General Discussion

kristopher

(29,798 posts)

36. Because you explicitly said that?

Sun May 10, 2015, 10:28 PM

May 2015

"Trade agreements lower America's living standards to raise others. Angers me."

You now write "Why would a president push so hard to level the playing field economically with other countries? His job is to care for OUR country."

Yes, his job is to care for our country. And from what I've seen he is doing his very best under what are probably the most difficult opposition any president has ever had to deal with.

IF - just IF - the deal is designed as it is supposed to be and it removes incentives to shop the world for sweatshop labor by providing extending US standards for environmental protection and wages to developing countries, wouldn't it be foolish of him to tip his hand to the malevolent billionaires and their congressional critters?

I realize that cuts both ways, but my topic is energy and moving away from carbon. I've seen some remarkable and positive changes occur (especially in China) and I think those changes are largely the result of Obama's backdoor diplomacy with China on the energy front. Based on that and a few other moves like health care and net neutrality, I believe he is working for the people as best he can.

So I guess it boils down to the fact that I still trust him.

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Trade agreements lower America's living standards to raise others. Angers me. [View all] madfloridian May 2015 OP

Yep... And We Were Warned... WillyT May 2015 #1

.... madfloridian May 2015 #2

Yes....we were warned, bvar22 May 2015 #133

K&R! marym625 May 2015 #3

K&R CharlotteVale May 2015 #4

She's very good at what she does, but what she does is very, very bad. NYC_SKP May 2015 #5

She likes conversations. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #9

A buck is all it needs to be to make that claim that she's for an increase. NYC_SKP May 2015 #11

She's blowing smoke 840high May 2015 #48

Well, you can't raise the other countries standards of living......... socialist_n_TN May 2015 #6

+1 - Let's keep on repeating this - It's a rigged game. erronis May 2015 #109

TPP part starts at 8:00 in, 40% of world trade, it's going to save women, she says. NYC_SKP May 2015 #7

"it's going to save women" WTF ...holy twisted link sausages Batman! L0oniX May 2015 #13

"Better jobs, higher wages, better working conditions, including for women, migrant workers, others" NYC_SKP May 2015 #14

I eagerly await all those new jobs working 16 hours a day 7 days a week for $1.35 a day. L0oniX May 2015 #18

Plus she's wrong LittleBlue May 2015 #34

Thanks for mentionng that. madfloridian May 2015 #141

Don't worry. Global warming will lower ALL our standards of living soon enough. n/t Binkie The Clown May 2015 #8

I'm afraid you're right. SusanCalvin May 2015 #23

Great post. Couple of things. It's a farse that if the so-called Free Trade agreements lower our rhett o rick May 2015 #10

Hey ...as long as the slave owner looks pretty or runs in the proper circles... L0oniX May 2015 #17

I remember that. madfloridian May 2015 #21

"Nike sweatshops, Asia, the 1990s-onward" SMC22307 May 2015 #62

Beat me to it. tazkcmo May 2015 #113

All Too True cantbeserious May 2015 #12

K&R MissDeeds May 2015 #15

Big K&R! Enthusiast May 2015 #16

European countries do more to help the Third World through trade and does it without damaging pampango May 2015 #19

/\_/\_This right here_/\_/\ Scuba May 2015 #89

You still have an overseas job? B Calm May 2015 #95

Other than the Peace Corps, I never have had an overseas job. What kind of question is that? n/t pampango May 2015 #111

Precisely this! ^ wendylaroux May 2015 #126

Couldn't even bring myself to watch the video for minutes I'll never get back. Hillary is on track libdem4life May 2015 #20

Hey Mad-F - you are way wrong on this one . . FairWinds May 2015 #22

I should have said they CLAIM to raise living standards... madfloridian May 2015 #24

Yep. For the corporations and the superrich. SusanCalvin May 2015 #27

It's a race to the bottom. n/t Exilednight May 2015 #25

K & R. The Investor Class is doing fine from the system and is already rationalizing appalachiablue May 2015 #26

Something is wrong with that man. madfloridian May 2015 #44

It's not even about raising others standards..... daleanime May 2015 #28

Exactly. They only CLAIM to raise the standards. They only make themselves richer. madfloridian May 2015 #30

