Jim Straub wrote:
> I do think it is real that economic anxiety and anger from working
> people is manifesting itself in our electoral politics more than in
> recent years right now. But this is a good point, that opposition to
> further trade deals alone isn't going to keep the factories here. But
> isn't teh focus on trade treaties partly our fault? The left has
> rallied around opposition to the trade deals by saying they are
> responsible for the loss of the manufacturing base, and to some degree
> that's caught on in mainstream thinking. The ugly reality is that
> even if we keep a single new one from getting signed; even if we
> repealed nafta; --- the steel plants aren't re-opening, GM ain't gonna
> be any less broke, and the remaining widget factories in indiana and
> wisconsin are still gonna get closed. The issue really is the
> declining transport costs and the industrialization of asia. And I
> don't know how you legislate around that stuff.
There's plenty of work in the U.S. -- rebuilding the infrastructure, fixing the schools, providing tons of clinics, rehab centers, creating cheap mass transit.... There are definitely needs to be met...
Joanna