[sixmil]

Can't believe this wasn't already posted.

[MissAmericanPie]

The USofA is like Enron, flashy up front but with nothing inside worth anything more than the confidence that something of value is there.

Congress as a fat lot of business condemning Enron when their own bookkeeping is so creative. Eventually the bubble will burst.

[tiki]

Anyone who has a small business will tell you how free(my a$$) trade hurts but no politician will listen.

[RLK]

For every $1 billion in exports, Presidents Bush I and Clinton used to remind us, 20,000 jobs are created.

--------------------------------

None of the Bushs know anything about economics. If they do, the are intentionally attempting to subvert the economy into a world-wide economic parity. Anything beyond easily repeated slogans and platitudes is beyond their capacity.

Bubba, on the other hand, should be considered armed and dangerous. He has a few more functioning brain cells and has been determined to destroy this nation for more than 30 years, His economic statements are part of that goal.

With this collection of goofs this nation will be reduced to being a third world conquered country in 15 years.

[LenS]

In 1960, the US produced 30% of the world's output.

In 1980, the US share of output had dropped to 23%.

In 2000, the US share had increased back to 29%.

Gosh, that "evil" free trade of the past twenty years is really destroying our economy. Yawn. Buchanan's mangling history and economics once again.

[Destro]

The Russians have seen our manufacturing base die off and have invested accordingly, ignoring neo-con advice:

From: A miracle begins to emerge in the Russian economy

Soviet-era managers have been replaced, companies have been restructured and into the arena have stepped a new generation of businessmen, often in their thirties, who deemed the making of money by entrepreneurship rather than asset stripping and corruption the preferable road to take. Interestingly these capitalists have not taken the path many western advisers advocated, building up small businesses as in Poland. Instead, they are working at developing heavy industry, building sizeable conglomerates that use the cash generated by oil or metals businesses to invest in manufacturing companies that they bought at knock down prices after the crash. Although ruthless in sacking over manned workforces most of them have leant support to Putin's plans for radical tax reform and judicial reform. They tend to be pro Western and open to bringing in Western managerial and technical expertise.

And the Russians own it all themselves:

From: Russian economy forges on as confidence stays strong: Violent siege leaves business unfazed

Russia's burst of economic growth over the past three years has been driven by local businessmen upgrading oil and metals companies acquired in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet state. Foreign investment has played little part in the action.

[Red Jones]

that's very interesting that adam smith believed in taxing imports just the same as taxing domestic production. Tax rates should be low, but the taxes should be spread out to everyone, including imports.

Adam Smith also did not believe that business people should lust after profit. He advised the king that it was in the king's interest to allow the profit motive, he did not advocate the single-minded focus on profit to the exclusion of all other human values as has been done in today's 'business colleges'.

[AdamSelene235]

Once, our farms and factories produced virtually everything we consumed, and we had no income tax. Manufacturers were the geese that laid the golden eggs. Free trade is now slaughtering the geese.

Oh, its not Free Trade that's slaughtering the geese.

[ex-snook]

"Can't believe this wasn't already posted. "

Thanks for posting it.

Buchanan is right again. Our trade deficit is pushing the country closer to collapse. Just a few weeks ago, President Bush conceded that our economy was in ships off the shore of California.

The government-to-government deals by both the Clinton-Bush administration were not free. Only lobbyists knew the deals that were not even seen by our elected reps.

These phony 'free trade' agreements just increased our deficits. The negotiation should be simple 'WE BUY FROM YOU - YOU BUY FROM US'. Deficit gone, job economy restored.

[FITZ]

They never had free trade but it's interesting how unlike Americans, the Mexicans don't seem to be claiming job loss is good for that country now that those jobs are also leaving Mexico and going to China instead. At least the Mexicans seem smart enough to think having jobs in their country is a good thing, Americans are gullible and can be told it's good not to have jobs.

[FITZ]

They never had free trade but it's interesting how unlike Americans, the Mexicans don't seem to be claiming job loss is good for that country now that those jobs are also leaving Mexico and going to China instead. At least the Mexicans seem smart enough to think having jobs in their country is a good thing, Americans are gullible and can be told it's good not to have jobs.

[A. Pole]

Can't believe this wasn't already posted.

Me too.