As the latest meetings in the Doha Round of the WTO came to crashing halt on a relatively fickle argument and America looks to elect a new president in November, an examination of free trade and its importance is needed. First I want to look at why and what the cost of Doha failing mean, and then look at the issue I have with Barack Obama.
The WTO attempts to lower or remove tariffs and quotas established by member countries. Tariffs and quotas make it more expensive or limits imports of certain goods in order to protect a countries own interests. While tariffs and quotas save jobs for a time, they really cost you, the consumer, more money to purchase goods and services. With increasing energy prices all products are increase in price, and the extra cost of these tariffs and quotas are passed onto you the consumer. This is why the failure of the recent WTO talks hurts everyone. An Economist article on the WTO failure says that it will only cost the world economy $70 billion, not really that much, but in a slowing world economy and increasing energy cost Doha’s success would have lowered prices. The failure came developed on a fairly small issue. The argument was over protecting developing counties’ farmers. The draft asked for a “special safeguard mechanism” allowing developing nations to raise tariffs to protect farmers from imports. The U.S. wanted the import volume to be high before the tariff kicked in while India and China wanted it low. This caused an impasse leading to an end of negations. The failure of Doha only shows how far apart the world really is, and if we cannot agree on trade, how are we going to discuss the challenges and make agreements on the issues nuclear weapons and global warming.
Now on to Mr. Obama. Barack Obama’s website states that he will only, “fight for a trade policy that opens up foreign markets to support good American jobs.” This is especially noticeable on his stance for NAFTA in which he wants to, “work with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to fix NAFTA so that it works for American workers.” NAFTA is a hugely controversial topic especially in the Rust Belt which is where I live, so I understand the effects of liberalizing trade. I know what it is like to have a city full of empty factories, but that doesn’t mean that free trade or NAFTA is bad for the U.S. During its initial introduction, employment and GDP booth increased by the largest percentage in US history. Other say look at the increasing US deficit which shows that NAFTA is a failure. Well I do not believe that the deficit is a problem, we should be more interested in balancing the budget and removing earmarks and pork barrel projects buried in congressional legislation. The trade deficit will always even out. For anyone who has studied economics, you know that one day the U.S. will again become a net exporter, but this will most likely come in the service industries. not manufactured goods. The U.S. is a service based economy now, and manufacturing jobs will only increase when labor becomes cheaper in the U.S. Free trade saves the American consumer thousands of dollars every year whether you are purchasing a car or fruit from Mexico, lumber from Canada, or electronics from Japan, those prices will only increase with the removal of NAFTA or other trade agreements.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
An Open Letter to Jimmy Buffett
Today I am writing an open letter to one of my heroes, Mr. Jimmy Buffett. Why, you may ask am I writing a letter to a cult hero whose audiences worship him in grass skirts and parrot hats? Well its because the first time in many years, I missed his annual show in Pittsburgh this past Tuesday July 22, 2008, and I want to apologize to Jimmy for not being there to support him and the Coral Reefers.
Dear Mr. Jimmy Buffett,
First of all let me say, that I am truly sorry that I missed your concert earlier this week, and though I was unable to attend many of my friends attended. My absence this year is due my ongoing internship in Munich, Germany (I am listening to “Far Side of the World” as I type) where your music is not well known (you should possibly think of teaming up with Jack Johnson on his next European tour, he was fantastic). Your music has truly been inspirational to me throughout my life, and I would like to recount some of the more vivid memories that your music brings to mind.
There will always be the summer months of course, but particularly I remember August during my high schools days when driving home from two-a-days my best friend and I would always pop in my “Songs you Know by Heart” tape. Your music put me in a relaxed state after practicing in the hot humid West Virginia summers. Jimmy, you are eternally linked in my mind with a sea foam green Honda Accord.
Another one of my favorite memories is of my senior class trip to Myrtle Beach. One night while we were “celebrating” our graduation from high school one of my close friends (and follow Jimmy Buffett fan) disappeared and I was unable to find him. Later that evening when I returned to my room, I located him sitting in a closet singing “Tin Cup Chalice” to himself. As I moved him from the closet to a bed, I joyfully helped him to finish his stirring rendition of a classic.
You have played such a large role in my life, that during my freshman year of college I wrote a paper on you have influenced me. I was required, along with everyone else, to take English 101, and for one of the many pointless papers we were required to write, I chose Mr. Buffett as my topic. The paper was about how finding Jimmy Buffett saved me. It recounts how your music has always displayed an easy going lifestyle that I found to suit me world views as well.
As you can see Mr. Buffett, your music has been throughout my life and been an inspiration, and as I mentioned earlier, I am truly sorry that I was unable to attend your concert this past week and look forward to seeing you next time you a come through the ‘Burgh.
Sincerely,
A Fan for Life
Now I know Mr. Buffett will probably never read this (if he did that would be super awesome), but I felt that I needed to apologize because he has played such an important role in my life. I am also including a small list of the top Jimmy Buffett songs you probably never heard of.
