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pan6467 · 08-17-2004, 01:18 PM

I am not anti gloalization BUT I do believe in FAIR trade not FREE trade.

Example: Japan and China both subsidize their steel industries so that they can produce cheaper steel. We make better steel but the economy is such companies need cheaper to keep prices down. Hence our steel gets hurt. Add that to the fact that we tax imports very very little while other countries tax our products going in exorbitantly and because of those taxes we are priced out of competition.

Now Japan and China have the right idea in that, yes the government may spend a lot in subsidizing and selling at cutrate prices BUT in destroying our industry we then become dependant on them and they can then up their prices.

I believe that we need to tax imports equal to the taxes the country importing taxes our goods. So if China taxes our steel say 50% we should tax theirs 50%. However their government will just subsidize that tax and still sell cheap. It's a catch 22. We could tax as a commodity that says all steel entering must be sold at the same price domestic steel sells. That I don't see happening because too many GOP would talk about how that is socialistic and blah blah blah. Yet they don't seem to care other countries do worse to us.

I also believe our government needs to lay down the law and tell companies that want to go overseas or to Mexico or Canada, that they must pay the same wages as they do here and that they must abide by the same OSHA and EPA laws.

I hate the UN (mainly because they do very little to help countries but find fault in everything the US does), however I do believe the UN could establish a worldwide minimum wage, OSHA and EPA guidelines and any country that does not adhere to these would be faced with fines. I think the US and EU could make this work by not doing business with countries that refuse the minimum wage, OSHA and EPA rules.

Until we find a way to level the playing field this country is doomed. There is no free trade when we're allowing others to tax our exports into oblivion and we let imports come in almost free.

Plus the revenue raised by import taxes would be such that our government would be running surplusses soon.

08-17-2004, 01:18 PM	#33 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	I am not anti gloalization BUT I do believe in FAIR trade not FREE trade. Example: Japan and China both subsidize their steel industries so that they can produce cheaper steel. We make better steel but the economy is such companies need cheaper to keep prices down. Hence our steel gets hurt. Add that to the fact that we tax imports very very little while other countries tax our products going in exorbitantly and because of those taxes we are priced out of competition. Now Japan and China have the right idea in that, yes the government may spend a lot in subsidizing and selling at cutrate prices BUT in destroying our industry we then become dependant on them and they can then up their prices. I believe that we need to tax imports equal to the taxes the country importing taxes our goods. So if China taxes our steel say 50% we should tax theirs 50%. However their government will just subsidize that tax and still sell cheap. It's a catch 22. We could tax as a commodity that says all steel entering must be sold at the same price domestic steel sells. That I don't see happening because too many GOP would talk about how that is socialistic and blah blah blah. Yet they don't seem to care other countries do worse to us. I also believe our government needs to lay down the law and tell companies that want to go overseas or to Mexico or Canada, that they must pay the same wages as they do here and that they must abide by the same OSHA and EPA laws. I hate the UN (mainly because they do very little to help countries but find fault in everything the US does), however I do believe the UN could establish a worldwide minimum wage, OSHA and EPA guidelines and any country that does not adhere to these would be faced with fines. I think the US and EU could make this work by not doing business with countries that refuse the minimum wage, OSHA and EPA rules. Until we find a way to level the playing field this country is doomed. There is no free trade when we're allowing others to tax our exports into oblivion and we let imports come in almost free. Plus the revenue raised by import taxes would be such that our government would be running surplusses soon. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"