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We often agree that market liberalization should be favored of "cartelization." But we take numerous protectionist practices for granted. Free markets would end immigration restrictions. We will never allow the free movement of labor between our national borders. Economists continuously push the importance of free trade, but Americans detest the idea of outsourcing jobs to low cost regions. Don't forget about real estate. NIMBYism artificially inflate housing prices. So where do we draw the line?
We often agree that market liberalization should be favored of "cartelization." But we take numerous protectionist practices for granted. Free markets would end immigration restrictions. We will never allow the free movement of labor between our national borders. Economists continuously push the importance of free trade, but Americans detest the idea of outsourcing jobs to low cost regions. Don't forget about real estate. NIMBYism artificially inflate housing prices. So where do we draw the line?
You bring up a very good question. I think the line needs to be drawn when you have certain market indicators such as loss in wages, loss in employment etc.
Let's take China. They dump huge amounts of exports on us. They manipulate their currency and their wages are low so our Chinese imports are cheaper than U.S. made products. Does anyone think we should allow China to dump cheap steel, toys etc that take American jobs? Steel was a great example.
I would rather impose tariffs on China, slow their exports, hurt their economy and put Americans back to work. Even if that means higher prices for American made. Work makes a person honest and gives them a feeling of accomplishment and meaning. Today, we are lazy asses that have our hands out to government to take care of us. Doubt that? look at the posts here or drive through the cities and look at healthy young men handing in street corners or shooting hoops. No pride in work anymore none.
Why, that's an easy one; you only worry about it when you're not the recipient of all that influx of jobs and labour through those agreements you forced upon other nations to allow entrance to your markets, because you wanted entrance to theirs.
Example: some countries were forced by the U.S. (who thought up and pushed for it) to sit at the NAFTA table to get access to your huge market, subsequently suffering a huge loss of jobs and manpower to your much lower-wage country.
Notice how many times it mentions an influx of jobs to the U.S. and how all those southern neighbours of yours would be the recipients of your financial largesse? Canada was forced to go along or get frozen out of that group market altogether then experienced the worst jobs/brain drain in our history to the cheaper U.S. and later, cheaper still, Mexico.
You weren't whining then, were you?
Now YOU get to watch your jobs and wages sink like a sub with a screen door to conversely improve the lives of some Mexicans, all Taiwanese, Bangladeshi's, Phillipinos, East Indians, China, even some European countries.
We often agree that market liberalization should be favored of "cartelization."
No, we don't agree, since a monopsony is just as bad as a monopoly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey
Free markets would end immigration restrictions.
Free Markets does not mean throw National Security out the window, any more than Free Markets means you may commit murder.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey
So where do we draw the line?
You don't since the Laws of Economics will draw it for you.
If you want to study something, then study Zenith.
Quote:
1995: LG gains a 58 percent controlling stake in Zenith by buying $351 million in stock.
Nov 14, 1999 - What's an American industrial icon worth? Try 200 million bucks. That's what LG Electronics paid when it acquired Zenith in a bankruptcy.
LG Electronics is a South Korean company. Zenith was unable to compete globally against LG Electronics, which is why Zenith is no more.
The name of the game is to produce goods and services that can be consumed by the entire Planet, all 6.6 Billion people. If you cannot produce goods that can be consumed by the entire World, then you lose, just like Zenith lost.
Protectionist Tariffs would not have helped Zenith.
What Zenith should have done is close one or more factories and re-opened them in Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand.
Yes, some American jobs would be lost, but the majority of Zenith employees would still have a union job with Zenith, instead of working at Wal-Mart or Taco Bell.
Is our middle-class healthy or is it dying? I think that is one of the best indicators to whether we allow too much immigration and too much outsourcing. Traditionally the middle-class has paid for everything, if we loose them; we loose our Country.
You can draw the line at the country's border. There's no reason you have to put up with another country's slave labor, or dumping, or army connections, or currency manipulation.
This country was built on tariffs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fisheye
Is our middle-class healthy or is it dying? I think that is one of the best indicators to whether we allow too much immigration and too much outsourcing.
No amount of information can sway a progressive left that is convinced that it can have its cake and eat it too.
I guess if you want to restrict trade and establish protectionism for some sectors....it will be the usual special-interests that get the gravy-deal....and consumers get screwed. I can buy good quality, reasonably priced tool, that are made in China.....do you want to change??? A lot of these people who say China only makes junk.....have probably never seen a REAL junk product. Much of the tools coming out of China, compared to even 10 years ago, have made big leaps in quality.......ditto for much of the stuff coming out of China.
Do we start with restricting computers....I don't even think any components are made in the USA anymore. Should we jack-up tariffs on PCs, to make it easier for US companies to compete...NOPE!
A perfect example of the corruption that can occur is the ultra-scammish GM-bailout...first line creditors got the shaft.
When it comes to manufacturing......quality manufacturing can be done from many, many different locations on the globe.....usually much cheaper than the USA can do it.
We often agree that market liberalization should be favored of "cartelization." But we take numerous protectionist practices for granted. Free markets would end immigration restrictions. We will never allow the free movement of labor between our national borders. Economists continuously push the importance of free trade, but Americans detest the idea of outsourcing jobs to low cost regions. Don't forget about real estate. NIMBYism artificially inflate housing prices. So where do we draw the line?
"Free" trade should only be among nations who reimburse employees somewhat equally and enforce human rights and environmental laws to the same degree.
"Free trade" among nations who use nearly slave labor, ignore environmental considerations,and use toxic/unsafe products/componants is not "free trade". It is a recipe for disaster among any western nation that would sacrifice the standard of living and employment status of its citizens for an extra dime.
No, we don't agree, since a monopsony is just as bad as a monopoly.
Free Markets does not mean throw National Security out the window, any more than Free Markets means you may commit murder.
You don't since the Laws of Economics will draw it for you.
If you want to study something, then study Zenith.
LG Electronics is a South Korean company. Zenith was unable to compete globally against LG Electronics, which is why Zenith is no more.
The name of the game is to produce goods and services that can be consumed by the entire Planet, all 6.6 Billion people. If you cannot produce goods that can be consumed by the entire World, then you lose, just like Zenith lost.
Protectionist Tariffs would not have helped Zenith.
What Zenith should have done is close one or more factories and re-opened them in Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand.
Yes, some American jobs would be lost, but the majority of Zenith employees would still have a union job with Zenith, instead of working at Wal-Mart or Taco Bell.
As I recall, you appear to support protectionism and NIMBYism in real estate.
How do the Laws of Economics draw the line for you there?
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