppose on principle.
Incidentally, the herd animal tag line is a direct reference to the Democrat Pary's affinity with socialism and central planning. I am advocating the opposite, but if individual freedom and personal liberty were the characteristics of the herd, which they aren't, then I would count myself in.
Back later.
And a skillful refutation of the facts from you, right?
you are confusing me. I can't tell which side of the free trade debate you are on.
OK, you have Karl Marx on your side. I have Adam Smith. I am a little surprised to find Marxist freepers, though.
Great Britain had PLENTY of places to which she could export machinery, equipment, and manufactured goods--they were called Colonies (Rhodesia, India, etc...)
Don't tell us that GB had 'noplace' to sell its goodies.
I recently had reason to browse through my aging copy of Smith's Wealth of Nations. With respect to tariffs and other protectionist intervention by government, if you were to do the same, you would find you are quite wrong. Now, with respect to other trade matters, he might smile on you just a wee bit.
Duhhh...
Perhaps you've never heard of the Greens?
It is the Greenies who have shut down US lumber production, aided by Clinton. GWB has not been much help at all--if any--in recovery of the lumber industry.
Whether or not you or Pat ever choose to recognize the fact, tariffs do not penalize foreign producers. They are a hidden tax on the consumers of items so taxed.
Good going guy. Free trade shills refer to thousands of pages of government-to-government deals as 'free trade'. Lots of input from lobbyists and foreign governments but our elected reps can't change a sentence.
It is that difficult.
With whom are you proposing we do business? What is the measure of benefit?
Can you refute the facts cited by Buchanan? Or, do you prefer to remain in the land of theory?
Sure.
At 30 cents/hour, a $8500.00 car only takes, ah, lemmeeesee heah, 28,333 hours--about 10 years' work--to pay off (excluding interest.)
That also excludes housing, food, clothing---JUST the car.
What GM is actually predicting is that the US market for GM cars will be gone by 2020. Thus, the Chinese market HAS to be bigger.
Ummm, Buchanan cited facts. Where have you refuted them?
"You place your right to buy anything at the lowest price above the right of American workers to have the highest standard of living. You are with the herd on this one."
What is the difference between making large wages and paying high prices and lower wages with cheap prices? If the purchasing power is the same, then introducing protctionist tarrifs to ensure high wages does nothing but increase government control and unnecessary meddling.
Your $4K computer (1985) would have cost you about $1K in 1990--and it was STILL made in the USA.
Since 1995, cost reductions have to do with slave labor, not manufacturing efficiencies--all of which were achieved in the USA before that date.
It is getting confusing, isn't it? I'm on his side and we're about to take a wrong turn. :-)
I am not proposing doing business with Cuba. I was asking a simple question: Would Cuba benefit from trade with the US?
What is the measure of benefit?
What is the measure used to decide the benefit China has enjoyed?
Quite the eye-opener, huh?
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