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In reply to the discussion: Obama is determined to push the TPP through despite opposition [View all]pampango
(24,692 posts)118. There is no 'invisible hand' in international trade or in the domestic economy.
Rather than supporting this tendency, trade policies ought to be devised by nations for the best interests of their own populations ...
Each country pursuing its own self-interest in trade is no more likely to be guided by an 'invisible hand' and achieve the 'greatest good for the greatest number' than it is in our national economy. FDR did not seek a return to the republicans' unilateral tarfi pushed for GATT, the IMF and the World Bank. He saw multilateral trade organizations as preferable to each country protecting its narrow self-interests. He saw the effects of this in the 1920's and 1930's and did not like what he saw.
The richest and strongest protecting their self-interest against the poorer and weaker is not a liberal policy either domestically or internationally. Do the poor have some kind of unfair advantage over the rich that requires the latter to wall themselves off?
Then the poorer country benefits for a little while (a few people also get really rich and join The Club) but just as they start to do better, capital will move again to find a new source of cheap labor.
How do you account for the fact that the bottom 3/4 of the world's population has benefited the most over the last 25 years? Some might have thought that the global poor would only benefit for 10 years or 20 years and then the bottom would fall out when capital moved on to find cheaper labor. Well, according to the figures it has not happened after 25 years. Might it still be just around the next corner?
If we take excess income gains from the our 1% and distribute them to our middle class, we can help them without reversing the income gains of the lowest 3/4 in the world.
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Remember when Obama was overheard saying he'd have more "flexibility" in his second term?
Marr
Feb 2014
#3
“And understand this: If American workers are being denied their right to organize...
Orsino
Feb 2014
#125
what does that have to do with President Obama pushing this horrible "trade" deal?
cali
Feb 2014
#10
Exactly. Propaganda must stand prepared to rewrite history on a dime.
woo me with science
Feb 2014
#61
with the help of two democratic presidents the oligarchy can return america to the 1800`s.
madrchsod
Feb 2014
#12
Whatever percentage pays attention and doesn't have a direct benefit in the outcome
Armstead
Feb 2014
#83
We actually got a "NAFTA with Canada" only in 1987. NAFTA just added Mexico to the mix.
pampango
Feb 2014
#113
Okay I know this is Canada, but it is an example of how these things can be abused
Armstead
Feb 2014
#123
Is he still determined to get his Social Security cuts too? We'll find out soon.
Broward
Feb 2014
#26
lol. the story uses the word "push". and it's hardly a secret that he's made this a top priority
cali
Feb 2014
#37
I stand by the fact that "Determined" was most assuredly NOT in the title...
VanillaRhapsody
Feb 2014
#73
nonsense. that's just crap. Under the Constitution, Congress is delegated the authority
cali
Feb 2014
#40
And you just love the lower living standards that piece of legislative shit caused
eridani
Feb 2014
#47
Are these the same voices that tell you what news stories are important...?
LanternWaste
Feb 2014
#107
There are no voices that does that. The cable news networks commonly pick some local
RB TexLa
Feb 2014
#115
Yes, that's exactly what he wants. He hates working people making a living wage
Elwood P Dowd
Feb 2014
#48
"You can't stop the future." That's a nonsensical statement. No one wants to try
rhett o rick
Feb 2014
#51
I support passage of the TPP. Economic isolationism and nationalism are mental
RB TexLa
Feb 2014
#52
What you oppose is democracy and what you support is corporate dominance.
TheKentuckian
Feb 2014
#53
If a community, state, or the country vote for a policy that then can be subverted
TheKentuckian
Feb 2014
#127
Do you recognize that global capitalism will eventually enslave the lower classes?
rhett o rick
Feb 2014
#55
So now you have been reduced to this old backup talking point when all else fails
Elwood P Dowd
Feb 2014
#59
Who the f---k is talking sbout "isolationism"? You're buying into Binary Bullshit
Armstead
Feb 2014
#67
I always favor interconnecting the world. That has never been something the Democratic party has
RB TexLa
Feb 2014
#92
Agreed. Republicans are much more determined to build walls not bridges between people.
pampango
Feb 2014
#96
People here that support TPP don't care about that. They see the words "Free Trade"
Elwood P Dowd
Feb 2014
#116
"I’ll walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States.” Obama 2007
Tierra_y_Libertad
Feb 2014
#70
Mostly agree. The global lower and middle classes have benefited greatly in the last 25 years, but
pampango
Feb 2014
#114
There is no 'invisible hand' in international trade or in the domestic economy.
pampango
Feb 2014
#118
I certainly agree with the advisability of adopting a German-like union system.
pampango
Feb 2014
#121