It was a great speech

[whosinpower]

I especially liked what he said at the end - something to the effect that if they do not pass this jobs bill right away - he will take the message to every corner of America and wants americans to pressure congress to pass the bill.

It was pitch and tone perfect, in my mind.

[snacker]

1. Gave me goosebumps....

that's the President Obama I wanted to hear!

[brentspeak]

2. The US Chamber of Commerce especially liked the part about the job-sucking free-trade pacts

[DFab420]

3. lol yea cause exporting American goods is such a evil job killing idea....

[brentspeak]

4. EPI Study: South Korea Free Trade Agreement Will Cause 159,000 Americans to Lose Their Jobs

http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/south-korea-free-trade-agreement-will-cause-159000-americans-lose-their-jobs">South Korea Free Trade Agreement Will Cause 159,000 Americans to Lose Their Jobs

[Hydra]

5. All we export anymore are weapons, ideology and jobs. n/t

[Recursion]

9. We still manufacture more than any other country

And we only barely export less than China. We do more prototype manufacturing than the rest of the world put together. There's no way of building on this without trade. Yes, it will mean disruptions and dislocations. They will happen without trade agreements too (remember the steel industry in the 1980s?) we just won't have any say in how they happen in that case.

[SadPanda]

10. I understand your hatred of free trade agreements, in the past it has caused many American jobs BUT

The current free trade agreements actually strengthen our ability to manufacture high quality goods and export them to MANY foreign nations. American cars. American furniture. American electronics. We are actually in a good position to finally take advantage of our free trade agreements. Despite the pains they have previously caused. Fact is, the dollar is at the end of a ten year strategy, mainly to devalue it compared to other major currencies. Right now an American factory can produce thousands of goods for FAR less than ALL of Europe can. When I say FAR I mean 50% to 60% less on the international trade market.


So back to those free trade agreements. The argument is all about jobs right? For the first time I could make a successful argument for them.

[brentspeak]

11. I didn't know that the Chamber & the Business Roundtable had people posting talking points here

But now I do know.

[SadPanda]

12. For the record, I am not a member of either... I would however like to have a discussion about....

FACTS. Please post your concerns in your reply.

[brentspeak]

13. Here's some facts:

http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/south-korea-free-trade-agreement-will-cause-159000-americans-lose-their-jobs

[SadPanda]

14. I do not find those to be facts... I find them to be an opinion from one person....

I would like a more detailed opinion from multiple economists. I would like to see a detailed analysis on US capability to provide quality goods to South Korea. We already know that SK has an advantage on us with cars. KIA currently employs tens of thousands in the United States. How many cars can we export to S.K. and how many jobs are produced by that? How many S.K. can afford to buy American made goods? With the dollar trading at 70% of the Euro can we create jobs by selling cars, furniture, construction materials, etc to them? Where do we create jobs, mainly manufacturing jobs? I think that is what Obama is really proposing. I'd love for a little more thought and a little less bashing. At what point do we start talking REAL specifics instead of blindly bashing our OWN SIDE.

[brentspeak]

15. Looks like a research study to me, with the necessary facts and citations

As it would to most normal human beings.

I suggest you try your obfuscation with someone else.

[Whisp]

16. you just don't want any real discussion, do you?

calling the poster an 'abnormal human being' is just the kind of shit that stops any kind of honest dialogue here.

shame

[rury]

6. Loved it and I love President Obama!

[rury]

7. Loved it and I love President Obama!

[LEW]

8. It was a great speech

Grab the popcorn, let the repub games begin.....