General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 'Today Marks the End of TTIP': Greenpeace Leak Exposes Corporate Takeover [View all]Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)"Free trade is good!"
It's been "good" for the one percent: corrosive for the working class.
"Yeah but this one is different: It'll raise our exports!!!"
If and when they ever raised them, they were offset gigantically by the imports. Net job loss.
"Yeah yeah, but that meant lower prices for goods!"
Not necessarily. It meant fatter bottom lines for the rent seekers cutting their production costs while selling to established domestic markets. In any case, you're killing demand as un or underemployed aren't buying as much, and what they buy isn't nourishing their co-citizens.
"But the rest of the world will rise up to our standards, even as yours lower. In the long run, it'll even out".
As J Keynes said, "in the long run, we're all dead". In the short run, the rentier class profits enormously. Quite an ancillary coincidence, isn't it?
"Well, we'll compensate the losers via redistribution"
Cold comfort. Day late and a dollar short. Never happened anyway, and at best provided a conduit for underemployment.
"What are you, a xenophobe?. You have it too good. What about Vietnamese farmers?!"
How is expecting public policy in the country we live in and participate politically in selfish?
"We will bury you".
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for your ilk.
"Yeah, but the republicans are worse"
Haven't we heard that before, only to see nothing change?
"Go away".
Why didn't you just say that to begin with?
"We need your vote."