The one time Bush really could have said "no" to the world he didn't

[Kamika]

What is wrong with him seriously.. I'm of course talking about the steel tariffs he is removing. The ONE good thing he did for workers in America to actually save jobs.. he's removing.. of course because the big biz wants it.

He wants to blow up the world.. the world says no.. Bush ignores them

He illegally keeps ppl at Guantanamo the world rages.. Bush stands firm.

But the ONE thing he did that actually SAVED jobs.. where even I agreed with him "screw the world we're saving American jobs" where I actually thought good about him.. for that ONE thing he bends over to the WHO and the big companies, because instead of making a personal fortune of 100 billions they might only have made 50.

I just get so pissed

[bicentennial_baby]

1. It's called a massive Trade War

Which is what would have happened if he kept the tariffs. They were gonna smack us back on Florida OJ and Textiles, and Bush had to cave.

[Bucky]

3. Sure, if your only option in foreign relations is "lock-step or fight"

We have all sorts of international treaties and transnational organizations and trade representatives and state departments and chambers of commerce and lawyers, just to give us the tools we need to negotiate these conflicting priorities. Bush has stripped the US of these options, however, because of his unilateralist approach to foreign policy.

He's got one trick in his bag--the military option--and seems to not want to try anything else that involves talking or compromising. The US now has practically zero cred on the international scene. I honestly don't get it. Why are the Bushies so damn flaky that way?

[Muddleoftheroad]

2. Question

How would you have dealt with the resulting trade war?

[Kamika]

4. Not sure

I'm no economist but I do know that our economy is ALOT bigger then Europes.. we would have prevailed just fine. Aslong as there are jobs we have the biggest economy on earth

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. USA and current EU economies are about the same size

USA GDP 2002: $10383 billion
EU 15 GDP 2002: $8628 billion

and I think the fall in the dollar will mean that for 2003 the figures are closer. When you also consider that some non EU countries were also about to start some punitive tariffs against the USA, you couldn't just expect the USA economy to shrug it off.

[hadrons]

5. The steel tariffs were costing jobs ....

all they did was drive the cost of steel up, which was hurting an manufacturing that uses it

[Jacobin]

6. Yep. Big problem

Keep the tariffs, you're screwed and lift them and you're screwed.

Nice to see Smirky on the horns of a dilemma

[begeegs]

7. Well, it's all about politics

If he doesn't remove the tariffs, which are illegal under the WTO, then Europe will penalize the US with exports that will hurt W in key electoral states.

Considering that Bush is more concerned about politics rather than national interest, I am not surprised.

[newyawker99]

Hi begeegs!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[newyawker99]

8. Hi begeegs!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[onecitizen]

9. Looks like he just lost...........

WV in '04! And I have mixed emotions over it. I'm glad he may lose WV next year. But I am VERY sad what will happen to many of my friends and family over all this. :-(