Does free trade help keep jobs in america or does it lose them
2006-09-20 09:05:14 · 5 answers · asked by Zx55677 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
The problem with free trade is that it's not fair trade. The wealthy have entrenched themselves in our government and turned this country into a plutocracy. The rich get richer off the backs of cheap labor. The free trade agreements pushed thru by our wealthy politicians have given big business the opportunity to send all our good paying jobs abroad. In China, for instance, you can hire 149 Chinese workers for the same cost of 1 American worker. There is no way the American wage earner can ever compete with such an imbalance.
The carrot dangled under every Americans nose was cheaper consumer products. The fact is, this policy is slowing going to erode our economy. Look at what has happened to domestic companies like GM and Ford who can't export labor. Companies like Wal-Mart, which sells nothing made in America, have exploding profits while fewer Americans have health care coverage.
70% of our IT jobs have gone to India. 100% of our textile jobs went to China. Over 50% of our manufacturing and engineering jobs crossed the border into Mexico. The only job grow in America has been in the service industries. Soon we'll be a nation of waitresses and landscape workers.
2006-09-20 10:45:56 · answer #1 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, if there is free trade, then tariffs change and third world countries can get what they deserve in resources without the US hegemony to interfere. Free trade would actually hurt America for reasons other than jobs going abroad, where labor might be cheaper. It would hurt our farmers, who can't compete with other countries without protection. And it would take away a lot of our power over the third world- but you might thinks that's a good thing. We want others to practice free trade so we can take advantage of them while we are protectionists and don't practice it. Now, that's good for America but perhaps quite unfair.
2006-09-20 09:12:28 · answer #2 · answered by Eri T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free trade means job losses for America. Our industrial/manufacturing base used to be the envy of the world. Now it is vestigial at best.
America had its own island economy and we were very prosperous. A prosperous nation who opens the floodgates of trade will suffer from the slave-labor nations who can produce at a much cheaper rate. This is why globalism is a bad idea for America.
2006-09-20 09:12:26 · answer #3 · answered by Paladin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both things at the same time. On the one hand, America loses some jobs (eg Ohio); on the other hand she gains others (eg. Boston?)
2006-09-20 09:09:16 · answer #4 · answered by zap 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is here to stay. Education is the key to us staying on top and we are clearly failing in that department.
2006-09-20 09:09:34 · answer #5 · answered by messtograves 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