Free Trade- just what can we live without?

[larkrake]

56. I don't know where you get your information, I agree to disagree with you

Life is not better for a huge block of citizens. We have ridden the wave of technology and evolved, yes, but it hasnt improved the quality of life compared to other countries. Tesla sells a rich man's toy- so what has that to do with the economy? We all know that corporations make fortunes. Their economy is surging but it does not trickle down to the single mom who has to have 3 jobs to feed and house her kids.

When I buy something from Europe, Asia, others, I do pay a tariff- it isn't free trade, it is fair trade. I have no problem with that because is is better quality than I can get here.

Our Universities, Hospitals, Health care,energy are not number one, in fact, they are falling to the bottom swiftly yet we are forced to pay ten times as much for them than other nations.On top of that our wages are stagnant- all so CEO's can have their golden parachutes. The same CEOs who wrote the TTP and other trade deals now in the wings

Electric cars are good, but solar cars are far better. Other countries are chasing that tech rabidly, but the US has stifled growth leading away from oil, so our tech is falling behind. As far as software, apps and electronics, Asian countries far outpace the US.

Don't look now, but our country is not United in any way shape or form. Even a LOON like Trump can see that outsourcing has destroyed manufacturing. Our steel towns are wastelands, our farmers suffer. If we allow free trade through corporations manufacturing in 3rd world countries, we turn our backs, even abandon our own industries, farmers, creators, inventors.

I am not an authority on trade, but I have two eyes and six decades of personal knowledge, my father was head pathologist for Smith Kline Pharmaceutical Labs, and a Colonel in the army. My mother a Professor at an Ivy League, a grandfather who was a Logger, another grandpa a US Senator. I've lived all over the World except South America, so I have a few blatant facts to draw from.

When politicians say "Trust me", I do not trust, I research. When corporations write a free trade deal. I raise a red flag, and when companies out source where there are no workers rights, I boycott.

So we disagree, my friend, and you are entitled to your opinion, have a good day.