Barefoot Children in the Rain
Desperation Samba
Kinja Rules
One Particular Harbor
Gypsies in the Palace
Public Relations
Vampires Mummies and the Holy Host
I am sure there are many more but these are some of my favorites.
Dear Mr. Jimmy Buffett,
First of all let me say, that I am truly sorry that I missed your concert earlier this week, and though I was unable to attend many of my friends attended. My absence this year is due my ongoing internship in Munich, Germany (I am listening to “Far Side of the World” as I type) where your music is not well known (you should possibly think of teaming up with Jack Johnson on his next European tour, he was fantastic). Your music has truly been inspirational to me throughout my life, and I would like to recount some of the more vivid memories that your music brings to mind.
There will always be the summer months of course, but particularly I remember August during my high schools days when driving home from two-a-days my best friend and I would always pop in my “Songs you Know by Heart” tape. Your music put me in a relaxed state after practicing in the hot humid West Virginia summers. Jimmy, you are eternally linked in my mind with a sea foam green Honda Accord.
Another one of my favorite memories is of my senior class trip to Myrtle Beach. One night while we were “celebrating” our graduation from high school one of my close friends (and follow Jimmy Buffett fan) disappeared and I was unable to find him. Later that evening when I returned to my room, I located him sitting in a closet singing “Tin Cup Chalice” to himself. As I moved him from the closet to a bed, I joyfully helped him to finish his stirring rendition of a classic.
You have played such a large role in my life, that during my freshman year of college I wrote a paper on you have influenced me. I was required, along with everyone else, to take English 101, and for one of the many pointless papers we were required to write, I chose Mr. Buffett as my topic. The paper was about how finding Jimmy Buffett saved me. It recounts how your music has always displayed an easy going lifestyle that I found to suit me world views as well.
As you can see Mr. Buffett, your music has been throughout my life and been an inspiration, and as I mentioned earlier, I am truly sorry that I was unable to attend your concert this past week and look forward to seeing you next time you a come through the ‘Burgh.
Sincerely,
A Fan for Life
Now I know Mr. Buffett will probably never read this (if he did that would be super awesome), but I felt that I needed to apologize because he has played such an important role in my life. I am also including a small list of the top Jimmy Buffett songs you probably never heard of.
Barefoot Children in the Rain
Desperation Samba
Kinja Rules
One Particular Harbor
Gypsies in the Palace
Public Relations
Vampires Mummies and the Holy Host
I am sure there are many more but these are some of my favorites.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Where does the time go?
Well, time flies when you’re living in Germany and forget you have a blog. It has been an amazingly long time since I last posted about my initial problems arriving in Germany for the summer. However, since then things have been great and things have been bad, but I am thoroughly enjoying my time immersed in another culture. I guess what Ill try and do is my version of a weekend update.
June 7-8
On the Saturday I took a day trip to Salzburg with Joseph and Lisha. We had a really great time seeing the sights. Though I had already been there I enjoyed the trip. I learned that in Austria (because of their coffee culture) that coffee is called mélange. The best part was that Austria and Switzerland were co hosting the Euro Cup and they had a huge fan zone setup which was pretty wicked. Sunday Munich was having a street festival on Leopoldstrasse which was pretty fun to see. I went with John, Sarah, Joseph, and Lisha. In the evening we found a TV outside and watched Germany beat Poland in the Euro Cup.
June 14-15
Saturday I went to Berchesgarten with John, Sarah, and Joseph. Again it was a place I had already been before, but it was fun to go back. After we finally got up to Hitler’s Eagles Nest we did some hiking in the mountain and I cut open my finger on rock. Still fun though. When we got to Munich we got a pizza at Pizza Punjabi probably the best place in Munich for cheap food. We went out with Sarah’s co-workers to a bar called the Nage Sauge which was pretty cool. We later tried to get into some of the clubs near Ostbahnhof but were denied. Sunday Joseph and I went into the old town for Munichs 850 birthday celebration. Joseph fought off a bunch of crazy Germans for free birthday cake. I decided not to join in the fray.
June 21-22
I think of this weekend as the weekend of day trips. On Saturday I went to Regensburg a really cool city in Bavaria. They have this awesome medieval stone bridge over the Danube river and the city is really nice as well. After I got back I met up with Joseph and his cousin Joachim at the Hofbraukeller to have a drink and watch the Euro cup. Sunday Joseph and I went to visit Augsburg. It was a really nice city unfortunately since it was a Sunday it was rather dead. The churches were pretty cool and the Fugeri was awesome to visit.
June 28-30
This was probably my favorite weekend so far. A co-worker from the Georgia office took us to visit her family’s home in the Black Forest near Strasbourg. It was like living with a host family for the weekend. On Saturday the family took us into Strasbourg for a quick visit highlighted by the main sightseeing attractions and then returned to the house. Afterwards we went into a friend’s farm also really cool. Sunday went into the Village of Gengenbach and went to the Fasend (Carnival) museum. I think this was my favorite mostly because of the food. Home cooked meals are awesome.
