While I was perusing right-wing economist indoctrinations on some political-theoretical concept(s) that they call "free trade" ("theoretical", because it is a phenomenon that they seldom acknowledge does not exist), it occurred to me that their critique(s) of Hillary Clinton are ... partisan, not 'good theory' defended.
Why? Because the GOP have quite a few people who are not "free trade" adherents - some of them are even running for President currently (one of them, is).
Capital (money) has complete mobility, under the "free trade" flag that many right-leaning and right-centered folks fly. On the other hand, people - labor - certainly do not have complete mobility ("shut those borders to those darn 'immigrants', son, even if you have to do it yourself!").
THE LIMITS OF FREE TRADE
Very nearly everything that is manufactured can be manufactured cheaper in China, because labor costs are maybe something like 1/10th that of the USA. China also has enough people to make enough of everything, an almost endless supply of cheap labor.
So, free traders, should we simply move all of our production to China? Why or why not?
Does it matter that they are, technically, still a communist regime (like Cuba)? Does the fact that they do not share a single currency matter? Does it matter if we continually sell off assets, even after 'dark matter' accounting, to support "free trade"?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Another Way Immigration Issue Works Against the GOP
