So, Let Me See If I Have This Straight . . .

Like The Grandfather In "Moonstruck," I'm Confused!

By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in | Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

The United States Trade Representative readily admits that "unilateral liberalization of trade barriers and subsidies is in America's best interests," but she believes that for the Bush Administration to act on behalf of America's "best interests," the Administration "needed 'an excuse'" to engage in the act of unilateral liberalization? Maybe I just don't get the world of policy, but I would have thought that the whole "America's best interests," bit would have provided all of the excuse the Bush Administration could possibly need. Additionally, if the Administration is waiting for "an excuse" to engage in unilateral liberalization, won't the excuse most naturally be an action that invites reciprocity in the form of unilateral liberalization? And if so, how is that liberalization "unilateral" in any sense of the word?

It says something about how confused the Administration's trade policies are that in the process of explaining and executing them, they mangle the English language in the process. Adhering to an intellectually compelling free trade line would ameliorate this problem, but for whatever reason, this Administration appears to enjoy inflicting wounds upon itself.


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being used here. And since you all know that I am not a lefty I can feel free to say that this is part and parcel of what has always been wrong with this administration. They seem to exude incompetence and confusion at nearly every level.

BTW, I am for free global trade, but not for giving up the carrot and stick needed to cajole our recalcitrant trade partners. It must also be noted that spending over 150 billion dollars a year in agricultural subsidies and then dumping subsidized food onto the global market is a trade violation we are guilty of.

"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle

Not enough references are made to that movie.

My personal favorite: "What you don't know about women is a lot."

"During my lifetime, most of the problems the world has faced have come from mainland Europe, and the solutions from outside it." - Thatcher

 
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