Quote:
Originally posted by Spanky
Who is getting hurt by free trade? Is there some law preventing US companies from outsouring jobs overseas that these free trade agreements are repealing? All these free trade agreements do is make it is cheaper consumers to buy products in the United States and easier for the US to sell products overseas. The people that have the most to benefit from free trade are the ones that are voting against it.
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We've been through this before -- people who have lost their factory jobs have been hurt by free trade, and the fact that they can buy cheap Chinese toys for their kids at Wal-Mart on their unemployment checks is cold comfort. Why should they vote for people who support economic policies that cost them their jobs?
Is free trade a net benefit for the economy as a whole? I think so. Are there people who disproportionately benefit from it, and are there people who disproportionately suffer from it? I think so. Should we try to pass laws that spread the pains and gains? Again, I think so. As an aside, I would argue that the current Administration cares more about using free trade as a club against unions and environmentalists than it does about free trade.
