Karen,
May I add my chip to the discussion between you and Harry? It's really a
matter of arithmetic.
Harry has made the point that where a special trade privilege exists a
relatively small number of individuals (business people or trade unions) in
one particular niche gain a great deal,
Karen,
Nothing is more long-lived than protected infant industries. Firms which
normally would have gone to be replaced by more efficient companies remain
alive to keep the cost of living higher than it need be. This is
particularly true of clothing and shoes and similar industries that sell
Harry, it just doesn't seem that most voters understand the give and take of
free vs protected trade. Either the labor unions take all the blame or the
politicians do when a local economy is affected on the negative side. Since
I've always got my eyes primed for the political ramifications,
Retiring US Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) complained that
socialist governments all over the planet were trying to avoid doing this and
now the US is going to, but he voted for it anyway. Ouch. Reality bites. -
Karen
Trade Bill To Help Laid-Off Workers: Victims of Imports Win Added Benefits
