Free Trade

Will free trade benefit third world countries? Does it harm developed countries? Could it serve a universal good? Is free trade a realistic goal?Will free trade benefit third world countries? Does it harm developed countries? Could it serve a universal good? Is free trade a realistic goal?

Free trade has caused misery for generations.
As long ago as the Irish famine free trade ensured food was exported while people starved.
Free trade is a weapon of oppression.

dust1n said:

Will free trade benefit third world countries? Does it harm developed countries? Could it serve a universal good? Is free trade a realistic goal?Will free trade benefit third world countries? Does it harm developed countries? Could it serve a universal good? Is free trade a realistic goal?

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Your signature line answers your questions.

dust1n said:

Will free trade benefit third world countries?

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Yes, in fact I think it already has benefited first, and particularly second and third world countries immensely. I see the entrenchment and expansion of globalised free trading practices to be one of the greatest achievements of the past twenty-ish years, although we still have a long way to go before we attain a state of true free trading. (Free tradery?)

stephenw said:

As long ago as the Irish famine free trade ensured food was exported while people starved.

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What happened during the Irish Famine wasn't an example of free trade; quite the opposite in fact, the Famine was borne out of protectionism and the English Corn Laws. If you're forced to do something, you aren't doing it freely.

Free trade has enabled us to buy cheap goods produced by slave labor. People cannot help themselves when price is the chief motivator.

You tell me how trade is free when we do not have a level playing field in regards to working conditions or pay?

stephenw said:

Free trade has caused misery for generations.
As long ago as the Irish famine free trade ensured food was exported while people starved.
Free trade is a weapon of oppression.

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Elaborate?

Mr. Hair said:

Yes, in fact I think it already has benefited first, and particularly second and third world countries immensely. I see the entrenchment and expansion of globalised free trading practices to be one of the greatest achievements of the past twenty-ish years, although we still have a long way to go before we attain a state of true free trading. (Free tradery?)

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Elaborate?

Trade prevents war, unless of course it's weapons trading for war. Less war means more peace. More countries trading with eachother also means more peace. I believe free trade between all nations is the key to true world peace.

I.S.L.A.M617 said:

Trade prevents war

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Tell that to Africa.