Chris Vance asked some good questions recently regarding the shift in positioning from Democrats in our state Congressional delegation on the topic of free trade:
One of the biggest questions facing our Democrat dominated Northwest delegation is how hard will they fight to make progress on the biggest issue affecting Washington state's economy -- an issue that is completely stalled and may not have the support of the new President? Will our Democrats fight for free trade? Will our business leaders push them to do so?
One of the most lamentable changes in the post-Clinton Presidency Democratic party has been a steady and growing retrenchment of protectionism. Nixing free trade deals while other countries around the world press their own agreements is not prudent. And eventually, those whom we reject will take umbrage (n/t: Hot Air):
Although Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe sent a courteous message to welcome President Obama, Colombian officials have grown frustrated in the last two years, warning Democrats their friendship, which has cost them much blood and treasure, had limits.Referring to a rejection of free trade, Colombia's vice president, Francisco Santos, said last year: "Colombia plays such a vital role in the continent for U.S. interests that it would be geostrategic suicide to make a decision like that. I wonder who wants to be the one who loses Colombia like they lost China in the 1950s."
If President Obama really wants to demonstrate a functional, pragmatic streak for the economy AND in foreign affairs, he should find a way to move forward again with stalled trade deals with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea...and our Evergreen State Democrats in Congress should join him.
Posted by Eric Earling at January 23, 2009 09:25 AM | Email ThisAlso in South Korea, there is no shame in wealth. It is expected that one should want to get ahead. Whereas here we get the constant guilt trips. And loads of white liberal guilt.
I'd like to give a special shout out to the ridiculous Huckabee voters. By supporting such an MSM endorsed fool in the primary, the path was well cleared for McCain. And McCain was also largely an MSM endorsed fool.
The media was smart enough to see that Huckabee and McCain would lose out, and made sure they got plenty of air time. The religious nuts supported Huckabee on abortion absolutist grounds.
Well today, Obama signed legislation reversing abortion policy. So muddling the primary with the likes of Huckabee, ultimately ended up creating the exact opposite of what the religious right wanted.
Next time, support a popular, pragmatic, and more mainstream candidate, and they will return the favor with sensible centrist to right leaning policy.
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 23, 2009 09:53 AMThe national Democrats have put capitalism on a deathtrack. It is only logical a few states' populations will suffer if they have until now supported themselves with free trade. We are at the top of being one of those states, so too bad for us.
But the congressional delegation will still find themselves blaming Bush for everything. Blaming Bush keeps the local media happy and keeps the spotlight off of the leaders that are committing financial suicide.
It is the big Unions and big Governments turn now, so just start doing with less.
Rationing health care is next.
Posted by: dogg on January 23, 2009 10:00 AMYou have no ally with the US until we can get a republican congress elected who supports free trade. It's best to bite the bullet and loudly and roundly condemn the US political hacks who are holding up these critical agreements that would help not only your countries but the US economy as well.
It is clear that anything that is good for the economy is denounced by the democrats.
Posted by: Jonathan Gardner on January 23, 2009 10:04 AM...and SIR 'Jonathan' (try to follow along) 'my man' is now the Secy of State of the United States, Mrs Clinton.
Posted by: Duffman on January 23, 2009 10:13 AMI just feel sorry for you idiots. The country has already gone to pieces - with the republican GWB and the bankrupt republican policies.
The economy is in the worst shape since the depression, thanks to government deregulation and the failure of the "free market" to self regulate.
As far as free trade - it doesn't exist. I do like how South Korea supports education, unlike what we do here. Notice how we are cutting funding to eduction in Washington state - that will make us even less competetive.
South Korea DOES help its industries out and DOES have universal state sponsored health care. Guess you forgot THAT part. Oh, and you also forgot that Soputh Korean wages went up because of the STRONG UNIONS and the many strikes in the 1980's.
Maybe before you make blanket statements you should actually know what you are talking about.
