Do Free Traders Think the American Public is Stupid? by David Sirota

FYI - the debate over at TPMCafe has gotten pretty heated...here is my
latest post - it is amazing how "progressives" still cling to a free
trade policy that has sold this country out... - D

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posted by permission of Mr. Sirota

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http://bookclub.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/11/8/12227/9940


Do Free Traders Think the American Public is Stupid?

Let's forget for a second the erudite debates about economic policy,
and delve into politics and attitudes. Basically, there is little
argument that in Washington, D.C. free trade orthodoxy is the general
bipartisan consensus - especially among the pundit/strategic class.
There is little - if any - debate among these elites about the
downsides of free trade, and, as shown on this blog itself, anyone
who dares to question that orthodoxy is labeled a "protectionist" or
someone who "really thinks trade is all bad."

So here's the question to the powers that be: do you really
arrogantly believe that the American public - which you purport to
represent and advocate for - is simply stupid? Because you must if
you continue to advocate for corporate-written free trade deals in
the face of longtime opposition to these pacts.

Yes, that's right - let me give the Beltway crowd a big newsflash: it
may be cool on the cocktail party circuit to talk about Tom Friedman's
latest book, and oh what a brilliant interview he did with this CEO,
and what a great argument he made for outsourcing...but most ordinary
Americans (who, not surprisingly, Friedman and his kind never actually
bother to talk to) actually believe this trade policy has sold this
country out.

Here are just a few stats:

- A July 2005 PIPA poll found 56% of Americans said they are "not
satisfied with the way the US government is dealing with the effects
of trade on American jobs, the poor in other countries and the
environment." Meanwhile, 90% of Americans want trade deals to include
strong labor protections and 93% want strong environmental protections
- both provisions that venerated "progressives" like Robert Rubin have
insisted Democrats not demand in future trade pacts.

- A January 2004 PIPA poll found that "the majority of the American
public is critical of U.S. government trade policy."

- USA Today reported in 2004 that even high-income Americans "have
lost much of their enthusiasm for free trade." Citing that 2004 PIPA
poll, the newspaper noted that "among Americans making more than
$100,000 a year, support for actively promoting more free trade
collapsed from 57% to less than half that, 28%."

- A March 2004 Associated Press poll found that "seven in 10 voters
in Ohio blamed foreign trade for taking away jobs." Just speaking of
crass politics - let's not forget this is Ohio, the state that turned
the election for Bush - and a state where the D.C. Democratic
glitterati made sure Kerry did not have a crisp populist message on
trade.

- A March 2003 EPIC-MRA poll found just 21% of Americans said they
wanted to "continue the NAFTA agreement."

- A 2002 poll by Investors Business Daily and the Christian Science
Monitor found an overwhelming 61% of Americans "think U.S. trade
policy should have restrictions on imported foreign goods to protect
American jobs."

I could go on and on - but the point is clear. At the absolute least,
there is no debate that the American public is highly skeptical of
continuing to support Washington's free trade consensus (and this
says nothing of the opposition to this free trade nonsense in the
developing world that we claim the trade policy is also supposed to
help). So I again ask: do the proponents of free trade - many who
consider themselves political operatives/experts - really believe the
American public is stupid? Do they really believe that the public just
doesn't "get" free trade?

I, for one, have always believed the American people are extremely
smart - despite the arrogant operatives in D.C. claiming we're all
just a bunch of morons. The public has an innate sense of right and
wrong, and of when they are being sold out by their political
leaders. On trade, the public clearly knows that the political
leaders and the chattering class that amplifies the Washington
consensus is not representing their interests. The question is, when
will the progressive movement as a whole embrace that public desire
for a true reevaluation of our trade policy, and not simply shun the
popular will?

Sources: Critics of free trade policy called anti-trade:

{http://bookclub.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/11/7/15427/9304} July 2005
PIPA poll showing 56% of Americans are not satisified with free trade
policy:
http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Globalization/CAFTA_Jul05/CAFTA_Jul05_rpt.pdf
Rubin insists Democrats not advocate for labor/enviro standards in
trade deals: http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2005/US/02/28/cafta.politics/
{http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2005/US/02/28/cafta.politics/} January 2004
PIPA poll showing a majority of Americans oppose free trade policy:
http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Globalization/GlobalTradeFarm_Jan04/GlobalTradeFarm_Jan04_pr.pdf

USA Today on how support for free trade has even diminished among
high-income Americans:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-02-23-free-trade_x.htm

March 2004 poll showing 7 in 10 Ohio voters are critical of free trade
policy:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-03-14-kerry-nafta_x.htm

March 2003 EPIC-MRA poll showing just 21% support continuing NAFTA:
http://www.americans
world.org/digest/global_issues/intertrade/nafta.cfm
{http://www.americans-
2002 Investors Business Daily poll show 61% support restrictions on
free trade: http://www.pollingreport.com/trade.htm

I've been following this with my "SO" today.

I applaud Josh Marshall for allowing a Forum "devoted to discussion with the "Think Tank" Mentality on the DEM Side, today!

It's always interesting to us "POPULIST DEMS!!!to hear what the "THINK TANK's on the DEM SIDE are really working on and throwing out there for us to read. :D

argument myself on the grounds that it was the only way to help the third world develop. Then I noticed that the vast majority of third world peoples even from the middle class was not buying into it. That kept telling me that "free trade" was actually making things worse --not better.

I wondered myself at the time if this might be the result of their lack of education. That all sounds incredibly arrogant to me now. But with a myopic view of development one can get a very false impression.

I remember on my first trip to Manila about eleven years ago I was initially impressed with all the building that was going on. I was impressed that consumer goods and availability of imported luxury items was skyrocketing. Bill Clinton was President then. And he said "free trade" was all for the good.

Then I discovered the reality behind the facade and just how incredibly myopic and arrogant my view really was. There is a reason that the U.S. (frankly under both parties) and other western countries have to shove this dogma and morally bankrupt ideology down the throats of the third world almost always against the will of the overwhelming majority of their people. Maybe they were not so stupid afterall.

"Initiative." Funding is there to "Jump Start" and there's support.

What's bothered me is that the "follow through" is ofent lacking. The "Think Tanks" jump on Success at "first blush" but they never really go in and see what happens after the initial funds dry up.

It's all about Media Spin...and getting "Momentum" behind one's policy. Get's grants to the Universities and into the "Think Tanks." But...in the end...what is it all about?

On Edit: I have Professors in my family...so I'm always aware of the "need for funding" for creative ideas to support research.

Luckily...sometimes I think...I'm just out here as an Average American viewing these "policies from sincere Wonks" and living with the repercussions. :-)'s

The U.S. and Canada, fine. The U.S. and Mexico, no. Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean islands without the U.S., fine.

These kinds of alliances among economic peers allows indigenous entrepreneurs to make things for local and regional markets using appropriate technology and at a price that others in the region can afford.

and they're often right...

Never mind that! GREAT post!!

And... dare I say it... DARE I say it?

Okay: there really are a few things that are more valuable than MONEY and PROFIT. There really are. I'm not even talking about "our loved ones" or "a baby's smile" or "love"--though all those things are of course valuable to the point of pricelessness.

I'm just talking about living a happy life, perhaps with close access to trees and land and the beautiful physical world... having something good to eat, and not having to worry that one will starve... health... a completed existence--whether accompanied by deep thinking/philosophizing, or not... as you choose! That's all.