Pat Buchanan : America's Hollow Prosperity

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | 02/15/2006 | Patrick Buchanan

[CWOJackson]

LOL! Yes, I can see how you wish to ignore his shilling for Hamas, the Muslim rioters killing people over cartoons and terrorists in Pakistan and defense of Iran.

[Toddsterpatriot]

....kinda strange how there's dozens and dozens of personal attacks against PJB yet no one (I stopped reading at about post 75) takes his article head on and disputes it...

Allow me. Pat says the trade deficit is bad. Do you agree? Please explain why it's bad.

[markedman]

List some of the real world items you would protect:

Agriculture
Weapons technology & hardware
Natural resources such as timber and ores
Steel manufacturing
Communications

When Americans must rely on the 'world markets' for food and protection, we will be in deep trouble.

[markedman]

PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) would suggest that trade deficits are ultimately 'not bad' per se, as it 'will all even out eventually'. The "bad" comes in the "evening out" part.

[Ciexyz]

My sympathies to those unemployed or underemployed.

[hedgetrimmer]

Too late.

We've become a net agricultural importer.

Weapons and technology outsourced years ago.

[hedgetrimmer]

Most foreign companies are prohibited from selling their products directly to Chinese consumers

!

[Sabramerican]

Are you claiming the US needs to protect it's arms manufacturing? Which? From who?

Natural resources? Buchanan peeve is about manufacturing jobs.

Steel would fit. Protect steel. What do you want to pay for an air conditioner? A car? Being a patriot I guess you'll buy a Ford or GM. Remember the quality of Ford and GM cars before they had to compete with the foreigners.

Communication equipment? New innovations? Would work just as soon as you discover a way to prevent foreigner from coming out with better and better stuff. Communication is particularly appropriate when discussing Buchanan because some of the most innovative stuff comes from Israel.

If you believe the US relies on others for either food or protection, you haven't yet got the pre-requisite of basic knowledge to now be discussing economics.

[markedman]

You are preaching to the choir Sgrib.

While I don't necessarily see China as an enemy, I don't necessarily see them as a friend either. That said, China is a threat, economically, politically, and ideologically.

As far as the free traders being unpatriotic, well, my understanding is that the highest law in _This Land_ is the US Constitution and all its amendments. The WTO however, by treaty, apparently trumps all. Now that's unpatriotic.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Pat's brand of isolationism went out in the 1930's. We cannot be both economically competitive and econimcally isolationist. The truth is that we can still out-produce and out-spend China's economic paper tiger. And yes Patty is an anti-Semite who seriously believes that Iran is not a threat. I know, it's lonely on that Reform Party bandwagon.

[NeoCaveman]

Hamburger Flipper had been replaced by Walmart Greeter which is doubling damning since the buchanan folks hate Walmart with a passion.

It was burger flipper back in the 1980's, so Walmart greeter is a promotion :D

[markedman]

You are obviously very naive and probably don't have much of an educational background in economic theory - and more importantly practice.

The US 'Currently" relies on no one else for food production, but since you obviously do not keep current on economic news, are unfamiliar with the movement to remove barriers to basic food and grain production.

As far as weapons components and weaponry, are you not familiar with the Euro arguments for bidding on defense contracts? And where exactly do you think most printed circuits come from?

[ex-snook]

Isolationism is misplaced here. There is a difference between 'isolationist' and 'empire'. Paleos, like Pat, are for fighting for the interests of the USA such as taking out bin Laden, al-Qaeda and anyone else that attacks our land. They are not for being the world's policeman to advance the interests of England, Formosa, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Kuwait, Korea, et al who are engaged in ancient conflicts. As Paleo Washington put it - no entangling alliances. Pat is right for America.

[CWOJackson]

pat is right for Hamas.

[ex-snook]

"pat is right for Hamas."

There you go again. Pat agrees with Bush.

Bush SOTU "I will ask Congress for $350 million to support Palestinian political, economic, and security reforms. The goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, is within reach -- and America will help them achieve that goal. (Applause.)"

[CWOJackson]

LOL! pat agrees with Hamas. pat insists a nuclear Iran doesn't threaten anyone. pat defends Iran. pat bemoans the death of innocent women and children while conveniently forgetting the target was the bad guys.

[Fruitbat]

Not sure this will get to anyone burried this deep in the thread, but I have a question for an economist likely;

Why is it that "manufacturing jobs" appear to be the hallmark of a healthy economy?

I mean if service jobs, and now I'm sure many services offered to other nations or companies in other nations, at least some (perhaps some insight there too please), are plentiful, then why is that bad per se in the context of this topic?

I.e., if Americans can make more in service jobs than in "turn, tap, zap" type of manufacturing jobs, why is that bad for the economy overall?

Any other light on the subject would be appreciated. I've got a decent education in economy and business, but have never gotten a good breakdown on this topic area.

[databoss]

Think of it this way, China is our surrogate wasteland...they trash their ecosystem and environment (not unlike the US back in the 50's and 60's BTW) while we get cheap consumer goods...they had better be investing heavily in their cleanup superfund(NOT!)...I suspect that around 2040 their economy will be in a shambles with closed factories, huge unemployment

[janetgreen]

Unable to refute Pat's truth, smearers are reduced to name-callers.

BTTT