The Real Cost Of “Free Trade” Is Too Great For Americans to Bear

economyincrisis ^ | 3/23/16 | Patrick Kellen

[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.

[central_va]

And you know by now that I consider “Free Traitor” a badge of honour, right??

Does a pig think mud mixed with feces is a bad thing? No, he likes it...

[baltimorepoet]

So would “Baltar” on Battlestar Galactica.

So, if you had the US nuclear codes, how much money would you sell them for to China?

[bert]

that was your dad, not you

[baltimorepoet]

I still haven’t heard an answer to this question:

Do you support Free Trade with Islamic State?

Would you let US companies sell Uranium 235 and kryton nuclear switches to the Islamic State?

[baltimorepoet]

Krytrons are manufactured by PerkinElmer, a company on the S&P 500. Why shouldn’t they be allowed to sell them to the Islamic State?

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

Shouldn’t businesses have the right to sell Uranium 235 and krypton switches to them?

So, if you had the US nuclear codes, how much money would you sell them for to China?

If you don't understand the difference between absurd straw men such as these, versus selling simple consumer goods, there is not much point in continuing the discussion.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

Gosharootie, bert, don't you realize that buying shirts which are made in Bangladesh is JUST LIKE SELLING HYDROGEN BOMBS TO IRAN?????

;-)

[baltimorepoet]

So now you are differentiating between different types of “goods”? LOL. Destroying the US industrial base IS a national security issue, just like sending krytrons to ISIS. We won WWII because we were able to outproduce the Axis.

A krytron switch is an electrical device. I think they even can have applications in other electronics. You just can’t export them.

How about exporting Eotech and Aimpoint holographic sights to Islamic State? Those are simple consumer goods; I even own a few.

And yet you can’t export them to Islamic State...

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

Destroying the US industrial base IS a national security issue

You might be right in that. Problem is, it's not being destroyed.

Industrial Production Index

Now, it is true that we are increasing industrial production while reducing the number of industrial workers needed.

If you want to "solve" that problem, you have to do what the English hand weavers did in the early 1800s - storm the factories and destroy the machines.

[baltimorepoet]

Its a moot point anyway. The US and the West is a doomed civilization. The barbarians are going to overrun it and China will carry the mantle of civilization.

People like Hillary, and people like Clinton, and people like you sold it out.

I voted for Perot. We got Clinton and then W, then Obama. Let me connect the dots.

Clinton, most-favored-nation status for China, Loral and missile tech transfers to China. China now militarizing those islands in the South China Sea.

The discussion is irrelevant. You and I are not going to see the de-regulation that we want, nor the budget cuts. I am not going to see the debt erased, nor tariffs imposed on third world slave labor cesspools (I agree with fair trade deals with the developed world — such as Europe, Canada, etc)

The socialism will come, the illegal immigrants will continue coming, family as an institute will continue to be degraded in the US.

At some point, the wrong Muzzies (not that Pakistan constitutes the right Muzzies) will get a nuke and vaporize Manhattan and collapse the US economy.

That is the future we have to live with. As Rome succumbed to barbarians, so will America. I’m just hoping things don’t completely collapse before I’m adequately dug in.