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- johndi, on 09/01/2008, -18/+93Nope, we gave away our edge by legislating and suing it to death. Want to build something? Jump through too many hoops then fight off the lawsuits and nimbies. Want to build a better broadband network? Too bad, if the the incumbents don't buy you outright they will sue you to death and cripple you until the corporate raiders swoop in to pick over your bones. The network won't get built. Hell! Congress gave them the money to do it and they pocketed it. Want to develop resources, not a chance. While Russia is seeing record revenues we refuse to drill. Even if it doesn't drop the price of oil $ .02 we should drill to sell the oil then use the money to develop non-fossil energy sources.
If Canada and Norway can responsibly develop their resources why can't we? I'm not talking about raping the land. I'm talking about responsible development. If we refuse to use our resources and every other country in the World develops theirs we will become a Third World country. The people crippling America are Americans. - uncltim, on 09/01/2008, -9/+74Ross Perot told the truth.
The United States has been the drunk girl at the party for years!
Time to sober up and see how bad the vag is torn. - HongKongBong, on 09/02/2008, -5/+64Seems to me that globalization isn't the problem.
The problem is the US government sticking its greedy paws where it has no business (propping up banks, subsidies, protection of monopolies and corporations) and not doing what governments are supposed to do (maintaining infrastructure, strong currency, etc).
The fact that Washington is completely owned by lobbyists certainly isn't helping. - wildtangent, on 09/02/2008, -8/+39This is awesome ... GREAT JOB.... keep thinking its globalization and free market's fault and destroy your economy even more...
like I told a girl who once complained foreigners like me were taking jobs away from americans. I told her it was an interesting point....... but she forget to get my fries.
I am an Electronics engineer and a commercial pilot. she can serve me fries all she wants her job is safe.
I graduated with only 4 other Electronics engineers in a university of 11,000 students.
Its not globalization ...it is the inability of americans to compete globally ....
But NOOO !!!! Please Please Please Please blame me and globalization.... cuz you can't improve yourselves when you are whining..... - jasoninoakland, on 09/02/2008, -9/+34The biggest problems seem to be the oligopolies of energy, telecom, automotive, etc working in remarkably anti-competitive ways, all with free rein (not a surprise, given who's governed our country over the past 8 years). They've focused on screwing over consumers instead of bettering their product offerings and responding to international competitive pressures.
In industries where lobbyist-rich companies don't dominate (like the Web!), the US still shines. - arjie, on 09/02/2008, -11/+36Globalisation was all fine when you were destroying other people's lives across the globe. When it means that your own companies are facing competition, or that you are losing your jobs to people willing to do the same for less it suddenly becomes bad.
I've noticed this strange dichotomy. If you say that a big Western company is destroying local sources of income in some other place because its size allows it to sell at cheaper rates, it's a great thing. But when those people can do the same job as you at cheaper rates, it's suddenly bad. All the while, these people will be saying, "Labour is a commodity." without blinking.
It's quite obvious, you hate something only when it's happening to you. - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -1/+18The people crippling America are Americans.
Slander!
I will see you court buddy.
Signed
Big Millionaire company - AJKenny84, on 09/02/2008, -3/+19New digg rule, all submissions must contain 98% more Palin.
- Yoseph, on 09/02/2008, -11/+25"Free trade used to seem like a good thing for U.S. businesses and consumers. Now we're not so sure."
Free trade is a good thing for the world. It's the most effective way to end poverty. - seldon452, on 09/02/2008, -3/+16When people type "Yup Yup" I want to stab them.
It is just one of the most annoying things I have ever read. - OfNumbers, on 09/02/2008, -7/+19Is that yup yup a Palin joke?
- austinisi, on 09/02/2008, -5/+15God, people on digg seem to be economically illiterate. Free trade is good. Any attempt to 'protect' American industry or shut off the US from trade will have disastrous effects. (see Smoot-Hawley tariff - Great Depression)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_A ... - bullhead2007, on 09/02/2008, -2/+11Would those digging me down care to refute what I've said?
