"To what purpose are powers limited, and to what purpose is that limitation committed to writing,
if these limits may, at any time, be passed by those intended to be restrained?"
-- Chief Justice John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Trading Places

by Lee

In the Political Diary they’re pointing out yet another reason not to vote for the Democrats.

Ever wonder what politicians mean when they talk about “fair trade”? If a “trade summit” put on here at the Boston convention yesterday is anything to go by, it means just one thing: no more trade deals. Period.

To listen to this group, the only way to ensure that corporations don’t “exploit” foreigners in free-trade countries is to force foreign governments to pile on labor and environmental regulations and turn their countries into mini-Frances. California Representative Hilda Solis, for instance, blasted Nafta and bemoaned the “devastation” wrought on California grocery workers who voted to go on strike and then (surprise) went bankrupt. She proclaimed: “That’s why I’ve voted against all the trade policies that have come up since 2000—and I’m proud of it.”

Up next was Ohio Representative Sherrod Brown, who decried lost jobs in his home state and complained about a local firm that had moved its work force overseas. Ms. Solis and Mr. Brown both mentioned trips to Mexico where they saw the squalid living conditions of low-paid Mexican workers. Both apparently concluded that the world would be a better place if poor workers were converted into even poorer people with no jobs. Hence their firm opposition to Nafta and similar trade-expanding agreements.

One bright exception was Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who said he might support an African trade deal if it included a minimum wage and the right to organize. But since poor African nations with massive unemployment problems aren’t likely to demand their employers pay $5.15 an hour any time soon, Mr. Jackson will never have to seriously ante up.

The left knows that most Americans are largely open to trade, and that only special interest groups, such as labor unions and greens, are firmly opposed. Listen closely on Thursday when John Kerry gives his acceptance speech. If “fair trade” comes flowing out, it’ll be clear that the Massachusetts Senator is really running as the anti-trade president.

Now, longtime readers of this blog will know that I’ve been as rough on Bush as anyone about his lack of commitment to real free trade.  But, compared to the Democrats, Bush looks like Adam Smith.

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