(no subject)

[primroseburrows]

US reviewing 'Buy American' stimulus clause

I'm very interested in seeing how the President deals with this one. I'm reading a lot of comments about how the clause violates NAFTA, but since I hate NAFTA with the force of a zillion fiery suns, it's not an argument that sways me.

NAFTA aside, I still don't think the clause is a very good one, because a.) It's going to piss off every single one of our trading partners, and b.) Protectionism breeds protectionism, which brings me back to a.) It's going to piss our trading partners off and maybe they'll go tit for tat and decide they okay, they won't buy any of our stuff, either, so there. And a whole big part of me wouldn't blame them.

Sure, I think the US needs to think of our own citizens and saving jobs, especially now, but alienating our allies seems like a bad way to go about it. There's gotta be more than one option. I'm so far away from being an economist it isn't even funny, but it doesn't seem like a good economic choice, because (see a.)).

Journalists are calling this issue the first big test of the new President. I think it is, because there's no way he's going to please everyone. Which is probably why he hasn't given an opinion yet. I figure we'll find out either way by Febuary 19th, tops.

Comments

[meresy.livejournal.com]

Well, I can tell you Canada doesn't damn well like it, and with this government sneaky reprisal is almost inevitable if they feel the U.S. is being protectionist. Most of the time, our economy is so shackled to yours we get pulled along for better or worse anyway. Our recesion isn't as bad as your QUITE yet, because of our bank system, but trade shenanigans could so very easily drag us right down.

Plus, yeah. Whether or not NAFTA and other trade treaties are good things? They're still law. It's a pretty dick move on either side to violate that instead of, say, meeting up and examining the terms.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

Well, I can tell you Canada doesn't damn well like it, and with this government sneaky reprisal is almost inevitable if they feel the U.S. is being protectionist.

I figured Canada would like it least of all, since you're our biggest trade partner. And as much as I'm not a fan of the Harper government, I wouldn't blame them a bit if they gave as bad as they got, especially since they're working with a deficit budget now.

I just hope Obama does the right thing. I really like him and I think he's a class act, but he's still a politician and he's still got the whole political juggling act to do.