Posted by: correctnotright on January 23, 2009 10:16 AMI can't wait until she tries to push Obama's ideas and the world just laughts at both of them.
Sure, will be your friends, while pulling the knife out of our backs and collecting American bucks. Hey Duffie, how did that N-Korea deal work out with the Clinton team.
O-that's right, it didn't. They took the bucks and fuel. Then kept on building their nukes!
WA already has spending high enough to educate students. For $12K a year, you could send a kid to the most expensive private school in Tacoma. But, most of the dollars are squandered before they make it to the teachers and the kids. The reality is that opening up education to the free market would offer many more options, would spur growth in a resource that is valuable even in a downturn, and would challenge even the public schools to lift their culture and results based on increased competition. Dems seem to like competition when it comes to software, but not when it comes to education. Why? Mostly because of the entrenched unions that are clinging to education, just like they cling to auto building, even though they are failing at both.
Competition is the key. And yet Obama / Robert Reich want to remove certain skin colors and races from competition for infrastructure stimulus. Not tolerant, not diverse, not effective.
Posted by: Jeff B. on January 23, 2009 10:33 AMIn some cases our products sell themselves. PACCAR and Boeing are the best of breed. MS Windows, expecially the upcoming Windows 7, for all of the Windows versus Apple versus Linux arguments is what most of the world uses and wants. And MS Office is best of breed. But beyond that what do we sell? Wood products? Too tough with the internal restrictions on cutting and the new Commissioner for Public Lands. Rhubarb and Raspberries? We are in Pierce County the largest rhubarb harvesters in the world, but how on earth do you sell rhubarb to someone who have never had it before. Hell, how do you sell it to those who have had it before? (Point of Personal Privilege: Rhubarb pie, just rhubarb, not mixed with anything but sugar, is my absolute favorite.)
Keep the pressure on those Dems in leadership.
Posted by: Deryl McCarty on January 23, 2009 10:38 AMIn some cases our products sell themselves. PACCAR and Boeing are the best of breed. MS Windows, expecially the upcoming Windows 7, for all of the Windows versus Apple versus Linux arguments is what most of the world uses and wants. And MS Office is best of breed. But beyond that what do we sell? Wood products? Too tough with the internal restrictions on cutting and the new Commissioner for Public Lands. Rhubarb and Raspberries? We are in Pierce County the largest rhubarb harvesters in the world, but how on earth do you sell rhubarb to someone who have never had it before. Hell, how do you sell it to those who have had it before? (Point of Personal Privilege: Rhubarb pie, just rhubarb, not mixed with anything but sugar, is my absolute favorite.)
Keep the pressure on those Dems in leadership.
Posted by: Deryl McCarty on January 23, 2009 10:39 AMI'm of the mind that in a lot of ways, Obama is the better choice because we get to shut down some of the racist Democrat mantras of victimization, glass ceilings, etc. while accelerating the downturn to the point that there will be reactionary corrections to the center.
Kick back with some popcorn and the secure knowledge that conservatives with responsible habits and self reliance are far better poised to survive the downturn. It will be fun to watch the tripartite orgy in DC spiral downward. Starnsville, here we come.
@1 South Korea charges an import tax of over 20% on many items, including cars. How free is that Jeff B. I agree completely with you. Charge a 25% tax on all imports, like South Korea does.... Period. Just like in the days when we were building our nation's wealth. Protectionism works (except for multi-national corporations. Hate to break it to you.
I know the GOP is doing all they can to replace American labor with Chinamen but c'mon. Give it a rest for once.
Go back under your rocks.
Posted by: All Facts Support My Positions on January 23, 2009 11:53 AMEric: the BIGGEST change in all relations with China, and the biggest improvement for domestic freedoms within that country are directly a result of our trade with China. VP Santos is 100% correct when he makes the analogy. This is an excellent post!
Duffman: Obama's smart, right? I wonder what his scores were... Have his transcripts ever been made public? Any of his collegiate papers? Or do we just take his word for it that he's intelligent?
