The Hole Dug All the Way to China

American corporations and the U.S. government have used the 'free trade' mantra to justify a myriad of dubious decisions that have benefited foreign governments and helped U.S. companies cut costs. With the latest news that toys made in China are lead-laden, it is becoming clear that all of these years we have been digging ourselves into a hole, and that hole leads all the way to China.

First it was the news that our beloved pets were being poisoned to death by pet food that originated in China. Then we discovered that some of our toothpaste had a Chinese connection, and that certain brands contained poison harmful to humans.

And now we are told that toys made in China are tainted with lead, a substance that has proven highly toxic to children.

The present scenario is the result of years of a misguided trade policy. We have essentially allowed foreign governments to take over a large share of the American market in the name of 'lower prices.' For example, the American toy industry is nearly non-existent. Mattel makes most of its toys using the slave labor in China.

At the same time we have allowed countries such as China to impose highly restrictive tariffs on American exports. China has taken the billions it has made off of these tariffs and promptly used that money against the U.S. by building up its military arsenal.

Republican Presidential contender Duncan Hunter was one of the first to sound the alarm about this unfair trade advantage, along with the outsourcing of American jobs overseas.

Mr. Hunter was perhaps the first to propose a 'fair trade' policy toward China and other such nations, rather than 'free trade.' Free trade is great as long as it is fair. When free trade ceases to be fair, it is no longer free.

Countries that impose tariffs on American goods should face having the same thing done to their goods when they come to the U.S. This is the only fair and reasonable way to do business.

Many have suggested that in response to the string of dangers arising from Chinese products, we should focus on buying American. However, this is much more difficult to do than in the past.

For example, Mattel is an American company, but most of its toys are made in China. Honda is a foreign company but most of the cars it sells in the U.S. are made in the U.S. Ford, GM, and Chrysler are American companies but use parts and materials made overseas.

The U.S. government and the large corporations have only themselves to blame for the present predicament. Perhaps the only method in the short term of dealing with the problem is to implement the provisions of fair trade, place tariffs on all Chinese goods, and demand that American companies stop using Chinese materials until that country cleans up its act.

Duncan Hunter on the Issues--Trade

Washington, DC (TLS). As reported previously, The Liberty Sphere is impressed with Republican Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, R-CA. The candidate is a true American hero, a patriot, a guardian of our borders, and one of the few left in Washington who has remained steadfastly faithful to the ideals of 'the Reagan Revolution.' Hunter was among the many conservatives who swept into power in 1981 with the election of Ronald Reagan to the Presidency.

The passage of time often leads us to forget that Reagan was adept at cultivating and winning the support of so-called 'blue collar Democrats'--those working class citizens in the Midwest in particular that traditionally voted for Democrats but felt betrayed by their Party's sharp turn to the Left on social issues. These blue collar workers saw in Reagan a genuine concern for their values, as well as a concern that American workers were about to be bamboozled in the infancy of the 'global economy.'

'Free Trade' was the mantra of those who jumped onto the globalization bandwagon, and they used that mantra to justify the outsourcing of American jobs to countries overseas that pay mere pennies on the dollar to their workers when compared to American workers. These countries became notorious for a callous indifference not only to workers but to the environment as well.

Since the Reagan era the problem has only gotten worse. Bill Clinton jumped on the globalization bandwagon and pushed for the passage of NAFTA, which only contributed to the outsourcing of American jobs in the name of 'free trade.'

However, a Constitutional Republic such as ours, which is based upon the principles of democracy, can remain free only if everyone plays by the same rules--rules that are fair and equally applied. This is one of the few legitimate roles of government, outside the provision for national security. Government was envisioned by our Founders as what we could describe as the referee in a football game. The playing field must be level for all sides. All sides must play by the same rules. When one decides to gain an unfair advantage, or begins to break those rules of engagement, then the referee must implement penalties.

In the name of 'free trade' American big business broke the rules and engaged in unfair practices that have hurt the American worker and helped America's enemies overseas. Government ceased to be a fair, impartial referee but became a complicit comrade in this grand ruse. In fact, in many ways the referee was paid off.

Thus, the issue is NOT 'free trade' but 'fair trade.' Fair trade does not negate free trade. Fair trade levels the playing field, insuring that ALL parties play by the same rules. The result is a better America and more American jobs...and a halt placed on the rampant outsourcing of labor.

Candidate Duncan Hunter believes in this concept of fair trade. It is actually the only way America can stop from being bamboozled by foreign governments who take advantage of our so-called 'free trade' policies, make billions of dollars, and then use that money we are sending them to oppose American liberty.

China has been one of the worst offenders.

Duncan Hunter would oppose such a raping and molestation of the American worker and the American ideal of freedom for all.

Here are the candidate's own words on the issue of fair trade:

“American workers are the most productive and innovative labor force in the world. Unfortunately, they are asked to compete in an unfair environment against other workers who make only a fraction of a living wage and are employed by companies that face few, if any, responsibilities to the environment or the long-term prospects of their employees. Our domestic manufacturers are forced to compete against foreign companies that benefit from their country’s currency and regulatory regimes. Ominously, China is cheating on trade and using billions of American trade dollars to build ships, planes and missiles at an alarming rate while, at the same time, taking millions of American jobs. I will reverse this “one-way street” with a new policy of fair trade for the American worker. "

The Liberty Sphere thinks this is a splendid idea.