Comments on: the faux outrage is perhaps a bit much… http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/ exciting, informative, snarky, and very likely fabricated tales of life as an american expat in london Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:06:21 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stacey http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2594 Stacey Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:59:36 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2594 Heee! Well, to be fair (a) it does just sound like the EU whinging, and (b) the only reason I know otherwise is because I have a degree in this specific thing, so it's not like it's really in the public domain! Also, you are almost always right when I am ranting about something random. You win! :lol: Heee! Well, to be fair (a) it does just sound like the EU whinging, and (b) the only reason I know otherwise is because I have a degree in this specific thing, so it’s not like it’s really in the public domain!

Also, you are almost always right when I am ranting about something random. You win! lol

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2593 Lindsay Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:29:00 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2593 LOL! Next time I'll keep my gob shut ;-) ... there's nothing worse than someone being all rational during a rant, been on the end of that myself! :grin: LOL!

Next time I’ll keep my gob shut -) … there’s nothing worse than someone being all rational during a rant, been on the end of that myself! grin

]]> By: Jen http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2592 Jen Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:48:21 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2592 don't rain on my parade stacey, ian and lindsay!! :mad: :lol: okay, i *may* have got this one wrong. shhh, don't tell anyone! :lol: don’t rain on my parade stacey, ian and lindsay!! mad

lol

okay, i *may* have got this one wrong. shhh, don’t tell anyone! lol

]]> By: Stacey http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2591 Stacey Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:16:26 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2591 Ex-trade lawyer hat on: while it seems like a minor thing, in larger context, the buy American clause raises the spectre of Smoot Hawley Act as a major aggravating factor in the Great Depression, and is a totally, totally legitimate issue for trade partners to raise as a potentially major world economic blunder. When I heard about the clause, I was appalled. It is such a bad idea that I don't have a word for the badness. It's also arguably in violation of established international trade standards. But mainly, protectionism just doesn't work -- rather, is actively harmful to the *protectionist* country and the whole global system. For one of the G8 to be advocating protectionism should -- and legitimately did -- freak the rest of the world out. In summary: extraordinarily bad idea with bad implications for everyone. Obama's most recent statements against it are absolutely correct -- and note that major US-based trade organizations hate it too (US Chamber of Commerce). So while I see how the complaining of the EU and others probably looks, if they hadn't said anything, it would have been an absolute failure of statesmanship and diplomacy. Ex-trade lawyer hat on: while it seems like a minor thing, in larger context, the buy American clause raises the spectre of Smoot Hawley Act as a major aggravating factor in the Great Depression, and is a totally, totally legitimate issue for trade partners to raise as a potentially major world economic blunder. When I heard about the clause, I was appalled. It is such a bad idea that I don’t have a word for the badness. It’s also arguably in violation of established international trade standards. But mainly, protectionism just doesn’t work — rather, is actively harmful to the *protectionist* country and the whole global system. For one of the G8 to be advocating protectionism should — and legitimately did — freak the rest of the world out.

In summary: extraordinarily bad idea with bad implications for everyone. Obama’s most recent statements against it are absolutely correct — and note that major US-based trade organizations hate it too (US Chamber of Commerce). So while I see how the complaining of the EU and others probably looks, if they hadn’t said anything, it would have been an absolute failure of statesmanship and diplomacy.

]]> By: ian in hamburg http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2590 ian in hamburg Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:15:39 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2590 Lindsay has it right. If every country sets up trade barriers or stops trading based on me-first policies, the downward spiral will be faster and deeper. Don't forget as well that the Americans are always one of the biggest boosters of so-called "free trade" when things are going well and it suits their interests, but play up to the nationalistic rabble as soon as the music stops. Lindsay has it right. If every country sets up trade barriers or stops trading based on me-first policies, the downward spiral will be faster and deeper.

Don’t forget as well that the Americans are always one of the biggest boosters of so-called “free trade” when things are going well and it suits their interests, but play up to the nationalistic rabble as soon as the music stops.

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2589 Lindsay Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:26:44 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2589 As no-one really knows what to do and are playing it by ear I think the idea is to look at history and so desire America not to go protectionist like it did last time, which failed anyway, for the US as well as the world. And trade is even more interwoven than it was back in the Great Depression. If America becomes protectionist then other countries which lose out may then go into the same mode thus spiraling everyone down into depression rather than recession, including the people they are supposedly trying to protect. So then it becomes about politics and what emotions people have in the here and now. So some can cheer because they're being "protected" from "the foreigners" by their government while those policies may actually end up doing more damage to the population as a whole. As no-one really knows what to do and are playing it by ear I think the idea is to look at history and so desire America not to go protectionist like it did last time, which failed anyway, for the US as well as the world. And trade is even more interwoven than it was back in the Great Depression.

If America becomes protectionist then other countries which lose out may then go into the same mode thus spiraling everyone down into depression rather than recession, including the people they are supposedly trying to protect.

So then it becomes about politics and what emotions people have in the here and now. So some can cheer because they’re being “protected” from “the foreigners” by their government while those policies may actually end up doing more damage to the population as a whole.

]]> By: Amity http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2588 Amity Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:00:41 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2588 I just read in the paper that Obama backed down. Hmmm... I just read in the paper that Obama backed down. Hmmm…

]]> By: Amity http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2587 Amity Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:58:00 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2587 I'm reminded of a child who wants her parents to stop interfering in her life but when they do, she gets upset and stomps her feet, saying "Pay attention to meeeeeeee!" I’m reminded of a child who wants her parents to stop interfering in her life but when they do, she gets upset and stomps her feet, saying “Pay attention to meeeeeeee!”

]]> By: Tabitha http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/2009/02/03/the-faux-outrage-is-perhaps-a-bit-much/comment-page-1/#comment-2586 Tabitha Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:17:16 +0000 http://www.jensdenofiniquity.com/?p=1799#comment-2586 Oh, but it's "different", Europe is allowed to hold the US to higher double standards. Where's the eye roll icon when you need it. ;-) Oh, but it’s “different”, Europe is allowed to hold the US to higher double standards. Where’s the eye roll icon when you need it. -)

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