NotCorrect: which Obama economic policy is different from those of President Carter (proven to be disasterous), or President Bush (whom you so despise)?
Factless: Hey, how about we start by getting our own house in order and creating a corporate tax structure like in South Korea, with its MAXIMUM rate of 22% (unlike here in the US with a 39.6% maximum rate). We're handicapped 17%.6 to start by our own insane policies.
Paddy: correct. It's absolutely insane - we're actively TURNING DOWN a treaty that would eliminate the last few tariffs we impose on their products and eliminate ALL tariffs they impose on us. The Slavery Party opposing these trade agreements is actually HARMING our own exports because it keeps the existing tariffs in place. That Factless doesn't get it is, of course, indicative of the reasoning capability of that individual..
Swatter: hey, if you think you can navigate a Lincoln Town car through Jongno or Myeong-dong then I'll get one over there for you! :)
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on January 23, 2009 01:56 PMI know the GOP is doing all they can to replace American labor with Chinamen but c'mon. Give it a rest for once.
Racist, aren't we? What do you expect from the party of Slavery!
And Factless and NotCorrectNorRight: what part of A rising tide lifts all boats do you not get? Even President Kennedy understood that much.
Of course you Slavers want to chain everyone down so we all drown when the tide does rise...
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on January 23, 2009 02:01 PMOh Great! Now in adddition to opposing trade to help our economy, the left is going to help it with lots of strikes. Brilliant!Let's give our failing businesses a coup de gras and have 100% government employees with no tax base.
Just remember though, its tough to find nuts and berries during winter here in the northern part of the country. (Oh I forgot the left thinks there are too many people; so starvation is OK as long as its the right people who survive. The Mugage style food distribution system.)
Posted by: KW64 on January 23, 2009 02:55 PMThat is what the thinking of the left would lead one to conclude. But it is clearly wrong. Those who do not trade get poorer not richer. Without trade, our goods would cost more. We would inefficiently make goods ourselves that others could make cheaper and better.
Posted by: KW64 on January 23, 2009 03:19 PMI just want to point out that their businesses don't have to deal with the health care costs that are sinking our competitiveness (especially Detroit). And they pay MUCH less for health care than we do - so they have more efficiency and greater savings.
Posted by: correctnotright on January 23, 2009 03:45 PMI just want to point out that their businesses don't have to deal with the health care costs that are sinking our competitiveness (especially Detroit). And they pay MUCH less for health care than we do - so they have more efficiency and greater savings.
They also pay about HALF the corporate tax rate our companies pay. Should we cut corporate tax rates down to 22%, from the current 39.6%?
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on January 23, 2009 04:00 PMDude, your my hero.... LOL
Keep smacking these libs around. You notice, they have no answers to your statements.
Posted by: Medic/Vet on January 23, 2009 04:20 PMAnd did you see today that the Marxist Messiah, That One, who was held up as a paragon of virtue with his new rules about lobbyists in his administration, broke his day old rules?
These Slaver Party bucket-boys around here won't acknowledge that either... Rules only exist as long as they are convenient, and if a Slaver - like President Obama - lies (demonstrably so in this case) then that's to be ignored. Nothing wrong at all.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Slavery Party.
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on January 23, 2009 04:26 PMDeciding between cuba or columbia is not free trade, free trade would mean we as american can trade with all.
Deciding if the state should put a huge priority or a large priority on government schools is not free trade. Free trade and free markets means the government would get out of the education market so it could flourish or wither as the market demands.
bush, obama, mccain, palin, reagan, clintons... none of them understand or support true free trade.
Posted by: Lysander on January 24, 2009 07:49 AMOn free trade you and I agree 100%. Elimination of all tariffs on all products imported into the US is beneficial to our economy as a whole, regardless if other nations follow. Capital - sales - should flow to the lowest cost source, and that frees up additional capital for development of other businesses and markets.
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on January 24, 2009 08:56 AM