“…When you have different styles of government, there would be different demands. When the labor groups of a socialized nation places demands on trade to support that, what do we (th public not the corporations) get in return? And yes, that is EXACTLY what was asked for and demanded by the European Union. If you think differently you are misinformed.”
I see; I disagree with you so I must be misinformed. Interesting, since when did you become an authority on the European Union? I’m born and raised in one of EU countries and I still do not consider myself an authority and I'm sure I never will.
What is this socialist EU nation you speak of? Last time I checked there were 27 member nations in the EU and they all have vastly different forms of governments, from monarchies (yes, Kings and Queens) of Sweden, Denmark and the UK to the "old Europe" democracies of Germany and France to former communist nations of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, etc.
One could argue that ironically the former communist states are now the most ‘capitalist’ of them all (especially the Baltic states, Poland and the Czech Republic) while some “old” European nations such as France and Italy have the most socialist features of them all…
That being said to say “…When the labor groups of a socialized nation places demands on trade to support that, what do we (the public not the corporations) get in return…?” is simply illogical. First of all, EU is not a single nation and never will be, it’s simply an organization for European democracies where they can improve mutually beneficial trade amongst the member nations; help each others’ economies by using a single currency (in many but not all the member states) so they can, once and for all, end the constant devaluations of the former numerous European currencies; a norm in the past. After all, there’s a reason as to why it took some 2000 Italian lira to buy a single dollar before the switchover.
The US has never signed any major trade deal with EU (open sky agreement for the whole block is new phenomenon for the EU block as well). The majority of the “unfair” trade agreements you speak of were all signed when EU wasn’t even in existence.
It was the European Coal & Steel Community consisting of 6 nations that started pushing for a wider trade with the US. The majority of mine workers in those nations lamented that idea arguing that their jobs would disappear to the lower paying jobs in America (sounds familiar?). Guess what, they’re right, the mining industry in Europe was decimated and today the mining industry in the US is vastly larger than in Europe.
Later, the European Coal and Steel Community transformed itself into the European Community (predecessor to the European Union) and more states became members. The whole idea behind the organization was to avoid future wars in Europe at all costs and mainly by expending trade amongst the member states but also with other allied countries. The thinking was that the more you trade with other nations the less likely you are to find yourself in a war against those nations.
Trust me; the general public in most European nations was vehemently against those, in your view “fair” trade agreements. You consider them fair because the US gained more than it lost and thus it’s ‘fair’ to you (and most Americans). However, the European population in most European states felt about those agreements the very same way you now feel about us trading with China. The individual European governments (not EC or EU) pushed thru those trade agreements looking for a more peaceful Europe in the future.
When you say “…the labor groups of a socialized nation…” and imply all of Europe to me it’s the same as if a European talked about the “socialized nation of North America” when actually talking about Canada, the US, Mexico and maybe even Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, etc… Such a country simply does not exist and I hope never will.
What amazes me is how contradictory you are in your belief that our trade policies are “anti-American.” You say that you don’t want socialism yet your “buy American only” etc protectionist policies are the favorite weapon of trade for most socialist governments.
Also, you said that our trade with China (and India I assume) is not fair and I agree with you to a certain degree however I don’t know the solution to this problem. Then however, you say that India told EU to “F… off” in your own words because they tried to force some ‘social issues’ on them? Social issues? Really? How about they’re asking for the very same thing you keep repeating - a “fair trade” with India (and other nations).
The EU told India that if they wanted to trade with the many European nations they’d have to adhere to some basic EU working rules but before you scream “socialism” – realize that what they asked off India were some very basic human rights issues; you know stuff that we made illegal here in the US and in Europe many generations ago. Specifically, they forbid any sweat shops from selling to Europe, would not allow child work force (kids under the age of 12, not even 18!), requested a max limit of working hours to be no more than 12 hours a day, at least 1 day off a week and access to basic health care.
They told India that if they wanted to trade - the businesses who wanted to participate in this trade with Europe had to comply with those rules.
I believe the main reason our trade with China is so unfair is because that country is full of child laborers, kids who work for food and shelter, if that. How can we, or Europeans, ever compete with that?
What EU asked of India was not some kind of socialism (which I’m an absolute opponent of); instead they tried to create some simple ‘fair trade’ rules, something that you seem to advocate so much. You even stated that “… problems with the "other" trade agreements, it is the lack of human rights and labor laws we have they are skirting such as child labor…”
Yet when other countries try to do just that, you vilify them as being anti-American and for creating unfair trade?
My point is – trade is good for us and although there are lots and lots of details that could be changed and improved with those agreements, your notion of this anti-American unfair trade conspiracy is simply untrue.