"Free Trade" agreements like NAFTA and the WTO, are not REALLY about free trade. It's about tax subsidies and anti-competitiveness. I'm all for a real free market system, but we don't have that. Wake up. America is no longer a democratic republic. It's an Oligarchical Plutocracy. - GoBack2Europe, on 09/02/2008, -0/+9Jobs.
In all seriousness, America's largest export is agriculture goods. - TheMachine1, on 09/02/2008, -2/+11Perot was good at summing up our problems with analogies but he had no solutions.
- bullhead2007, on 09/02/2008, -0/+9Exactly.
This country is ***** unless people start realizing, and care, that we are bought, and controlled by corporations and wall street bankers. - SRSco, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9Palin, or Ducky from Land Before Time I-XIII.
Poor Petrie, poor, poor Petrie. :( - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -4/+12That's what you get when you have a bunch of ex-jocks and frat boys running the country and in control of U.S. companies who's idea of understanding foreign markets is going to Europe or the Caribbean for Spring Break and getting drunk and doing coked up sorority girls.
- draculthemad, on 09/02/2008, -1/+9Are you kidding? converting a specific vehicles to an alternative source is already a growing hobby.
The problem isnt the time it will take, or even in large part the cost. It is simply that the vested interests are fighting the entire process tooth, nail, and smoking barrel.
Hence, why we are even talking about ANWR, when every single study finds its a complete non-issue. It wont have any effect at all inside of 10 years, and even after that it will have a negligible one.
But somehow you got the GOP arguing that giving the oil companies more oil is going to *frighten* the consortiums like OPEC into selling off their own supplies in the short-term.
I'm not kidding, that is their primary argument that ANWR will have an immediate effect on prices.
Meanwhile, the congress makes polite noises about tightening regulations to control speculation and the price of crude drops 30$ a barrel. - DaveF, on 09/02/2008, -5/+13...
But, generally speaking, the Protective system in these days is conservative, while the Free Trade system works destructively. It breaks up old nationalities and carries antagonism of proletariat and bourgeoisie to the uttermost point. In a word, the Free Trade system hastens the Social Revolution. In this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, I am in favor of Free Trade.
First published in French as a pamphlet at the beginning of February 1848
Signed: Karl Marx - Schpamm, on 09/02/2008, -1/+8Sad but true. Go to any big college in America and you'll find 10x more psychology, film, and various liberal arts majors than you will computer and engineering majors. Is it India or China's fault that their people would rather learn applied sciences instead of watching reality TV shows and getting rich on bubbles in the stock market?
- Khast, on 09/02/2008, -2/+9If we want to keep thinking we have the best internet, cell phone, or other general technology... I would suggest never leaving the country. We can keep a blind eye to the rest of the world, and keep thinking to ourselves we are the best in the world...when we really have slipped into the technological dark ages....
Or... We could try to improve our systems to keep up to the technological demands of the world.
I bet we stay blind and pretend we are the best...because that is what fascists and corporate interests really want. Put the least amount of money in, and charge everyone as if they were getting the best that technology has to offer. - mardraum, on 09/02/2008, -4/+11because that happens overnight. I gutted my motorcycle and it now runs on Frosted Mini Wheats, took me five minutes.
- jmpeagle, on 09/01/2008, -7/+13exports are what has been keeping our economy out of recession recently. It's why our 2nd quarter growth was 3.3%. Finally the weak dollar and growing developing countries are having a positive impact.
- shig, on 09/02/2008, -1/+7Offering free trade deals, no,.. "most favored trading" status, or "free trade plus", to a country that utilizes slave labor, was always bad. It is not just unfair, but it is an immoral form of competition, that American workers have suffered from. The same goes for dumping subsidized corn in Mexico and driving out their domestic corn producers. It's also unfair, and an immoral form of competition, that Mexican farmers have been forced into further poverty because of it. Those are just two examples.
No red-blooded American citizen has ever supported these trade systems. Only fat cat, world-tripping, globalists have supported them. So they can make money at the expense of a people they don't consider themselves a member of, or beholden to. They are "citizens of the world", they have no loyalty to anyone else. They aren't Americans, or Indonesians, or Mexicans. Those are just "things" they consider exploitable.
