United States and Free Trade

[beaver2.0]

Free Trade is junk.  We should leave NAFTA, the WTO, TPP, World Bank, and other similar groups.

[beaver2.0]

Free Trade is junk.  We should leave NAFTA, the WTO, TPP, World Bank, and other similar groups.

The World Bank has little to nothing to due with trade.

I mean, the guy, probably, thinks black helicopters sent by UNICEF are about to take over.

No, just that free trade is horrible and has basically destroyed our economy.  I have nothing against the UN, and the World Bank is alright.

[beaver2.0]

Free Trade is junk.  We should leave NAFTA, the WTO, TPP, World Bank, and other similar groups.

The World Bank has little to nothing to due with trade.

I mean, the guy, probably, thinks black helicopters sent by UNICEF are about to take over.

No, just that free trade is horrible and has basically destroyed our economy.

Well, you are wrong. As wrong, at least, as climate change deniers and anti-GMO activists.

I resent the fact that you are lumping me in with those groups.  I want to be well reasoned in my defense of protectionism.  The fact is, higher tariffs would protect our workers and companies from our and foreign companies that manufacture products in countries where they can do it for much cheaper and then import it and make great profits.  The fact is, if we had high tariffs and protectionism, our country would have more blue-collar jobs and be stronger economically.

[beaver2.0]

Free Trade is junk.  We should leave NAFTA, the WTO, TPP, World Bank, and other similar groups.

The World Bank has little to nothing to due with trade.

I mean, the guy, probably, thinks black helicopters sent by UNICEF are about to take over.

No, just that free trade is horrible and has basically destroyed our economy.

Well, you are wrong. As wrong, at least, as climate change deniers and anti-GMO activists.

I resent the fact that you are lumping me in with those groups.  I want to be well reasoned in my defense of protectionism.  The fact is, higher tariffs would protect our workers and companies from our and foreign companies that manufacture products in countries where they can do it for much cheaper and then import it and make great profits.  The fact is, if we had high tariffs and protectionism, our country would have more blue-collar jobs and be stronger economically.

Higher tariffs will start trade wars, which will result in many Americans, currently working for export, losing their jobs. These newly unemployed Americans will have to buy their necessities at higher prices (since these goods will no longer be imported). However, they will still not find jobs producing no-longer-imported goods, because modern technological developments mean that in many cases it would be cheaper to replace them with machines than to pay them wages, which would allow them to survive in the US. Furhteremore, with trade flows sharply reduced, US dollar will lose much of its attraction as an international currency. Foreign governments and residents, no longer flush with dollars, will find fewer reasons-opportunities to lend to the US government, necessitating sharp reduction in public expenditure (or else, an equally sharp increas in tax collection). Should I continue?

You might resent whatever you like. But the fact is, that you are neither reasoned, nor reasonable.

Let me be clear that I do not oppose all trade, but in this globalized economy, America cannot stand while other nations undercut our labor with cheap wages and predatory capitalism.  We must institute tariffs and regulations that allow American companies to compete with cheap foreign labor and protect against the movement of American corporations elsewhere.

The United States did very well with tariffs and could use more.  Free Trade, unless highly regulated, serves only to undercut the more developed nations.

[beaver2.0]

Why not use free trade agreements to force through proper labour regulations, though?


You are letting American business owners off the hook. Their greed and incompetence is the enemy, not workers in other countries.

That would be better than what we have now, because cheap labor is basically what has destroyed our industry.

Let's be clear.  I am a strong supporter of unions and understand that free trade is not just a government plot.  I  am aware that protectionism alone and libertarianism within the country will create almost as bad a situation.

[beaver2.0]

Just when everyone thought the Democratic Party was heading in a more protectionist direction:

Mayors Rise to the Defense of Free Trade

RONALD BROWNSTEIN  MAR 24, 2016

CHICAGO—

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Well this seals it, I'm voting Trump in November.  He is the only one who recognizes the inherent good of the creation of barriers on sub-par Oriental imports to our nation.