For years, the Democratic Party has been saying that they would do something about foreign government trade manipulations, but when they had complete control over the Presidency and both houses of congress in 2009 and 2010, they did virtually nothing. Turned out that they had a left wing, represented by Andy Stern who commutes between Beijing and the White House, that prefers solidarity with world workers ("Workers of the World Unite") to good paying manufacturing jobs for American workers.
Now the Republicans, led by potential presidential candidate Donald Trump, are moving toward a balanced trade position. If the Republicans take a credible position on trade in 2012, they will probably sweep the American midwest and the presidential election. No more idiot scenes with Presidential candidate John McCain standing in front of a boarded up factory while touting his unilateral free trade position.
And it's not only Trump himself, and it's not only talk show hosts Lou Dobbs and Michael Savage. It's now the most widely-listened to talk show host of them all, Rush Limbaugh.
Other Republican candidates need to watch this March 1 interview and take notice. There's a sea change going on in Republican thought on trade. The WTO-legal scaled tariff for balancing trade would be an ideal Republican plank for the 2012 election.
Great Interview. Thank God someone is willing to say the things Donald trump is saying.
Here's what you can do: Start buying American today!
Go to www.BuyAmericanChallenge.com
Comment by Mark Altschuler, 3/3/2011:
The GOP wasl always a pro tariff party. Since Reagan, they have become free trade and have helped destroy our manufacturing. The Dems are not really a union party. They are a public union government worker party. GOP can win if they support fair trade
Response to this comment by Howard Richman, 3/3/2011: I wouldn't be surprised if Donald Trump would get the endorsement of the USW in the general election if he runs against Obama. We're talking about a potential landslide here.
[An] extensive argument for balanced trade, and a program to achieve balanced trade is presented in Trading Away Our Future, by Raymond Richman, Howard Richman and Jesse Richman. “A minimum standard for ensuring that trade does benefit all is that trade should be relatively in balance.” [Balanced Trade entry]
Journal of Economic Literature:
[Trading Away Our Future] Examines the costs and benefits of U.S. trade and tax policies. Discusses why trade deficits matter; root of the trade deficit; the “ostrich” and “eagles” attitudes; how to balance trade; taxation of capital gains; the real estate tax; the corporate income tax; solving the low savings problem; how to protect one’s assets; and a program for a strong America....
Atlantic Economic Journal:
In Trading Away Our Future Richman ... advocates the immediate adoption of a set of public policy proposal designed to reduce the trade deficit and increase domestic savings.... the set of public policy proposals is a wake-up call... [February 17, 2009 review by T.H. Cate]