Posted on 03/26/2008 5:46:15 PM PDT by shrinkermd
As the Democratic presidential campaign marches on, its most alarming public policy issue is Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's antitrade advocacy.
As liberal leaders, they are of course for higher income taxes, greater federal spending, and rapid withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. But passionate protectionism illustrates the pro-government, anti-market philosophy that is the core of their beliefs, and it reflects the seriously wrong direction in which they will take America if one of them becomes our next president.
International trade is good for the U.S. economy. It creates jobs to produce the products America exports, provides workers for foreign companies that produce goods here, and broadens the choice of goods and services available to us.
So the good news is that America's international trade is constantly increasing. U.S. exports grew 12% in 2007, and the U.S. Department of Commerce reports that since the first General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade, in 1948, U.S. total trade as a percentage of gross domestic products has risen to more than 29% in 2007 from less than 10%. According to a Heritage Foundation study "The U.S. is the world's largest exporter. U.S. exports amounted to $1.6 trillion in 2007 alone and those exports generated 25 percent of U.S. GDP growth
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
International trade is only good insofar as it's good for Americans.
I think the most worrying trend is having no great candidates and two Dems likely to cut and run while they raise taxes and spending.
But third is the hostility to free trade.
Socialism is a scam that saves you from "THEM".. the very threat is the savior.. and its all cause by democracy..
---------------------------------
Democracy is the road to socialism. Karl Marx
Democracy is indispensable to socialism. The goal of socialism is communism. V.I. Lenin
The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.- Karl Marx
I too could be called an "out of the closet protectionist". I do not call shipping manufacturing goods to China via Target and Wal-Mart as being in the best interests of America. Do I personally want to work in a factory manfuacturing dishware or blue jeans? No, but I'd at least like to know there were jobs there if I lost mine. Not everybody in life is going to be a doctor, a lawyer, a software developer, a motivational speaker. Some folks, okay, most folks, just want a basic job. There's a reason why a "C" in school is average. Average folks would like an average job, and I dont' think it's commie to state it as such. We ship the average jobs to China, what do you expect is gonna happen at home? Those now-jobless average folks are natually gonna go socialist, cuz' the socialists are promising them a chicken in every pot, free healthcare, et cetera.
Free trade is working. We run a huge huge deficit and send lots of money out of the country. Politicians of both parties spend money they do not have as to buy their incumbency. Not to worry, the money that we sent out of the country comes back in the country when it is parked in government securities created to finance the debt. The money we send out comes back, thanks to the wisdom of the politicians who keep spending money we do not have, but not only are they buying their incumbency with the people’s money they do not have, they are giving are enemies the safest place on earth to park their money. This system works like a well oiled machine. What is all the fuss about?
Don't you know what motivational speakers everywhere already know? That everyone is supposed to be constantly honing their skills, polishing their resume, and re-educating themselves for the next set of hot careers!
Anyone who expects to learn a trade, work for just one or two companies in his life, and spend much of his free time tending to his family and friendhips is a has-been.
Everyone should have quit their jobs in 2000 and become Realtors. Now everyone should be handling foreclosures.
That should make complete sense to everyone.
"...Ninth, we’re in the middle of one of the greatest economic eras ever. Global poverty has declined at astounding rates. Globalization boosts each American household’s income by about $10,000 a year. The U.S. economy, despite all the bad-mouthing, is chugging along. Thanks to all the growth, tax revenues are at 18.8 percent of G.D.P., higher than the historical average. The deficit is down to about 1.5 percent of G.D.P., below the historical average.
"All of this is not to say everything is hunky-dory. Inequality is obviously increasing. There’s evidence that global trade is producing more losers.
"...Instead, the main point is that the Democratic campaign rhetoric is taking on a life of its own, and drifting further away from reality. Feeding off pessimism about the war and anger at Washington, candidates now compete to tell dark, angry and conspiratorial stories about the economy.
I doubt there’s much Republicans can do to salvage their fortunes by 2008. But over the long term a G.O.P. rebound can be built by capturing the Bill Clinton/Democratic Leadership Council ground that the Democrats are now abandoning. Whoever gets globalization right will have a bright future, and in the long run, the facts matter
Ha, you notice that you don't see so many of those "Get rich in real estate by flipping foreclosures!" seminar hawkers on TV?
At the top of the housing bubble, Erik Estrada was trying to get me ... and mi compadres ... to buy real estate in Arkansas.
Now some creepy guy who looks like a teenager with old man make-up is trying to get me to "help myself and others" by working people out of houses about to go into foreclosure.
Maybe this means the bubble has completely burst and the sharks have already swept up all the good foreclosure deals. Or maybe it means things are going to get even worse since most foreclosed property will be stuff that was bought in the last two years and has no residual value.
Maybe we all need to become biotechnologists ... or ... medical ethicists ... or ... financial coaches ... or ... YouTube porn stars ...
“Those now-jobless average folks are natually gonna go socialist, cuz’ the socialists are promising them a chicken in every pot, free healthcare, et cetera.”
Hey, you stole my line!
...just kidding, well said!
Left for dead, manufacturing cries out for workers
Minneapolis Star and Tribune ^ | 9 Marcg 2008 | DEE DePASS,
Posted on 03/10/2008 5:47:55 PM CDT by shrinkermd
...That’s the word from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and companies across the state who met late last week at a series of roundtables to brainstorm about how to attract and prepare reluctant young workers to what in many cases remains a high-paying field.
The governor, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and MnSCU hosted roundtables in Rochester, Brainerd and South St. Paul to discuss potential solutions to the widespread problem.
...According to DEED, manufacturing accounts for 11 percent of all job vacancies in the state, second only to health care. There were 6,527 manufacturing jobs open in the second quarter of 2007, the most recent period for which data are available.
David Berg, owner of South St. Paul Steel Supply Co., said his company is now offering to pay for two years of tuition at St. Paul Technical College, which has a welders program. Skilled welders can snag $50,000 salaries.
The dearth of skilled job applicants is hampering Minnesota’s growth and competitiveness, Pawlenty said. Domaille Engineering in Rochester could easily double the size of its fiber optics plant but can’t find enough workers, he added.
Free trade, the freedom and economic growth it represented was killed by Asian merchantilism.
O.K. - I'm confused - and I admit it. It has long been a mantra amongst the Free Trade crowd that the 40's and 50's and so forth boom times, were due to the devastation of WW2.
But if this article was correct 10% was the number on our exports in 1948?
Anyone?
Less than 10%.
It has long been a mantra amongst the Free Trade crowd that the 40's and 50's and so forth boom times, were due to the devastation of WW2.
Huh? Our trade surplus was certainly due to that. Our strong manufacturing benefited from that. Sudden availability of consumer goods and pent up demand probably helped growth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.