Hi Sam,
I am not impressed by the collection of platitudes listed here. There are two paths, free trade and isolationism. The US has agricultural, mineral, and energy resources to support the concept of a self contained economy, where we consume what we produce. Free trade seems destined to turn the US population into haves and have nots, akin to a third world economy. Isolationism, with domestic labor performing all tasks, will close the have/have not gap. The standard of living will depend on domestic productivity, not low cost foreign labor.
There is no serious consideration of the choices because free trade supports the self interest of the people who have bought the government. The dispossessed constitute a large voting bloc, so the issue of job loss is exploited during the election. One side rails against free trade but doesn't know how to fix it, while the other side claims that tax gifts that disproportionately favor the rich will stimulate the economy and create jobs. |
