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Globalization Gives Pols an Easy Villain

Stump talk against free trade ignores real jobs stealer: technology

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted May 2, 2008 3:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – The candidates can complain all they want about globalization killing American workplaces, David Brooks writes in the New York Times, but job losses “would be happening even if you tore up every free trade deal ever inked.” It's no mystery, he argues: "The chief force reshaping manufacturing is technological change."

"Globalization is real and important," Brooks acknowledges. "It’s just not the central force driving economic change." Modern commerce requires “fewer but more highly skilled workers,” and a “more demanding cognitive age” leaves those with less training at a disadvantage. What he calls the “globalization paradigm” is a convenient political argument, but "doesn’t really explain most of what is happening in the world."

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., greets a worker as she tours the factory of William J. Donovan sheet metal contractors in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, listens to Mark Gramelspacher, president and chief executive officer of CMW, a producer of specialty metals. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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Globalization Gives Pols an Easy Villain

Stump talk against free trade ignores real jobs stealer: technology

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Obama Advisers Please the Right, But Not Much

Two 'pro-free-trade' centrists guide him, up to a point

Bush Vows Free Trade Push

Slams executive compensation as 'unfair'

Average Isn't Good Enough Anymore in America

Globalization, technology have pushed out the average guy

Don't Kid Yourself, Tea Party: Elites Are Still In Charge

Washington knows which side its bread is buttered on, Dana Milbank writes

South Korea's Lee Visits White House

State visit coincides with new free trade agreement

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Globalization Gives Pols an Easy Villain

Stump talk against free trade ignores real jobs stealer: technology

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

globalization • free trade • skilled labor • pandering

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama Advisers Please the Right, But Not Much

Two 'pro-free-trade' centrists guide him, up to a point

Bush Vows Free Trade Push

Slams executive compensation as 'unfair'

Average Isn't Good Enough Anymore in America

Globalization, technology have pushed out the average guy

Don't Kid Yourself, Tea Party: Elites Are Still In Charge

Washington knows which side its bread is buttered on, Dana Milbank writes

South Korea's Lee Visits White House

State visit coincides with new free trade agreement

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?