|
The declining "free trade" advocacy cartel has few facts to show they are
right. But the burden of proof remains on us wanting to correct
the mistakes of current trade policy.
Free traders disdain
thought, and resort to presenting an argument as an accepted truth,
then forcing you to prove otherwise. The tactic is employed out
of laziness or to mask the reality that the facts are not on your
opponent's side.
The free traders say:
"You don't believe in comparative advantage."
"Free trade increases prosperity for everyone, though there are certainly some losers."
"Smoot Hawley was devastating for the international political economy
and we don't want to go back to that protectionism again."
While
these false "truisms" can be rebutted, we should start demanding that
the free traders present us with facts, not mere repetitive
phrases. And I mean facts to show benefits that outweigh the harm
of:
* 4 million lost jobs;
* 40,000 factory closings;
* a $2.5 billion per day trade deficit;
* a potentially hostile country being our biggest banker;
* trade deficits in every major product category across the economy;
* rampant technology transfer through espionage or questionable business arrangements.
We
have proven our case. They spout phrases and clichés. To shift
the burden of proof, and require full engagement on the issues, we need
to clearly identify their methods as empty and meaningless.
Otherwise we will continue talking past each other and gain little
progress.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed