Free Trade vs Protectionism
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  Political Debate (Moderator: Torie)
  Free Trade vs Protectionism
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Poll
Question: Which do you believe is the best economic policy.
#1
Free Trade
 
#2
Protectionism
 
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Partisan results

Total Voters: 62

Author Topic: Free Trade vs Protectionism  (Read 13847 times)
futurepres
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« on: October 23, 2011, 09:10:02 PM »

Which do you believe is the best?

Free Trade: Trading with other countries and being able to outsource or get products from other countries.

Protectionism: Trading within one nation and discouraging trade with other countries.
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Fmr President & Senator Polnut
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« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2011, 09:12:16 PM »

Neither works in a pure form.
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futurepres
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« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2011, 09:19:01 PM »

Then vote on what you believe the majority portion is in the best working combination.
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fezzyfestoon
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« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2011, 09:47:35 PM »

Considering that protectionism is probably one of the single worst economic policies there is, it's pretty easy to go with free trade.
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Miamiu1027
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« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2011, 09:51:58 PM »

if it weren't for protectionism the US would still be heavily agrarian with some merchants along the coasts selling finished goods from Britain.
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Marokai Backbeat
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« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2011, 10:13:19 PM »

There is a perfectly fair and acceptable middle ground. As Polnut said..

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Хahar 🤔
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« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2011, 10:48:09 PM »

I am for freedom of movement in all its forms, but (at risk of cliché) trade cannot be free if workers are unfree.
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The Mikado
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« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2011, 10:57:42 PM »

Free trade, but not unilateral disarmament.  Trade isn't free when South Korea and China have massive tariffs against US products.
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Dr. Cynic
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« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2011, 12:21:11 AM »

I believe in fair trade. Free trade often gives up too much and protectionism gives up too little and frequently pisses other countries off. Fair trade is the only acceptable answer.
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Gustaf
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« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2011, 03:05:52 AM »

The correct short answer is that free trade is good and the way to go.

Once you study it more in-depth there is, of course, a longer somewhat more complicated answer butit is still roughly the same.

Trade restrictions can really only be argued as a special interest position and under the assumption of unequal power distribution, which is hard to justify on principle (it basically amounts to "me screwing you over because I can")
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Franzl
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« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2011, 10:49:51 AM »

Considering that protectionism is probably one of the single worst economic policies there is, it's pretty easy to go with free trade.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2011, 12:16:05 PM »

I strongly support free trade in most circumstances, and in general wish to make tarifs as low as possible.  However, this has to be done gradually and pragmatically, and not to shoved it down the throat of developing countries like the WTO has done for decades.
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🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸
shua
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« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2011, 02:39:10 PM »

I believe in fair trade. Free trade often gives up too much and protectionism gives up too little and frequently pisses other countries off. Fair trade is the only acceptable answer.
I'm not sure that answers anything. If two countries want to trade freely, that could be considered fair. If two countries want to be protectionist against each other, I guess that could be considered fair too.
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Mechaman
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« Reply #13 on: October 24, 2011, 03:42:05 PM »

Four votes for The Great Depression Protectionism?

Yuck.
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Snowstalker Mk. II
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« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2011, 04:12:34 PM »


In general, I feel that free trade is acceptable when both nations have strong regulations and labor protections which would mean no real advantage coming from shipping jobs from one country to the other. However, being in a manufacturing state, I must say that pure free trade as the globalists want is downright dangerous.
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Cincinnatus
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« Reply #15 on: October 24, 2011, 04:31:12 PM »

Free trade.  I find it kind of odd that protectionism is even considered in the global market we have now.  Free trade ultimately benefits the consumer.  Plus, The local "Made in America" store wouldn't have nearly the sales it has under a "We lost our job to Mexicans/Chinese" society Tongue
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Хahar 🤔
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« Reply #16 on: October 24, 2011, 09:23:55 PM »

Free trade.  I find it kind of odd that protectionism is even considered in the global market we have now.  Free trade ultimately benefits the consumer.  Plus, The local "Made in America" store wouldn't have nearly the sales it has under a "We lost our job to Mexicans/Chinese" society Tongue

It benefits the consumer, but the citizen does not only exist as a consumer.
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Nichlemn
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« Reply #17 on: October 25, 2011, 08:28:34 AM »
« Edited: October 25, 2011, 08:30:48 AM by Nichlemn »

Free trade. It's mutually beneficial under almost any circumstances, and at least efficient on net for the rest.

A compelling, simple argument: The Iowa Car Crop.

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dead0man
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« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2011, 08:42:44 AM »

People that treat economics emotionally can't comprehend the subtleties of that kind of thing.
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All Along The Watchtower
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« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2011, 06:03:06 PM »

People that treat economics emotionally can't comprehend the subtleties of that kind of thing.

People who treat human beings as "consumers" have a bigger problem, IMO.
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2011, 06:19:21 PM »

Neither term accurately describes any plausible contemporary reality.
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They put it to a vote and they just kept lying
20RP12
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« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2011, 06:23:07 PM »

Considering that protectionism is probably one of the single worst economic policies there is, it's pretty easy to go with free trade.
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Snowstalker Mk. II
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« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2011, 07:31:22 PM »

Also, I dislike the clear-cut model we're given for the poll. We can't just fully open up our markets to Somalia or Burma or Syria, but at the same time we can't shut ourselves off from the world and live entirely off of our own products.
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TJ in Oregon
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« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2011, 07:38:21 PM »

I generally support free trade unless there is a very specific reason to impose tariffs or restrictions on a particular product or country. Overall both countries invloved in an interaction experience a net benefit, even though some in each may not. Clearly areas like my home and current residence do not benefit from free trade, but it's good in the long run after the inevitable, painful economic adjustment.
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« Reply #24 on: October 28, 2011, 12:07:20 AM »

Protectionism, but only in that I support more protectionism than the fashionable political and economic orthodoxy would suggest, which is different to supporting it as some sort of general rule. There is no point in being a consumer if there is no structural basis for production; you end up at the wobbly, morally and spiritually deadened pinnacle of Wallerstein's pyramid. But it's also stupid to seal one's country off from all others out of terror that industrial specialization might readjust in a way that one might not like. Tariffs need to be used moderately and pragmatically, particularly with regards to countries that our current policy is so fond of pretending don't engage in predatory mercantilism against us.

I also agree that there is a far bigger problem with reducing people to consumers (or 'taxpayers', for that matter) than with having an emotional attachment to such-and-such an industry.
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