It is mostly about exploiting anybody and anything for profit, like it's always been except appalachiablue May 2015 #50

Amen..... daleanime May 2015 #51

Stop The TPP!! AzDar May 2015 #29

What if the agreement actually does correct the deficiencies of past agreements? kristopher May 2015 #31

Why should I blame the poor in other countries? They are victims like our own poor. madfloridian May 2015 #32

Because you explicitly said that? kristopher May 2015 #36

And if it doesn't work as it should? madfloridian May 2015 #38

Yeah, that is the meat of the issue, isn't it? kristopher May 2015 #40

Even that is essential vaporware, the "deal" is that China will continue to escalate emissions for TheKentuckian May 2015 #106

You couldn't be more wrong. kristopher May 2015 #115

If I couldn't be more wrong then you will point out how what I stated is inaccurate. TheKentuckian May 2015 #132

I have seen remarkable changes tennstar May 2015 #122

What's more, the 1% owns a lot of our party also. madfloridian May 2015 #33

I agree. Carper is my senator and he is owned by the banks. kristopher May 2015 #37

May I quote a University Distinguished Professor of Education at Michigan State, Yong Zhao madfloridian May 2015 #39

Yes, I'm aware of that movement in Asia. kristopher May 2015 #45

K&R JEB May 2015 #35

How has your "lifestyle" taken a hit from trade? And why shouldn't we care about people in other Hoyt May 2015 #41

One can "care" about those in other countries.... madfloridian May 2015 #42

Our country is not being brought down to "their" level. Honest to god, this sound Tbaggerish to me. Hoyt May 2015 #43

Ha, never been accused of being a teabagger before. lol madfloridian May 2015 #46

that's one of the tactics being used ibegurpard May 2015 #55

I find it hard to take some of those remarks seriously. madfloridian May 2015 #77

Wages and wealth for the middle class and poor have declined drastically the past 25-30 years, Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #53

their excuse is that its inevitable ibegurpard May 2015 #56

So to keep your lavish lifestyle, we can't help people in poor countries with trade. Hoyt May 2015 #57

Do you know who just said something similar? ibegurpard May 2015 #59

Thanks for that. madfloridian May 2015 #67

"Unbelievable. But not from him." Correct. closeupready May 2015 #129

What a strange thing to say. madfloridian May 2015 #60

It's not at all hard to respond ibegurpard May 2015 #64

And Tbaggers are opposed to helping furiners, like you guys. Hoyt May 2015 #69

Most elected Baggers are on YOUR side. Keep that in mind as you throw accusations. DisgustipatedinCA May 2015 #103

I'm talking the tbaggers on the street. Hoyt May 2015 #107

I bet. Being a greedy American is hard to rationalize . Hoyt May 2015 #68

And there you have it madfloridian ibegurpard May 2015 #71

Are you poor? I've said there are lots of things we need to do for poor. Hoyt May 2015 #73

.... madfloridian May 2015 #142

Yes, those greedy bastards making $8.50 an hour at Wal Mart or Dollar General Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #72

they obviously don't appreciate how good they have it ibegurpard May 2015 #74

No those who think trading among ourselves and screwing the poor in countries like Vietnam, Hoyt May 2015 #75

So our standard of living goes down ibegurpard May 2015 #78

Has your standard of living gone down? Has it ever occurred to you that Hoyt May 2015 #80

You get your own house in order first before worrying about fixing someone else's house. Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #79

And you are just parroting the xenophobic tbaggers. Hoyt May 2015 #81

Everybody against another fake free deal is now a xenophobic tgagger. Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #82

And xenophobic tbaggers agree with you. Hoyt May 2015 #83

And this scum agrees with you. Elwood P Dowd May 2015 #84

Obama, Deval Patrick, Brookings, etc., disagree with you. Hoyt May 2015 #105

Are you trolling? You have taken the side of the Republicans on this one. DisgustipatedinCA May 2015 #104

And, you have taken the side of ignorant, xenophobic Tbaggers. Hoyt May 2015 #144

Have you been to Vietnam? know anything about the economy there? Jesus Malverde May 2015 #143

Their GDP is better than ours. LMAO. When you have nothing, a few dollars is a big percentage Hoyt May 2015 #145