July 5-6
This weekend I went to Berlin mostly for work but I still did a little sightseeing. The new US Embassy opened this weekend in Berlin and they had a street festival called Amerika Fest. The state of WV had a booth setup to for tourism that I got to work at. Sunday we did a little more sightseeing before making the six hour drive back to Munich. The best part of this weekend was again the food the hotel had the best continental breakfast.
July 12-13
I went to Vienna this weekend with Joseph. Vienna is a really nice city to look at, but there is nothing super interesting to see. Saturday we were going to go to Bratislava, but I forgot my passport in Munich (to much drinking the night before with John and Sarah). Instead we saw the Hundrtwasser Haus which was really cool and also the Vienna city museum which was fairly good except for the fact that after the revolutions of 1848 it stopped . . . interesting.
July 19-20
Saturday I went to Neuschwanstein with Joseph and his friend Meghan from home who came to visit. Again I had already been there but it was cool to see again. For anyone who wants to go make sure you checkout the view from the Mariabrucke. A tour of the castle will go rather fast since the castle was never finished because Ludwig II was mysteriously drowned. Sunday it rained and I stayed at the apartment; however, I now do not have any roommates all three have moved back to Ireland so I am running the joint for now.
June 7-8
On the Saturday I took a day trip to Salzburg with Joseph and Lisha. We had a really great time seeing the sights. Though I had already been there I enjoyed the trip. I learned that in Austria (because of their coffee culture) that coffee is called mélange. The best part was that Austria and Switzerland were co hosting the Euro Cup and they had a huge fan zone setup which was pretty wicked. Sunday Munich was having a street festival on Leopoldstrasse which was pretty fun to see. I went with John, Sarah, Joseph, and Lisha. In the evening we found a TV outside and watched Germany beat Poland in the Euro Cup.
June 14-15
Saturday I went to Berchesgarten with John, Sarah, and Joseph. Again it was a place I had already been before, but it was fun to go back. After we finally got up to Hitler’s Eagles Nest we did some hiking in the mountain and I cut open my finger on rock. Still fun though. When we got to Munich we got a pizza at Pizza Punjabi probably the best place in Munich for cheap food. We went out with Sarah’s co-workers to a bar called the Nage Sauge which was pretty cool. We later tried to get into some of the clubs near Ostbahnhof but were denied. Sunday Joseph and I went into the old town for Munichs 850 birthday celebration. Joseph fought off a bunch of crazy Germans for free birthday cake. I decided not to join in the fray.
June 21-22
I think of this weekend as the weekend of day trips. On Saturday I went to Regensburg a really cool city in Bavaria. They have this awesome medieval stone bridge over the Danube river and the city is really nice as well. After I got back I met up with Joseph and his cousin Joachim at the Hofbraukeller to have a drink and watch the Euro cup. Sunday Joseph and I went to visit Augsburg. It was a really nice city unfortunately since it was a Sunday it was rather dead. The churches were pretty cool and the Fugeri was awesome to visit.
June 28-30
This was probably my favorite weekend so far. A co-worker from the Georgia office took us to visit her family’s home in the Black Forest near Strasbourg. It was like living with a host family for the weekend. On Saturday the family took us into Strasbourg for a quick visit highlighted by the main sightseeing attractions and then returned to the house. Afterwards we went into a friend’s farm also really cool. Sunday went into the Village of Gengenbach and went to the Fasend (Carnival) museum. I think this was my favorite mostly because of the food. Home cooked meals are awesome.
July 5-6
This weekend I went to Berlin mostly for work but I still did a little sightseeing. The new US Embassy opened this weekend in Berlin and they had a street festival called Amerika Fest. The state of WV had a booth setup to for tourism that I got to work at. Sunday we did a little more sightseeing before making the six hour drive back to Munich. The best part of this weekend was again the food the hotel had the best continental breakfast.
July 12-13
I went to Vienna this weekend with Joseph. Vienna is a really nice city to look at, but there is nothing super interesting to see. Saturday we were going to go to Bratislava, but I forgot my passport in Munich (to much drinking the night before with John and Sarah). Instead we saw the Hundrtwasser Haus which was really cool and also the Vienna city museum which was fairly good except for the fact that after the revolutions of 1848 it stopped . . . interesting.
July 19-20
Saturday I went to Neuschwanstein with Joseph and his friend Meghan from home who came to visit. Again I had already been there but it was cool to see again. For anyone who wants to go make sure you checkout the view from the Mariabrucke. A tour of the castle will go rather fast since the castle was never finished because Ludwig II was mysteriously drowned. Sunday it rained and I stayed at the apartment; however, I now do not have any roommates all three have moved back to Ireland so I am running the joint for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
