What is Clinton's, Obama's, and Edwards's stance on free trade?

Question

I poped the question cause I don't hear the candidates debating these issues. Anyone have any info?

Obama's for it! you're kidding.

Spock, do you realize who we're "free" trading with. We're trading with governments that have reduced their people to despicable labor practices, I guess that happens when we're dealing with tyranies. I understand that workers in China get only one day off in a month. Sounds pretty close to slavery to me. Yep that's the kind of trading we're doing. No wonder we're getting these incredibly cheap prices, along with crapshoot quality too! I'am for trading with democracies and not tyranies.

Damian, thank you for tellin it like it is.

Spock, do you realize who we're "free" trading with. We're trading with governments that have reduced their people to despicable labor practices, I guess that happens when we're dealing with tyranies. I understand that workers in China get only one day off in a month. Sounds pretty close to slavery to me. Yep that's the kind of trading we're doing. No wonder we're getting these incredibly cheap prices, along with crapshoot quality too! I'am for trading with democracies and not tyranies.

Answer 1

Wow there are a lot of ignorant answers on here so far.

First off, Hillary is for free trade just as her husband was. Obama has said he supports free trade but with some improvements for environmental and safety standards. Edwards is the only one of the big three that wants to redo our agreements to include environment, safety, and labor requirements.

Why are so many conservatives on here for laissez-faire free trade? Don't you realize it hurts our economy by forcing our labor force down to the same level as poor workers in other countries in order to remain competitive? Don't you agree that the more money in the pockets of a typical factory worker is more money that will be spent and moved through the economy creating more jobs and more profits? It's called the money multiplier effect, and it's been proven time and again to work. So I don't understand why so many people would rather outsource all manufacturing and many service jobs to foreign countries where there are no laws against child labor, or protecting the environment, or allowing workers to bargain collectively, or get a paid a decent minimum wage. If these other countries had laws similar to ours, jobs wouldn't be leaving this country at the fast rate they have been in the last 30 years, and the people in these other countries would make enough money to afford the goods they make, which would cycle through the global economy creating more jobs and more profits. It seems a few people have convinced them that a race toward the bottom works for everybody, when it clearly doesn't.

Answer 2

all three are in favor of saving US jobs -- and by just about any means possible. I think that means no more free trade deals.

one of them specifically said s/he'd revisit all the existing free trade deals in the name of environmental protection and labor rights. That sounded like a threat to formally recind the free trade agreements to me. [I think it was Hillary.]

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a prime cause of the Great Depression was the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. H-S raised import taxes to the highest level in over 100 years -- in the name of protecting jobs. It backfired when other nations did the same and world trade plunged.

The plunge in world trade threw sailors, longshoremen, railroad workers, and truckers out of jobs. They then cut back on spending and the malaise spread throughout the rest of the economy.

Answer 3

They are against free trade and advocate for more government intervention (socialism).

Answer 4

They will freely trade anything for a vote.

Answer 5

Depends on the audience.

Answer 6

Obama is for it, it is on his website. I am not sure about the others.

Answer 7

homina-homina-homina