A simple question to ask regarding Free Trade

[Armstead]

Suppose Dr. Who could take people from, say, 1990 before this proliferation of "free trade" agreements started stacking up, and give them a Tardis ride into the future-- today.

They were given a chance to observe and research economic conditions and the structure of business activity today, and then return to 1990 to report back on how the rosy predictions for "free trade" had turned out.

What do you think their response would be?

Your mileage may vary, but my own answer: I'm pretty certain a majority of people back in 1990 would say "Heck no.'" when asked if this is the future economy they want.

Here's what I believe in broad terms.

Trade agreements should be oriented to the common good, not only the dictates of corporations.

I am no expert. But when these things like NAFTA were first proposed and passed, my own "stink meter" went off very heavily. Just applying basic common sense. Do we want to remove protections and encourage policies that will force US workers and domestic businesses to compete with countries where people make $15 a day? Do we want to allow foreign and multinational corporations to have the right to overturn national policies and laws if they conflict with their profit motive?

I have seen the results over years. Read about it. And I have also seen the prior warnings of what could happen come unfortunately true.

I also am opposed to the way they are structured and their very purpose. I believe in trade. But I also believe in carefully applied protectionism. Nations should protect their own economy. The negotiations should protect each nations economy based on specific circumstances of participating nations. They bargain to find middle ground to allow trade, but not to allow it to overwhelm national economies.

I also believe they should not be "one size fits all" with groups of nations, but rather nation-to-nation. Our economic relationship and nature of countries is much different with Canada than Mexico, for example.

[uponit7771]

1. On TPP I'd rather be peeing in the tent than being pee'd on outside of it. Not willing to cut off

... nose to spite face.

If its a net positive on the details

[Armstead]

3. Depends on whose getting peed on

Big Corporations loves their free trade.

Average folks are the ones getting peed on....we get cheap shitty goods but we also get cheap shitty wages...or our jobs get removed altogether.

[kristopher]

4. What is wrong with you??? Don't you know that "What's Good for GM is Good for the Country"?

[Armstead]

5. Used to be sorta true..Until we decided to allow Corporate America to become rapacious Robber Barons

Well they were always that, but until we decided to enable their worst side to dominate

[kristopher]

6. Allow me, please...

That was only true while GM was a union-centric corporation that had been tamed by democratic socialism.

[RDANGELO]

2. The only reason for a wealthy country like ours to have any trade agreements,

is if another country has a resource or an expertise that we don't have. Getting cheap labor is self destructive.