I take it you haven't been to Vietnam recently Jesus Malverde May 2015 #146

It's still poor, very poor. And closing the TPP door on them won't help. Hoyt May 2015 #147

Ah pity one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Jesus Malverde May 2015 #148

Kenya, Malaysia, etc., are growing fast too. But not in absolute terms. Hoyt May 2015 #149

Wingnut canard and a logical fallacy. HughBeaumont May 2015 #91

Excellent response! Thank you! LongTomH May 2015 #128

I cannot help but think this is the G. H. W. Bush New World Order made flesh. Enthusiast May 2015 #92

You think doing nothing is going to help? Hoyt May 2015 #99

Doing nothing would be preferable to handing the corporations even more power over our lives. Enthusiast May 2015 #100

Strawman fallacy LongTomH May 2015 #130

No, sitting back and doing nothing will disadvantage us long-term. You'll be sleeping on straw. Hoyt May 2015 #131

Argument by assertion also, Argument from adverse consequences LongTomH May 2015 #134

And you've offered absolutely nothing of value regarding the issue under discussion. Hoyt May 2015 #135

Paul Volcker, years ago, 1979. Ikonoklast May 2015 #94

I've had the same thoughts in my mind for years StarzGuy May 2015 #47

...^ that 840high May 2015 #49

you haven't said near enough, StarzGuy Skittles May 2015 #54

the people say it "helps developing nations" are the ones benefiting from pimping our jobs offshore Skittles May 2015 #52

It helps poor people in rich countries to subsidize rich people in poor countries n/t eridani May 2015 #90

VERY WELL SAID Skittles May 2015 #121

Please spread the meme--thqnks n/t eridani May 2015 #137

It should anger you ibegurpard May 2015 #58

You can see the effects very quickly too. Puzzledtraveller May 2015 #61

others for the record nationalize the fed May 2015 #63

That last video is amazing. nt. polly7 May 2015 #66

Thanks for those videos. madfloridian May 2015 #70

K&R! n/t Michigan-Arizona May 2015 #65

And it all ends up in the pockets of the oligarchy AgingAmerican May 2015 #76

Another OP hit out of the park! haikugal May 2015 #85

. stonecutter357 May 2015 #86

. stonecutter357 May 2015 #87

From a 2009 article in the NYT: ohheckyeah May 2015 #88

This is the gist of it. kentuck May 2015 #101

Yep and ohheckyeah May 2015 #124

Now that is a very scary statement. Bookmarking that link. madfloridian May 2015 #120

You're welcome. ohheckyeah May 2015 #123

I'm past the anger stage, Alkene May 2015 #93

Corporate Democrats are licking their chops at the chance to ship millions of jobs to Vietnam whereisjustice May 2015 #96

On raising the boats ~ TBF May 2015 #97

We can't compete with third world shantytown dwellers who are forced to work for pennies mb999 May 2015 #98

I'm taking your word for it on this free trade shit, DU. redruddyred May 2015 #102

The logic of these massive trade deals is exactly backwards. DirkGently May 2015 #108

Well, if that were really the reason, it wouldn't be without merit. malthaussen May 2015 #110

It's a finite planet The2ndWheel May 2015 #112

"simply being an American isn't going to get you anything. We're not special." madfloridian May 2015 #116

Exactly The2ndWheel May 2015 #118

It is very sad because we could use our trade to lift all boats. raouldukelives May 2015 #114

2006 Obama knew there would be "losers" in a "globalized economy." Not be "bloodless" process. madfloridian May 2015 #117

So if he knew then that Free Trade was a scam d_legendary1 May 2015 #119

we works for THEM now Skittles May 2015 #127

According to the scumbag Darrell Issa... americannightmare May 2015 #125

Well... madfloridian May 2015 #140

K & R !!! Thespian2 May 2015 #136

KICK NYC_SKP May 2015 #138

We should do like Canada - charge royalties. kentuck May 2015 #139

Huge K&R "Don't insult our intelligence." woo me with science May 2015 #150

If this was even the case nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #151

K & R ...and reposting that video of Hillary. It's important we hold her feet to the fire on TPP. L0oniX Jun 2015 #152

Kick. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #153