Congressional hypocrisy on free trade
Fox News
by Daniella Markheim
06/03/06
Americans can be forgiven if they're a little confused about free trade. After all, many of our leaders certainly are. In the last year, various members of congress have introduced more than 250 specific bills to waive tariffs that harm their constituents. Clearly these leaders understand that lowering tariffs (a key component of free trade) on an industry-by-industry, state-by-state basis will improve the economy. Yet when given the chance to lower tariffs in a more efficient way -- through comprehensive trade agreements with other nations -- many of these same lawmakers seem to forget what they know about the benefits of freer trade. It's a puzzling contradiction. Congress might as well decree that feathers make sense, but birds are dangerous. You can see all this at play in Massachusetts. A Lowell Sun article recently revealed that the commonwealth's two senators have introduced no fewer than 17 'suspension of duty' bills that directly lower tariffs paid by some state businesses...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198039,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Daniella Markheim
06/03/06
Americans can be forgiven if they're a little confused about free trade. After all, many of our leaders certainly are. In the last year, various members of congress have introduced more than 250 specific bills to waive tariffs that harm their constituents. Clearly these leaders understand that lowering tariffs (a key component of free trade) on an industry-by-industry, state-by-state basis will improve the economy. Yet when given the chance to lower tariffs in a more efficient way -- through comprehensive trade agreements with other nations -- many of these same lawmakers seem to forget what they know about the benefits of freer trade. It's a puzzling contradiction. Congress might as well decree that feathers make sense, but birds are dangerous. You can see all this at play in Massachusetts. A Lowell Sun article recently revealed that the commonwealth's two senators have introduced no fewer than 17 'suspension of duty' bills that directly lower tariffs paid by some state businesses...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198039,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
rudkla - 5. Jun, 18:36
