tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703141476436012634.post1622730325079407280..comments2009-01-12T14:11:56.679-05:00MWBartkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788874521573660919mwbartko@gmail.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703141476436012634.post-49634360683834622762009-01-12T14:11:00.000-05:002009-01-12T14:11:00.000-05:00The only reference to God in this post was a cultural reference, lets not get to overly sensitive. <BR/><BR/>"International Trade", or IT as you call it is unrealistic to implement and would be unhelpful if it ever was (that much I think we agree on). <BR/><BR/>International Trade is neither fair nor free right now. I agree that there should never be a right to free trade that a state can claim to avoid sanctions, as sanctions are among the most effective nonviolent means to encourage a state change its behavior. I do not agree it shouldn't be fair. States that do the most for there people and the least to harm the world at large should enjoy less restriction on trade with the US. Free trade with the US should be dangled like a carrot to encourage other states to protect their workers, have democratic elections, not harbor terrorists and avoid any other behavior that is a threat to its neighbors or the world at large.MWBartkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788874521573660919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703141476436012634.post-46832087353050695102009-01-10T04:12:00.000-05:002009-01-10T04:12:00.000-05:00First of all, let's keep God out of this. Free trade is a man-made invention, and that is where it needs to remain. Fair trade is an oxymoron, and far from fair.<BR/>What I propose is a notion called "International Trade", or IT for short. With IT, there is one and only one governing body in charge of its rules, policies, what have you. All countries must abide by this body's governing or risk being ostracized by the rest of the world (which boggles my mind that such a tactic has not been exercised by the US against countries that manipulate their trade policies to our disadvantage ). This means that the world at large will have to adopt a single currency. This way all nations have the ability of being equal with each other economically. All import/export tariffs need to be eliminated, ENTIRELY. As well, countries can no longer have the ability to issue loans and/or credit to each other. They will sell and/or buy only when they can afford it. To accomplish this, a worldwide banking federation would be highly preferable. <BR/>Once we have a unified front, then this body must delegate the productions of products to the countries best suited to produce such products. Then of course a 'fair' mean of distribution will need to be implemented so as to eliminate trade deficits and/or surpluses. For the most part, the country that produces such products will keep most of its net profit, while a small percentage will go to developing nations. If however a nation starts to accumulate massive wealth disproportional to the world at large, then the governing body will need to add a production tax that the nation will pay to alleviate the gap. If a nation is under-performing, then the body can implement a social security type welfare system to help.<BR/>International Trade is neither fair nor free; and it must remain this way if all are to profit. I look forward to your comments regarding my notion.richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18048032942617571547noreply@blogger.com