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Bully Pulpit

The term "bully pulpit" stems from President Theodore Roosevelt's reference to the White House as a "bully pulpit," meaning a terrific platform from which to persuasively advocate an agenda. Roosevelt often used the word "bully" as an adjective meaning superb/wonderful. The Bully Pulpit features news, reasoned discourse, opinion and some humor.

Thursday, July 28, 2005

RE: RE: RE: House Joins Senate in Passing CAFTA

"I support CAFTA."

That's because you're still young, still Republican, and still supporting George Bush.

We heard all the same arguments with NAFTA. Our North American trade partners were getting a free ride, this would be good for jobs in North Carolina, blah, blah blah. Right after that was when the textile and furniture jobs left NC like rats deserting a sinking ship.

Ok, maybe 80% of CA goods are tariff-free, I've read arguments to the contrary, but we'll assume it's true for the sake of argument. It's that 20% that is the problem. Most of what I've read indicates that the tariff-free goods are of a class that doesn't interest American business. The 20% that are tariffed are the higher quality goods. That is why Bush's globalist buddies are pushing this. They can then ship their factories to Guatemala and Costa Rica where the labor costs are pennies on the dollar compared to inside the US. They can then re-import the goods without the tariffs.

I have to say I'm ambivalent about CAFTA itself. It's pretty inevitable. It's also nothing but spin. If we really want to do something to improve free trade, let's get the government out of the labor union business.

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