Where do the candidates stand on the issues - A guide for 2008 - Page 3

ARealConservative · 10-10-07, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

You are right. He is for free trade in theory, but he's against any practical measures to implement it such as NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO. Which basically means that if he was president, we wouldn't see much expansion of free trade.

The best candidate on free trade issues is John McCain, hands-down. He almost always supports FTAs. On the Democratic side, Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton are probably the most likely to continue pursuing FTAs, even if they won't admit it during the primary season.

NAFTA and CAFTA are managed trade.

Allowing American's to freely purchase supplements, go to Canada for drug, etc - that is free trade.

Nobody is more favorable for voluntary association in the market - aka free trade.

Kandahar · 10-10-07, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealConservative

NAFTA and CAFTA are managed trade.

Allowing American's to freely purchase supplements, go to Canada for drug, etc - that is free trade.

Nobody is more favorable for voluntary association in the market - aka free trade.

If you're looking for a candidate who has the most pure rhetoric, then Ron Paul is your man. If you're looking for a candidate who can actually do something to expand free trade, then he isn't.

There is absolutely no way that Congress would vote to unilaterally make major reductions in trade barriers. However, they might be more inclined to enter into free trade agreements with other countries (what you call "managed trade") if we had a president who was willing to negotiate reductions in OUR barriers for reductions in THEIR barriers.

ARealConservative · 10-10-07, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

If you're looking for a candidate who has the most pure rhetoric, then Ron Paul is your man. If you're looking for a candidate who can actually do something to expand free trade, then he isn't.

There is absolutely no way that Congress would vote to unilaterally make major reductions in trade barriers. However, they might be more inclined to enter into free trade agreements with other countries (what you call "managed trade") if we had a president who was willing to negotiate reductions in OUR barriers for reductions in THEIR barriers.

I'm looking for the guy that says what he means and means what he says.

For instance, Guliani claims he is a strict constructionist. That alone should make me vote for the man - one problem - he is a liar on this point

A strict contructionist would be in favor of state rights as it pertains to medical marijuana. So Guliani lied - he is not a strict contructionist.

As for Free Trade - my beef is that we are calling things like NAFTA free trade. Free trade doesn't require 1000 pages of legalise to qualify it.

ARealConservative · 10-10-07, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

The best candidate on free trade issues is John McCain, hands-down.

I find this hilarious. McCain is an economic light weight. In last nights debate he actually said a 0% interest rate would be a great thing.

Stick to foreign policy John.

Kandahar · 10-10-07, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealConservative

As for Free Trade - my beef is that we are calling things like NAFTA free trade. Free trade doesn't require 1000 pages of legalise to qualify it.

It is simply not realistic to think that Congress is suddenly going to vote to unilaterally drop all of our trade barriers, if only we elect Ron Paul. It *is* realistic to think that Congress might be willing to take important steps toward free trade, if we had a John McCain or Bill Richardson in the White House who was willing to compromise instead of adhering to rigid rhetoric.

Kandahar · 10-10-07, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealConservative

I find this hilarious. McCain is an economic light weight. In last nights debate he actually said a 0% interest rate would be a great thing.

What does this have to do with free trade?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealConservative

Stick to foreign policy John.

Free trade is both economic policy and foreign policy.

ARealConservative · 10-10-07, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

It is simply not realistic to think that Congress is suddenly going to vote to unilaterally drop all of our trade barriers, if only we elect Ron Paul. It *is* realistic to think that Congress might be willing to take important steps toward free trade, if we had a John McCain or Bill Richardson in the White House who was willing to compromise instead of adhering to rigid rhetoric.

Ron Paul is running as a constitutional president. If he were elected, it would send a message to congress that we want true free trade.

It will take decades to roll back all the government sanctions. Ron Paul will take baby steps in a constitutional manner.

Kandahar · 10-10-07, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARealConservative

Ron Paul is running as a constitutional president. If he were elected, it would send a message to congress that we want true free trade.

It will take decades to roll back all the government sanctions. Ron Paul will take baby steps in a constitutional manner.

The perfect is the enemy of the good. A president who generally supported working with Congress to take steps toward free trade would be much better than an ideologue who cared more about being right than he did about actually reducing trade barriers.

ARealConservative · 10-10-07, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

The perfect is the enemy of the good. A president who generally supported working with Congress to take steps toward free trade would be much better than an ideologue who cared more about being right than he did about actually reducing trade barriers.

Ron Paul will do more to reduce trade barriers then any candidate in this election.

A trade barrier is just another term for government regulation.

Fix our own dollar and remove our own regulations will go along way in increasing free trade.

SixStringHero · 10-10-07, 02:16 PM

Good site.

I'm posting here just in case I ever forget the site, I have the link in this thread.