Just say no to unions

[werepossum]

That's really not accurate; the US is one of the world's largest exporters, second only to China. (we exported about $1.5 trillion worth last year). If we aren't making things cheaper or better than other countries then why are they buying so much of it? I remember a famous quote which goes something like "protectionists try to do to you in peace what your enemies try to do to you in war". ie: blockade your ability to import goods.

While the US will probably eventually need to correct our trade imbalance, free trade is still a big net positive for the US and the rest of the world.

Eventually? We've been at a net loss since 1980. Our trade deficit for February alone was over $42 billion. Just to put that into perspective, that month's loss is the cost for three years of Obama's plan to allow all students to not repay their student loans. Our trade deficit is about three quarters of our new national debt, and our national debt is in excess of our GDP. Eventually?

This argument is used all the time for outsourcing and free trade. It would make sense if instead of doing A that either you aren't good at or isn't high value, you did B which you are good at or higher value than A. Instead we outsource A, and lay everyone off, we don't do B instead. Unless you think our comparative advantage is in manufacturing hamburgers at McDonald's.

Yep. We've been running a trade deficit since 1980. If we were going to break even or come out ahead, I think we'd have seen that by now.

It's not a matter of we.
If we buy the rails from China, I'll have money, we'll have rails, and they'll have some money.
If we make the rails here, I'll have no money because I didn't outsource.

You'd still have money if you made the rails here, just not as much. That's where government comes in. Business can and should concentrate on maximizing its profit; that is how progress is made. Government's job is to set up a framework of rules so that this important function of capitalism is not predatory, illegal, immoral, or long term foolish.

 

[Zorba]

Of course not. As we've established in my last reply and your response, trade ought not be allowed that involves stolen goods or those produced by horrible means. [/qoute]

Yeah, we were both replying too quickly

Does China use child labor? EDIT: Looks like they have laws against working under the age of 16, but some reports say these are poorly enforced.

I'm not very concerned about safe work places. If someone who is impoverished and starving is offered a job in an unsafe workplace which will nonetheless better his condition, such as a sweatshop, he ought to be allowed to choose between that and continued poverty.

I'm also unsure of the environmental side, especially regarding developing nations.

I am not sure if China still uses child labor, I know there were reports on it back in the day. I have a feeling their laws are not strongly enforced.