Comments on: Talking Trade with Some Dudes http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/ Pushing bits for utility maximization Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:39:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: KE http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-7398 KE Thu, 13 Apr 2006 19:04:16 +0000 http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-7398 I may be influenced by a sort of crude bitterness that comes out of countries much poorer than the US, but one might take your last equality argument past the 50 states and find another policy indication, specifically that free trade is an equality-improver. The unskilled worker in the united states is highly educated in comparison to the average third world person who will will take his job. The opportunities and capacities he has to find other work are far higher and themselves act as a cushion to his fall. From a Rawlsian persective, I would say that the American factory worker is not our highest priority. I believe AS (Amartya Sen, not the author of this blog) would tend to agree with me. What is deplorable about poverty is not being capable of living a life you have reason to value, ie. a life where you won't die prematurely, where you have access to education, health care and healthy food, potable water, etc. and where you can make independent decisions concerning your life. There is poverty in the United States by this definition, but the numbers of poor and the severity of poverty pale in comparison even with a well-off African nation like Senegal. The brunt of this opinion is simple: is it not blindly egotistical to oppose free trade because you want to protect the poor? I may be influenced by a sort of crude bitterness that comes out of countries much poorer than the US, but one might take your last equality argument past the 50 states and find another policy indication, specifically that free trade is an equality-improver.

The unskilled worker in the united states is highly educated in comparison to the average third world person who will will take his job. The opportunities and capacities he has to find other work are far higher and themselves act as a cushion to his fall.

From a Rawlsian persective, I would say that the American factory worker is not our highest priority. I believe AS (Amartya Sen, not the author of this blog) would tend to agree with me. What is deplorable about poverty is not being capable of living a life you have reason to value, ie. a life where you won’t die prematurely, where you have access to education, health care and healthy food, potable water, etc. and where you can make independent decisions concerning your life. There is poverty in the United States by this definition, but the numbers of poor and the severity of poverty pale in comparison even with a well-off African nation like Senegal.

The brunt of this opinion is simple: is it not blindly egotistical to oppose free trade because you want to protect the poor?

]]> By: Arun http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-7399 Arun Sat, 15 Apr 2006 00:02:38 +0000 http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-7399 I think in conjunction with Borjas-Katz (which Krugman relies on a lot), it is definitely worthwhile to check out David Card's work over at Berkeley. I think in conjunction with Borjas-Katz (which Krugman relies on a lot), it is definitely worthwhile to check out David Card’s work over at Berkeley.

]]> By: Styles For My Hair http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-126535 Styles For My Hair Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:45:12 +0000 http://www.sacarny.com/blog/2006/04/11/talking-trade-with-some-dudes/#comment-126535 Thanks your post is stunning. I like your diary.. See ya Thanks your post is stunning.
I like your diary..
See ya

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