US Politics

Fair Trade Vs Free Trade

Deceptive Dealings

No clues here, but why has Clinton’s campaign chief and Washington political lobbyist, Mark Penn been organising trade agreements with Columbia when Hillary Clinton  professes to be against them. She was all for them when her husband was in the White House and she helped promote them. How come Bill Clinton was paid a fortune in “speaking fees” by the Columbian Government prior to Penn’s activities being discovered. How come Hillary Clinton didn’t sack Penn over this issue but simply and only supposedly changed his area of responsibility. Does he know too much about them – after all he was Bill Clinton’s campaign manager in the first place. The plot thickens!

As we go about our daily lives discussion on the subject of trade is usually confined to the spheres of politicians,  economists, trade unions, employer organisations, lobby groups, academics, financiers, and export / import organisations representing business.  It is not the type of discourse one would expect to hear echoing from within the domains of most working environments or lunch breaks.  This might have to change, if things are going to improve.

 A Company out of Control

The giant retail / importer Walmart is a prime example when discussing the impact of trade on a national economy.  As the country’s most prolific retailer /  importer, Walmart under the present trade arrangements can inflict untold damage on the fabric of American enterprise in manufacturing. When people buy imported goods from such a large organisation they are further adding to America’s foreign debt and unwittingly dismantling the country’s manufacturing capacity, container by Walmart container. The danger being that the jobs and skills that sustained those companies may then be lost forever.

The predatory domestic buying practices of importers like Walmart are well documented and have proved responsible for the demise of many US manufacturing companies forced to close as a result of being pressured to lower their prices to retain Walmart’s custom.   Walmart appears to have perfected the practice of raising the purchasing bar ever higher and when the American market can’t meet its requirements the company sources similar items from China or elsewhere in Asia.  If the status quo continues, America’s manufacturing industry has a bleak future.

 Short Term Gain

Members of the public have been hoodwinked into thinking they are getting a bargain when they shop at these large retailers. They fail to consider “That nothing is cheap if you don’t have a job”. When a company reaches the point where its purchasing power can destroy local manufacturers - then it has become too big.  Something similar to the breakup of the Bell telephone company needs to be considered in the public interest. No company should have that kind of power. By design it has become anti competitive.

The Road to Recovery

The 44th President of the United States of America will need to ensure that a review and reorganisation of US free trade agreements is given a very high priority early in the first term.  Also steps will need to be taken to implement strategies to correct the serious trade imbalance which exists between the US and China.  Additionally it will be necessary to set about establishing an environment where American enterprise can confidently begin investing to create American jobs with the goal of building a more secure, profitable and independent domestic economy. This will take leadership, political courage, bipartisan support and resolve.  And it will take a very special President. It will take a Barack Obama.

The End of the Road

For politicians of the ilk of Hillary Clinton and John McCain, known agents of Washington lobbyists, there can be no role to advance the interests of change in a progressive and more unified, 21st century America. Real change will begin to bear results when their brand of modus operandi is consigned to the dustbins of politics past.

email: john@tellingthoughts.com
website: www.tellingthoughts.com

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