[therealforsen]

i think by globalism he means that free trade brings with it the free movement of labor across countries

>what type of alternate reality could exist where foreigners would be polite enough to not, like, turn a wrench or run an assembly line for cheaper than Americans did in the 50s. We as a country don't have the option of 'choosing' an alternate economic reality where developing country wages aren't cheaper than ours

the illusion of non-choice on this issue began when bill buckley reformed the right wing into free-traders. we could vote to not let foreigners in to our country and to establish high tariffs on foreign goods. we choose not to. not saying whether that's right or wrong. just saying it is a choice.

[hash872]

Manufacturing jobs were leaving the US in the millions pre-NAFTA and China joining the WTO. Even with high tariffs & restrictionist immigration policies, it can't change the fact that someone in a 3rd world country can do x semi-skilled labor for $2 an hour whereas a unionized American does it for $30+. You can't pass a law against cheaper.

Even with the highest tariffs in the world, manufacturers would still have left for cheaper labor elsewhere in a globalized world. Economic reality is not a choice

[chiefalchemist]

The cheap labor is part of the equation. Less environmental restrictions also contributed significantly to cheap goods. But the final blow is the low cost of shipping / transportation.

There has always been differences in markets. It's the low cost (and ease) of shipping / transportation that changed everything.

[pytester]

>You can't pass a law against cheaper.

Tariffs, especially combined with the usually underestimated coordination expense of managing supply chains across continents, can make cheaper not cheaper.

>Economic reality is not a choice

It is completely a choice. Unfettered trade, globalism and the Washington Consensus were all choices.