The problem with free trade deals, as I see it, is that they are enforced by international law so that any barrier to "free trade" is open to litigation. What we need is a mixture of trading systems based on merit and the equality of production. If free trade is your only legal option for every product, under any circumstance, and without taking the changing economic conditions, or any other variables into consideration, then it provides an incentive to depress foreign prices to our advantage (ie. dumping corn in Mexico), and opening ourselves to the same thing (ie. Chinese slave goods).
Obviously, free trade should only be reserved for certain goods, and negotiated tariffs should be imposed on others. A combination of protectionist, free, and fair trade, is the optimum policy. The good news is that we have the institutions required to debate and negotiate trade policy that is fully funded and ready for such a task.
An end of globalization, and the halt of North American integration via NAFTAplus, can only mean good things for America and the World. - pintomp3, on 09/02/2008, -0/+6if sweatshops are GOOD, the slavery must be GREAT.
- asunesara, on 09/02/2008, -1/+7Economically illiterate is correct. Furthermore, people ought to remember that trade is only a marginal percentage of our total GDP (less than 15 percent). The state of our economy isn't JUST based on how much we export and how dependent we are on imports--you have to look at the WHOLE picture.
Also, the success of Americans is going to depend on how well we can adjust to a rapidly changing market. This is why American colleges are so unique and meritocratic--they teach you how to adapt and learn. This is going to be an increasingly important concept to understand and implement for the U.S. to stay competitive.
Third, the U.S. is in good shape believe it or not. The media just makes it look like all hell is going to break loose. The rest of the world is just catching up. Its not that the U.S. is sucking...its just not as well off RELATIVELY. Surely, I'll be buried for thinking the U.S. economy is going to be okay. Its just a cycle and eventually the market will bring us to equilibrium (i.e. exports increased this year). Eh, we'll see. - EndouOuto, on 09/02/2008, -1/+7I hope your not foolish enough to think
that the dems will be any better. - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -5/+11It would be nice if our health care system was "equal" to Europe, but hey anything good for the working man is "socialism" right?
- JoshuaGross, on 09/02/2008, -2/+7Karl Marx was a terrible economist.
- bjornski, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5In the 70's, it was common to see bumper stickers saying "Buy American, your job depends on it".
They weren't lying. - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -1/+6I agree
- bullhead2007, on 09/02/2008, -9/+14"Free Trade" like just about every other ***** policy passed in the last 50 years is double speak.
Free Trade agreements kill the free market, the local economies, and jobs here. It's all about global capitalism. Being able to use 3rd world countries to make our ***** cheaper than we're willing to work so the CEO and shareholders can buy an extra Porsche. - bugsy187, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5How do you explain the economic improvement of South American countries like Brazil who have rejected "globalization," the investor rights international policies that reap heavy profits for politicians and wealthy before they skip out of the country and leave the remaining populace to pay the debt?
- WalkerTXclocker, on 09/02/2008, -1/+6I dug you up, but it would be libel not slander.
Signed
Vocabulary Nazi - D1ckFace, on 09/02/2008, -0/+5When you add up the debt to the people in pensions, healthcare, trade etc 100 trillion is a conservative estimate. the consitution was created to prevent leaders from screwing up but it was ignored. checks and balances don't work as most fd the key policy makers and decision makers are in the pockets of industry.
Argue away - it might sound crazy but it's true to the extent that you are expected not to because you are expected to follow the crowd that is fed the propaganda of the controlled mainstream media. Seek the truth and the truth will set you free. - bsmeteronhigh2, on 09/02/2008, -2/+7Our fearless leaders seemed to place other nation's needs, wants and desires before our own. While our industries were required to meet pollution standards, worker standards and a host of other "standards" not to mention a host of taxes--other countries could pretty much do whatever they wanted. Perhaps we need a wall in Washington D.C. that we can spray paint protests and hang effigies to let them know how we really feel. Seems writing to our Congressmen and Congresswomen is only an exercise in mental masturbation. Granted a protest wall would be a similar exercise, but it would feel wonderful to spray paint " (insert name here) is a ***** because (insert reason here). Maybe even have a C-Span camera focused on it 24/7.
