timschochet
Footballguy
It’s time to end the protectionism debate, time to get rid of our remaining tariffs. History shows time and again, over and over and over, that free trade creates prosperity. And it stops wars.
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Free trade creates prosperity. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter timschochet
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timschochet
Footballguy
From Modern Times by Paul Johnson (highly respected British historian):
India and Pakistan maintained ultra-protectionist policies after independence, with protection levels of 313 and 271 percent respectively, and that is one reason why their living standards have risen so much slowly than in the market economies of Eastern Asia.
India and Pakistan maintained ultra-protectionist policies after independence, with protection levels of 313 and 271 percent respectively, and that is one reason why their living standards have risen so much slowly than in the market economies of Eastern Asia.
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Free trade contributes to climate change.
Is that true? I actually kind of doubt it for a few reasons. (Edit: Never mind. I don't doubt it.)
Either way, prosperity (and the technological progress it affords) will probably be an important component in combating climate change.
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LawFitz
Footballguy
Free trade is a wonderful economic concept that creates a overall rising tide due to availing of comparative advantages on each side. The problem that arises politically is when certain boats rise with that tide, while others sink - especially if the former greatly outnumber the latter.
Stoneworker
Footballguy
From a 1988 speech:
Here in America, as we reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for, we should take a moment to recognize that one of the key factors behind our nation's great prosperity is the open trade policy that allows the American people to freely exchange goods and services with free people around the world. The freedom to trade is not a new issue for America. In 1776 our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, charging the British with a number of offenses, among them, and I quote, "cutting off our trade with all parts of the world," end quote.
And that same year, a Scottish economist named Adam Smith launched another revolution with a book entitled "The Wealth of Nations," which exposed for all time the folly of protectionism. Over the past 200 years, not only has the argument against tariffs and trade barriers won nearly universal agreement among economists but it has also proven itself in the real world, where we have seen free-trading nations prosper while protectionist countries fall behind.
- Ronald Reagan
#2 Greatest American Political Figure of the Modern Era
Here in America, as we reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for, we should take a moment to recognize that one of the key factors behind our nation's great prosperity is the open trade policy that allows the American people to freely exchange goods and services with free people around the world. The freedom to trade is not a new issue for America. In 1776 our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, charging the British with a number of offenses, among them, and I quote, "cutting off our trade with all parts of the world," end quote.
And that same year, a Scottish economist named Adam Smith launched another revolution with a book entitled "The Wealth of Nations," which exposed for all time the folly of protectionism. Over the past 200 years, not only has the argument against tariffs and trade barriers won nearly universal agreement among economists but it has also proven itself in the real world, where we have seen free-trading nations prosper while protectionist countries fall behind.
- Ronald Reagan
#2 Greatest American Political Figure of the Modern Era
timschochet
Footballguy
timschochet
Footballguy
Stoneworker
Footballguy
From the Solar Energy Industry Association:
- As a consequence of reduced solar deployment due to tariffs, CO2 emissions will increase by more than 26 million metric tons.
- This is equivalent to the emissions from 5.5 million cars or 7 coal plants.
- U.S. solar panel prices are now among the highest in the world
- Prices are 43 - 57% higher than the global average, leading to higher prices for customers and reducing overall demand.
- More than 10.5 GW of solar installations will not be deployed due to tariffs.
- This unrealized deployment would have produced enough electricity to power 1.8 million homes.
The High Cost of Solar Tariffs
timschochet
Footballguy
See here’s the wonderful thing about free trade: it benefits both sides. If China gets a windfall then so do we. If China gets hurt by tariffs then so are we. It’s always a win win.
Sand
Footballguy
It's significantly more complex than that. By encouraging free trade we're implicitly throwing the Paris Accord you so dearly love into the trash. China doesn't give a #### about the environment (which is why they rule the rare earth metal market and have 2500+ coal power plants). It hurts domestic jobs. It sends technology overseas for critical items here.
There are a lot of reasons for some protectionism here.
LawFitz
Footballguy
You way oversimplify this concept to fit your narrative.
A. You are ignoring whether or not it benefits both sides equally or disproportionately, which has political ramifications when dealing with arguably rogue state characters like China.
B. You completely ignore the idea that it doesn't benefit all Americans equally. In fact, there is plenty of valid discussion that it has benefitted the corporate class, while hurting the working class tremendously.
Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that trade is universally problematic and we should shut in as a nation. But it is much more complicated and nuanced than you imply in this thread.
