Comments on: Economists: Don't Blame NAFTA For Downturn

Washington Post Analysis: Many Say NAFTA Has Been A Net Plus, If A Modest One, For The Economy

[b-easy63]

The only Western country with unfettered greed and no market protections for local industry appears to be America.

Posted by b-easy63 at 01:03 PM : Apr 10, 2008


and when economic die hard tout the "global economy" what they are saying is continue to let the American market be a free for all so the people in the stock markets can make a killing--but the truth is--sooner or later--all those birds and the shell game come home to roost. If you are still bleating the global market mantra--you are either a true believer or you are benefiting and therefore don''t want the party to end before you get yours. But America is not getting hers now--and not one of the 3 candidates really intends to stop the feeding frenzy--though one might try (Obama) definitely Clinton plans only to get hers--no matter which set of lies she is spouting now.

[b-easy63]

We live in a global economy. All this will do is discourage other countries from trading with us as they turn to Europe.

Posted by mudrose at 10:54 AM : Apr 10, 2008


Europe already has these kind of restrictions. When I was in Paris in 1994, I could buy a rice bowl for about 10.00 US. That same small bowl in almost any store in America would have been about 1.99. The difference was the duty imposed on top of the goods. At the same shop, local pottery for a small dish was 8.99. So either I could opt for the bowl made in China or for the local french pottery. Since I was souvineer shopping--I bought the French one.

The only Western country with unfettered greed and no market protections for local industry appears to be America.

[b-easy63]

And you wonder why businesses leave the U.S. Ask your cronies in the AFL-CIO what happens to them when businesses leave.

Posted by mudrose at 10:31 AM : Apr 10, 2008


the jobs leave, because domestic American companies can''t compete with the companies who already outsource and get to re-import goods back into America without paying duties or paying very little. In such an environment the ones who bailed make more--because they pay less in the 3rd world country and can sell for less here. In Europe, any American made product or any foreign product usually costs 2 to 3 times the price of the same locally produced product. This is to NOT let the outsources have an unfair marketing advantage.

American companies and our government have screwed their own country--they failed to ensure a strong local market and to put restrictions in place to make sure those who import do not have an advantage over similar locally made goods. That is called short term greed--the result is an industry dead--while the new jobs are just service and pay much less---sooner or later this cannot support the existing econo....ooops--guess later is now, HERE. LOL

[b-easy63]

We live in a global economy. All this will do is discourage other countries from trading with us as they turn to Europe.

Posted by mudrose at 10:54 AM : Apr 10, 2008


Get a clue muddy. Those trading deficits MEANS they aren''t really trading with us anyway--it is a matter of us trading with them and them supplying us--but it is NOT a complete 2 way street. There are products America is not ALLOWED to sell in each country and industries they are not allowed to compete with in each country. What? Are you in the import/export business or something? Or is that where your stock is?

[mudrose-2009]

Talk all you want, the bottom line is: If it isn''''t working, change it. If proponents of Free Trade wanted their policies to be permanent, they should have cared a little more about the financial perception, just or not, of the majority of the voting public, the American Middle Class.
Posted by ianlou

We live in a global economy. All this will do is discourage other countries from trading with us as they turn to Europe.

[ianlou]

Talk all you want, the bottom line is: If it isn''t working, change it. If proponents of Free Trade wanted their policies to be permanent, they should have cared a little more about the financial perception, just or not, of the majority of the voting public, the American Middle Class.

[mudrose-2009]

Nice Job Pewlosi on the Columbia Free Trade deal. That means Columbia can import it''s good free and when we export our goods to them it''ll cost us 35% in tariffs. Nice Job. And you wonder why businesses leave the U.S. Ask your cronies in the AFL-CIO what happens to them when businesses leave.

[b-easy63]

Think about it! A 100% tariff on cars would mean that most people in Michigan would drive cars made in Michigan! Or a large tariff on fruit means I could buy oranges that were grown in New Jersey! Write to your governors and tell them that you want to protect jobs from going to other states.

Posted by kenner116 at 12:31 AM : Apr 10, 2008


better to have tariffs on all imported goods into America. After all, what good does it do to limit the options for people in Michigan--if they don''t have JOBS to pay for the michigan stuff?

[b-easy63]

Only sweet, sweet Bolshevism can save us now.
Meet you in the labor camps, halfwits.

Posted by REALITYCALLS at 11:56 PM : Apr 09, 2008


AFTER they vote for Hillary Clinton.

rotflmao

[b-easy63]

At last !!!!!! A media outlet that dared to say the obvious. NAFTA was divised to give Canadians, Mexicans, & Americans broader consumer choices. Pharmaceuticals are much lower in the other countries on the North american continent. CEOs and Boards of Directors are who decided to outsource jobs to Canada/Mexico. I''''m betting most of them are GOP.

Posted by TiredoftheBS at 12:27 AM : Apr 10, 2008


but those products and services are NOT lower in the USA-so there were advantages to NAFTA....just not for the states. Even though we are the most consumer driven market on the planet and are exploited by the very companies that left us.