Vicious Circle Of Trade

[cprise]

I thought I would post this here even though it has shown up in LBN:


Vicious Circle Of Trade

By Jeff Faux
Thursday, August 14, 2003; Page A19

The country needs more, not less, debate over the rules of the emerging global market. But The Post apparently will not tolerate anything but fervid devotion to the rigid doctrines of free trade <"Trade Jitters," editorial, Aug 7>. Like some medieval inquisitor, The Post smells heresy when even free-traders such as John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Bob Graham are "less than eloquent in defense of their own records." Their mild expressions of concern about inadequate labor and environmental standards and China's mercantilist practices are declared "worrisome," putting all Democrats on a slippery slope toward becoming "entirely the party of protectionism."


Protectionism is a straw man. The issue is not whether nations should trade with each other but what the rules should be under which they trade. The people of Mississippi are free to trade with the people of Michigan, and both states are the better for it. But because of our Constitution, they trade within federal rules that require worker, consumer and environmental protections that prevent a competitive race to the bottom.

In contrast, the rules of the global marketplace that has emerged over the past quarter-century protect international investors while tossing the rest of society back to 19th-century-style laissez-faire.
(more)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55857-2003Aug13.html

[cprise]

1. DUPE

:eyes:

Someone else already post it here. (Sorry :) )