This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Thursday, March 23, 2006 12:00 AM

The 27.5 percent solution

A trade war with China inches closer. Oh goody.

Read other letters about this article

  • Thursday, March 23, 2006 01:29 PM

    tariffs, likely or not

    I think credibly threatening tariffs is a good first step. Actual tariffs may not be necessary. It is clear that China will do nothing to significantly loosen the peg without heavy pressure, and a tariff threat may be that pressure.

    I continue to be skeptical that we have enough of a democracy that a credible tariff threat is even a possibility. I continue to think that we've sold our democracy to corporatists, and they will not allow tariffs. But the fact that a bi-partisan group of tariff-supporting Senators went to China has begun to change my mind on this point.

    If the choice is to implement tariffs or implement social policy that helps workers deal with globalization, obviously in the real world only the former is possible. This society to resistant to considerations of social welfare and addicted to tax cuts for the rich, virtually ruling out any effective social program for globalization shock.

    If we have enough of a democracy to be able to credibly threaten tariffs, and if the Chinese don't blink, tariffs will be the policy.

Most Active Letters Threads

405

I'm thankful I'm not President Obama

Backers deride Katrina-style negligence, haters hate him more each day. Can this presidency be saved? Of course
320

Greg Craig and Obama's worsening civil liberties record

A new Time account of the fall of Obama's White House counsel sheds much light on rule of law issues.
318

Tough-guy John Bolton, hiding under his bed

As usual, right-wing pseudo-warriors are drowning in extreme cowardice.
158

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
153

Phil Carter's resignation from key detainee policy post

Many of the "War on Terror" policies he spent years condemning were ones expressly embraced by Obama.

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon