[BushCountry]

I know that the current unemployment rate is high, but it is lower than almost any other nation. We had terrorist attacks that crippled the airline industry, tourist industry, depressed consumers confidence, etc...

To be honest, I am surprised at how robust our nation is and proud of Americans for making a comeback (albiet right now a weak one, but we survived a lot). What I am trying to say is that I don't think trade barriers will help our ecomony and that if we get to 5% GDP, unemployment would not be a problem. A robust ecomony means full employment.

[sarcasm]

Your statement was that 5% unemployment represents full-employment. That statement is factually incorrect. The United States has had much lower levels of unemployment for extended periods.

[arete]

A robust ecomony means full employment.

We are in the middle of a geosynchronous slowdown in economic activity. Both Japan and Germany could soon slip into severe recessions with France, the UK, Canada, Mexico, and Asia not far behind. Even China is suffering from banking problems and a lack of domestic demand coupled with high unemployment. Using the hot media word "robust" to describe anything economic today just doesn't apply.

Richard W.

[Beck_isright]

"To be honest, I am surprised at how robust our nation is and proud of Americans for making a comeback (albiet right now a weak one, but we survived a lot). What I am trying to say is that I don't think trade barriers will help our ecomony and that if we get to 5% GDP, unemployment would not be a problem. A robust ecomony means full employment."

I love the idea of challenging my fellow capitalists on this one. If you could have an across the board tax cut of 20 plus percent with an increase in tariffs of 3% to offset the cut (in demospeak that is) OR maintain the status quo, which would you prefer? If you cut the taxes dramatically, I gurantee an economic explosion which would not be injured by the increase in tariffs because the spending power would mulitiply faster than the inflation rate ever could.

[ninenot]

You talk about "trade barriers," while the country suffers from Free Trade--the god created by Jack Welsh (remember him, "Neutron Jack:" the buildings are standing, but all the people are gone...)

The issue, my man, is FAIR trade; whereby tariffs represent the premium paid by US manufacturers to comply with FLMA, EPA, EEO, and IRS (to name the leaders...)