Posted on 03/30/2016 6:26:02 AM PDT by central_va
“Free trade” would more accurately be called “freedom for other countries to undercut and destroy American domestic production” because in practice that is what is happening. This is an undeniable fact that should be obvious to any consumer or business in this country. Very little of what is consumed here is made by American-owned companies operating in America. This was not formerly the case, and it was not how the wealth of this country was created.
Proponents of “free trade” justify their position by saying it is supplying American consumers with access to the lowest cost, most competitive market. However, this does not justify the terrible consequences. Proponents dismiss the destruction to American domestic production by wishfully thinking we will find new ways to reinvent ourselves. How will we continue to pay for these cheap foreign goods with no industry to generate our own wealth?
“Free trade” proponents fail to say that free access to subsidized foreign production is destroying America’s chances to be competitive.
(Excerpt) Read more at economyincrisis.org ...
You could just round them up into gas chambers. Then the handful of people who control production could keep their “freedom”.
Don’t give these Free Traitors™ any ideas
Sounds as if you are in a lather about the problem, but not enough to, you know, give it some serious thought.
I am an American I don't care what, why or how third worlders live. In that context I only care about my fellow Americans. Americans are under no obligation to lift anyone out of anything. Especially at the expense of the American economy and middle class.
Less tariffs? That is not possible. We are in tariff panacea now, tariffs are at all time low on imports. Basically we have no import duties. The doors are wide open now. Doesn't seem to be helping the average citizen much.
My serious thought is forcing China to adopt reasonable standards of regulations, safety, pay.
We shouldn’t trade with any countries that don’t meet certain minimal standards. That thought is quite serious.
You are basically calling me stupid. “lather about the problem” “serious thought”. I’m calling you naive and delusional about your economic dogma.
Where do you draw the line, if any? Do you favor trade with a country that employs forced labor or slavery? How about forced organ donation?
Do you favor free trade with the Islamic State?
Come one, give me your “serious thought”, if you have one that lies outside dogma.
OK, got it. You've done some thinking. It may be statist thinking, but I will concede it's thinking.
Please show me the section of the Constitution which includes these as functions of the federal government.
It has been.
Where do you think American companies are constantly expanding?
Look how many Iphone sales are in China for example
Sure you do. Who the hell will buy our products if they are poor and broke?
You don’t see us being able to sell capitol goods, or export education to North Koreans
Sure you do. Who the hell will buy our products if they are poor and broke?
You don’t see us being able to sell capitol goods, or export education to North Koreans
You know who is going to put the bullet to American workers?
Uber
Thumbtack
Homeadvisor
Self driving cars
The gig economy.
What once took thousands to do, will only take 1 worker to do. It is why Silicon Valley titans are floating the concept of a “guaranteed basic income”
The creativity and success of our tech industry is going to kill low skill jobs. Just like why we don’t have horse drawn carriage manufacturers anymore
The trade imbalance with China is 3:1 against us. They are not buying our stuff. You can't make this situation worse buy fighting back. We are on the floor.
They can’t afford to buy all our stuff.
Our average per capita income is 5x the average Chinese. We also import significant consumer goods, while exporting capital goods. And again, we make much more money.
Its not a wonder why we have a 3 to 1 import/export ratio.
We need the Chinese to be making more money to afford our stuff.
They can’t afford to buy all our stuff.
Our average per capita income is 5x the average Chinese. We also import significant consumer goods, while exporting capital goods. And again, we make much more money.
Its not a wonder why we have a 3 to 1 import/export ratio.
We need the Chinese to be making more money to afford our stuff.
They are not. That is not an argument I would use for ending Free Trade. There are tons of reason why our economy is dying due to Free Trade and that is not one of them IMO.
We used to run a surplus with China. I do not seem to remember shortages of a consumer goods then and we made out own stuff. We survived without them and without us they'd be speaking Japanese.
Yes the world changes. Trying to run an export surplus is not a worthwhile goal as you need to 1) devalue your currency and 2) make a bunch of cheap crap.
I have no problem letting China be the factory of the world and produce low priced consumer goods.
I prefer America to produce high end capital goods, software, medicine, education, all of which leads to our standard of living rising.
And it has since 1981 when Reagan came into office and promoted trade so heavily.
“Where others fear trade and economic growth, we see opportunities for creating new wealth and undreamed-of opportunities for millions in our own land and beyond. Where others seek to throw up barriers, we seek to bring them down; where others take counsel of their fears, we follow our hopes.”
Ronald Reagan
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/678278
We have other industries. Industries have always throughout time gone away for one reason or another and new ones have been created to replace them. There is typically some pain in the transition period. The government cannot legislate a pain-free economy for us.
But trying to solve cronyism and over-regulation with tariffs is like trying to cure cancer by contracting syphilis.
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