Vic Smith wrote:
On Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:43:20 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:

aemeijers wrote:
On 8/26/2011 5:53 PM, Metspitzer wrote:
(snip)

The amount of money government spends "creating jobs" is just
throwing money at the problem. The most effective way our
government could create jobs would be to only spend government
money on American made products and legal American workers.

While I mostly agree with you in principle, I'm afraid that ship has
long since sailed. A whole lot of what the government buys is no
longer made in this country, period. The factories aren't even THERE
anymore. Congress did pass the so-called 'Buy America' act several
years back which tried to require what you advocate, but I'm not
sure they even try to enforce it any more. Try to buy a computer
(for example) that isn't mainly China or Pacific-rim sourced. And
the gummint buys a Whole Lotta computers.

Besides which, the concept is flawed. Buyers should be able to get
the best value for their needs, irrespective of its origin. In the
case of, say, China, we (individuals or governments) buy computers
from them because that product is the best value for the price.
They, in turn, buy stuff from us (wheat, airplanes, Hello Kitty
products) because they, in turn, get the best value.


Tariffs and protectionism work well when a country has industrial
policy. We have none.
No energy policy, no industrial policy.
Just dopes fighting in Congress and a President with no real policy
vision I can see.
That's why unemployment is so high, and will worsen.

Artificial restraints of trade ("Buy American", tariffs, taxes,
"prevailing wage" rules, etc.) and various forms of protectionism
are an overall drag on the economy.

This economy? Looks like it "drags" just fine all by itself, with
essentially laissez faire trade policy and no industrial policy.
Hey, that reminds me,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkExpbnjsX8
No sense in trying to solve a problem by using as a "solution" what
got them into trouble in the first place.
As I see it, the virtual de-industrialization of America is the
problem.
Since I spent my first 10 years after the Navy working in factories
producing goods sold here and for export, some might think me
prejudiced. But I don't think so.
http://www.businessinsider.com/deind...closing-2010-9



Oh, we do have "policies."

For example, Canada just completed a "Free Trade" agreement with Columbia.
Columbia will now buy Canadian wheat at 15% less than American. The current
administration's "policy" is to NOT submit the Columbian Free Trade Treaty
to the Senate.

I'm not sure what you mean by "industrial policy." If you mean a
government-directed plan to favor some industries and control the direction
of development, Japan tried that and it failed miserably. Authoritarian
governments have also tried setting quotas and goals (i.e. Soviet Five-Year
Plans and the like) which have also failed miserably. Not to be discouraged,
OUR government is meddling in the same thing with ethanol subsidies and
grants for "clean energy" development.