Justin Trudeau is a disciple of free trade and globalism. His pronouncements before and during the G20 summit erased any doubt on that score. He is devoutly neoliberal, just like the guy he was elected to replace.
There are other views on globalism and free trade that come from those with both top-tier experience and a considerably higher intellect than the Dauphin. One of them is Robert Reich.
For two years, Robert Reich has been doing what Justin Trudeau has never done. He's been dissecting the Trans Pacific Partnership, the TPP, and warning what it holds for blue and white collar workers whose leaders enslave them to it.
Our fledgling prime minister is still in the embrace of what Reich describes as "globalony" - the myths of globalism.
Or you could get another view from Joe Stiglitz. The former World Bank chief economist, Nobel Laureate economist and presidential advisor, explains how the globalism our prime minister promotes doesn't deliver on its promises.
Or, for a Canadian perspective, here's John Ralston Saul:
We're not going to have this adult conversation with our government. There'll be a few hearings, sure. Window dressing. Then the prime minister will beam his charming smile, say "trust me," and sign the deal. And, if the informed critics are right, we'll be royally screwed for years, possibly decades to come.
As for the young whelp's performance at the G20 it's important to keep Trudeau's words in clear perspective. He dismissed the critics of globalism. That's all he did. He did not even attempt to refute their criticisms. All Trudeau did was what Trump does at every rally - he made empty assertions and nothing more.
There's a lot of opposition against so-called trade deals such as TPP, for example the two leading US presidential candidates.
ReplyDeleteAre Canadian taxpayers aware of the $billions Canada may have to pay in pending NAFTA ISDS claims (a feature of all new 'trade' deals ie TPP, CETA etc)? See below:
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/disp-diff/gov.aspx?lang=eng
ReplyDeleteNo, of course Canadians aren't aware of our government's exposure on ISDS claims. Worse yet, that's something that Trudeau won't bring up with them either. It's called "lying by omission" and he's shown a real talent at it.
A feckless celebrity dilettante approaching middle age and bearing the possibility of very positive electoral appeal: we've been waiting so long for this blank slate. What more could we ask for?
ReplyDeleteI think that the golden boy never gave any serious political, social or economic issues a thought prior to entering politics, and any that might appear to have occurred to him after that time have been unadulterated Manley-inspired market-libertarian implants.
JFK junior was the better man for limiting the potential damage when he decided to restrict his efforts to influencing people to spend more on magazine subscriptions. Of course, we have no way of knowing to what purposes he might have been put had he lived longer.
Trudeau gets up at the G20 and makes a speech as to signing "trade" deals that he says benefits us all. Knowing that my country may be heading down the toilet, because of the magical thinking of this air head is very disturbing. Why doesn't anyone challenge this guy?
ReplyDeleteHis arguments are not backed by any truth or substance. He needs to be exposed.
John, I'm not sure a B.A. (literature) or a B. Ed. (teaching certificate) provide much of a background in economics or much else for that matter. I would love to hear Trudeau make the case for more globalized free trade. I'd like to hear his arguments, stack them up against those of Stiglitz,Reich, Ralston Saul, the IMF and many others. We've heard the critics' arguments - the case that Trudeau dismisses with a wave of his hand - but that's all we've had from Trudeau. He has never made a pro-free trade case, something backed up with the mountain of research that has built up over the past 30-years. "Ugggh, trade good" isn't much of a compelling argument.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHe does need to be called out, Pamela, but who can do it? For all his appearance of openness, he's really pretty well insulated. There's no one who can force him to debate this policy and he's not about to stand up and welcome all comers - not when he can simply dismiss them and their arguments as myths. Trump does it and it works for him. There are enough Liberals still fawning over Cap'n Photo-Op that it will work for Trudeau.
Here is a statement from Trudeau on Oct 5 2015
ReplyDeletehttps://www.liberal.ca/statement-by-liberal-party-of-canada-leader-justin-trudeau-on-the-trans-pacific-partnership/
Anon 2
I love Reich's little videos. He does a great job of explaining complex material - well enough for my grade 10s to understand. Too bad Justin hasn't seen them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Anon. He lifted the line "our middle class and those working hard to join it" from that press release last year and used it, verbatim, twice in his speech in China. The creepy part is that he's not a natural speaker. He's scripted. The problem with that is it only works if you have the natural gift to "lift the words off the page." Trudeau doesn't. Worse yet, his manner of speech makes him sound like he's reading to a class of pre-schoolers. It detracts from any semblance of sincerity.
ReplyDeleteHi, Marie. Yes, Reich does present complex issues in an easily understood form. And, yes, it's too bad this prime minister hasn't seen them.
ReplyDeleteSo Mound of Sound what action, other than complaining and belittling the Prime Minister have you taken?
ReplyDeleteHave you written to Freeland with your concerns?
Have you contacted a Liberal MP?
Have you written the Prime Minister?
Have you sent them the Reich and Stiglitz links?
wricom, no, I figured sending them the Reich and Stiglitz links would suggest their stupidity and be considered demeaning. Why would I write to Junior? He is patently oblivious. However, if you have more confidence in these jokers than I, please feel free to act where I have failed.
ReplyDeleteHey, I saw the same quote that seemed to mindlessly promote 'globalism'.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crock ... then I saw this
"Trudeau announced among other initiatives that his country would apply to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank"
Hope springs eternal ...
This is huge and actually speaks way louder than his ill chosen words.
Methinks (hopes) he is actually heading in a very different way. If the AIIB gets going the planet will finally have an alternative to the World Bank and IMF. Good timing, as it comes just as the goons in Brazil take over and "BRICS" becomes "RICS".
To date "Globalism" meant bad stuff. If we actually had forms of "Free trade" rather than corporate rights agreements ........
So is Stiglitz a billionaire from his former World Bank job???
ReplyDeleteI don't know. Is he? Sure you're not thinking of George Soros?
ReplyDeleteSoros never worked at the World Bank. He pissed on their parade by shorting Sterling. (LOL)
ReplyDeleteAnd the Anon smear of Stiglitz is pure BS. His criticism of the Bank/IMF etc is more compelling - he was an insider who has now repented.
5:12 Does that mean he repented after he capped a bank full of money?
ReplyDeleteAnon, where do you get this delusion that Joe Stiglitz is mega-rich? He was employed by the World Bank. He didn't own it. While I expect he's moderately well off, he is an academic. Follow the link and that should clear up your concerns.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stiglitz