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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (42027)	5/3/2004 10:19:00 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793882

I don't think it matters much what's in the platform. I agree. Both parties want to protect their voters. But the Dems, with the Union pressure, are much more likely to vote against opening trade than the Republicans.

To: Lane3 who wrote (42027)	5/8/2004 9:42:36 PM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793882

Don't forget that it's a long, long way from the Democratic platform to implementation given a Republican Congress. Republicans have shown themselves all too willing to surrender to the protectionist impulse when it is politically expedient for them to do so. If Kerry wins on a protectionist platform, I have little doubt that the protectionist platform would quickly achieve bipartisan support. It’s a difficult choice, in a democracy. Protectionism is always going to pull votes, since the average voter simply doesn’t understand how destructive it is in the long term. It’s one of those positions that requires conviction and the will to sacrifice immediate advantage for long-term health. That's why it is so hard to rally sustained political support behind free trade. It has to be done, though.