- repins, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN? Really? Who do you think gave away so much to China? Think when did it happen? Yep, when BILL CLINTON was in office, do some research.
- NoUse, on 09/02/2008, -4/+8Globalization isn't hurting us. The fact that we don't take education as seriously as we should is.
How are you going to compete globally in Biotech when 44% of Americans believe evolution is "Probably or certainly false?"
http://www.pollingreport.com/science.htm - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -3/+7Actually the rich greedy republican corporations are the ones that hire all the sweatshop workers. Republicans care about nothing but money and that's why this country is falling apart.
- inactive, on 09/02/2008, -2/+6RON BURGUNDY.
- pigfister, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4Did the USA actually abolish slave labour, or did they just move it to Asia and Mexico? As American wealth was created from the abuse of human beings.
- seanovan, on 09/02/2008, -1/+5Nice comment, sir. Nice comment.
- Barackalypse, on 09/02/2008, -5/+9Globalization isn't the problem. The problem is reckless spending (financed by debt aided by artificially low interest rates), insufficient investment in critical infrastructure, lack of commitment to academic success (failing school systems, parents that don't care their children are failing), moral decay and the rise of a welfare state mentality (go watch some video from Hurricane Katrina to see what entitlement attitudes look like). In short, its a people that don't exhibit the values that made this country great and are increasingly likely to turn to their inept government for answers when it only adds to the problems.
- xtmno3, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4But I thought every child was special, unique, and good at everything? A generation of inept parents are raising a generation of inept children. Things will most likely get much worse before (if) they get better.
- inactive, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4Once again, it's businesses giving away "our" jobs, not the government. The problem is most government officicials INCLUDING the democrats are getting money hand over fist from the corporate world to pass laws that support their endeavor. Until now that is, because offshoring is not longer panning out as well, jobs are going to come back home. The corporations will follow the offshoring, inshoring trend as long at they see fit. They go where the money is and they manipulate the gov. to support their best interests.
- Aeaus, on 09/02/2008, -3/+7TL:DR Version:
Page 1:
Oh We're *****
Page 2:
But that's okay because... *smiles and sunshine* - fuzzmeister, on 09/02/2008, -0/+4Care to explain?
- Riffraffs, on 09/02/2008, -0/+3>No super powers, no USA being "superior". I thought you wanted everyone equal?
>Not so funny now is it?
actually it is... - inactive, on 09/02/2008, -1/+4Free trade only works if governments stop writing exclusive policies.
As a foreign company cannot set up shop in America without Government lobbying, no one is going to do it. Look at Richard Branson! Wanted to spend Millions setting up Virgin America, in the end Americans did it with thier own money, nothing was input.
Big mining and technology could never gain a foothold in America as they are not allowed to do it. You have to be American to own a Company in America unless you get "special" treatment. ($$$ in the back pocket of half the GOP should do it) Murdoch had to become American to buy out the newspapers he wanted...
Free trade works when new companies and new products are allowed to set up and manufacture in America even though the person might be from Tanzania. Only then can it work. At the moment america does not punish imports but you can't compete against massive Government subsidies of food, farming, military and metals, technology and pharma. That means you Americans pay 10 times more for the food you eat, its controlled.
You pay for it with taxes, then you pay for it at the shop. You might Export more sugar than you will import, but you will pay 5 times more for it.
For eg, If a Distributor has a monopoly on Sugar, the local food manufacturers in America will pay 5 times more than its global value,this puts pressure on local prices only and does not affect the global value, the sugar is exported first, then sold locally. You are competing against that. The global shopper gets it for less than its worth while the locals make up the difference. In the meantime you have already subsidized the farmers to produce it. If they can't afford to produce it and compete then the market is distorted. The American Sugar market is exactly that, Distorted.
But that is just one of hundreds of markets Americans cannot compete in. You have crippled your own markets for the sake of political and stock market gains that have held prices far too high. -
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