Dr. Paul on Tariffs
I am from the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area, and I am confused by Dr. Paul's position on free trade. In an ideal world, there would be only free trade; governments would not interfere in the financial transactions of independent individuals acting in their own economic best interest. However, that is like saying I believe we should stop arming ourselves because in an ideal world there would be only peace. Detroit has been devastated; not by NAFTA, CAFTA, and other free trade agreements, but by the relentless pursuit of mercantilistic policies by our trading partners. We have opened up our markets wide and pursued Dr. Paul's ideals with reckless abandon. We have watched as the price of many goods can be now bought at a fraction of the price they could have been purchased at just a few years ago. Any what has been the price? Lost jobs and lost opportunities; a disappearing manufacturing base and foreign corporations and governments purchasing our most vital assets and businesses. I am afraid this cannot all be laid at the feet of our free trade agreements. Nations need weapons to protect themselves against predatory trade practices just as they need a military to protect themselves against invasion. Admittedly, tariffs beg the other side to do the same, but what further can we lose at this point? We have lost much already and gained little. Without the means of denying our market to those who would deny us access to theirs, we are like those who would sacrifice their liberty without raising a hand to defend it. The world knows this, and has taken advantage of it. There is no other course left to us, I'm afraid, than denying them that which they covet most. Only then can we realize the goal of truly "free" trade.
We have been NATFA'D 3 times so far directly related
to Tier 1......
In the burbs here and the foreclosures are continuing to sprout like dandelions.
For free trade to work we also have to be free to produce.
Unfortunately there are so many rules in the States that we can't produce. Imagine Henry Ford trying to start his company today. He would never get it off the ground. He would first need a fortune just to get the right permits and get through all the mafia red tape. Especially in Detroit, I know I grew up in Center Line.
Paul
Fortune Favors the Bold
is against managed trade agreements like NAFTA
Fortune Favors the Bold
Time to buy if you have the cash.
Sad if you are the one that had your home foreclosed, Glad if you have been wise with your money and are able to buy one of these homes at a large discount. All depends on the point of view.
Where in the metro are you?
Where in the metro are you? Sterling Heights here. Funny that I'm reading your post now ... out of curiousity I was just looking at an online listing of some of the foreclosed homes in Wayne/Macomb/Oakland counties. So sad ...
(sorry this doesn't speak to the ultimate point of what you were trying to say, but I sure have seen the results of it ...)
Garden City, MI
Bought a foreclosure last year. The house had been on the market for a year. I watched the asking price drop from $148,000 to $135,000 to $125,000. Still no takers at $115,000. The house had been photographed so I decided to finally take a look for myself and find out why no buyers.
The listing did not mention a basement, but the photo showed the home next door had basement windows, so I discovered this home had a basement.
I made an offer to the holding bank for $98,500. The offer was accepted immediately.
The house was appraised at $148,000 at the time I moved in. Value has dropped by about $10,000, but I am in it for the long run, so no worries.
Payment(6% fixed/30 yrs) is very affordable, and the neighborhood is great.
I was lucky enough to have saved for a 20% down payment and $5,000 from the bank.
I looked at over 80 foreclosures before picking this one. All but 2 were completely trashed. This house was in excellent condition with the exception of a sewer backup due to a dead squirrel. BUT, the deals are out there and getting better. If you are looking, now may be a good time, but be careful.
Where in the metro...
Clarkston/Independence. I agree with Ron Paul on just about everything else, but on this point, I'm in disagreement. I guess I'm a Hamiltonian, as John Hamilton was an ardent supporter of manufacturing, and worked actively to make the U.S. a manufacturing power. If you look at "The American System" which was advocated by such notables as Henry Clay during the 19th century, they favored strong tariffs to nurture a nascent American manufacturing base that was constantly being undermined by Britain. We face the same situation now vis-a-vis Japan, China, Europe, et al who favor subsidies, tariff and non-tariff protections, and quotas to achieve manufacturing pre-eminence. I know the tariff is a tax on the consumer, as Dr. Paul states, but only looking at the consumption side of the equation is economic tom-foolery. We have to look at the production side too, where we're getting our clocks cleaned. Yes, as one person states above, regulation is a BIG factor, and we need to deal with that as well; but I think we need to deal right now with the more immediate problem of bringing our manufacturing jobs back. After all, we were losing manufacturing to Japan long before NAFTA appeared on the scene.
NAFTA is managed trade,
NAFTA is managed trade, though ... not the truly free trade Dr. Paul advocates. Although I have no idea how either will affect the jobs issue ... I have a feeling that those jobs may be gone forever, unfortunately :-(