Customer Reviews

Parcel of Rogues: How Free Trade Is Failing Canada

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The book is an angry denounciation of the free market system with absolutely no coherent argument to explain why. Barlow seems to be suggesting that free trade is never a good idea because some people may lose their jobs in the short term, of course, all consumers benefit from free trade but Barlow fails to mention this.

The basic message of the book is that protectionist economic policy is the key to growth and prosperity. This type of national socialist policy is exactly what led to the collapse of Japan, and the rest of the Asian Tigers.

If you want a recipe for economic disaster read this book.

It's unfortunate some people can't tell the difference between right and wrong! There is no such thing as "Free" Trade! For example, millions of people are paying a heavy price for the "freedom" to live economically miserable lives just because of WHERE they live!

Let's all grow-up, and realize that might does not make right! That some poor soul living in some godforsaken slum has just as much right to eat, and have decent shelter, as you and I do! We all must work for FAIR Trade, where everyone benefits, not just the chosen lucky few!

The essence of demagogue Barlow tirade against free trade is quite simple: corporations run by foriegners cannot be trusted. The second lesson is: domestic corporations cannot be trusted. Third lesson: individuals cannot be trusted to make decision for themselves because they may not buy more expensive domesticly manufactured goods. Fourth lesson: nationalistic government is the best type of government.

However, Barlow is incapable of putting these lessons together to show that they would lead to the world being a very poor place in a state of constant warfare due to nationalistics policies leading to trade wars, and then eventual military war as they try to capture eachothers natural resources.