🧵If US companies have off shored manufacturing due to US laws and regulations, why is it acceptable for those same companies to import the goods back to the US with impunity? The companies are point blank avoiding US laws in doing so. That's what's at issue.
When you drill down, all the way down, into the matters that people flatly refuse to address directly, that's what is going on. It's too expensive to make whatever in the US due to the US laws so we'll go somewhere those laws don't exist and then just bring the stuff back.
This brings up a corollary issue. If those US laws and and regulations are so important, if those laws and regulations exist as a matter of basic worker and environmental safety, why shouldn't there be tariffs or other financial penalties on trying to avoid those laws?
Are we off shoring manufacturing? Or are we offshoring environmental issues and exploitative worker treatment? If the reason is that it's so much cheaper overseas, the why is it so much cheaper is an extremely important factor to know.
Now that everyone's furious and yelping about how I'm a Commie, it's extremely important to know so that we can have an adult conversation about trade offs and what the American public is willing to accept. And that conversation should be public and honest.
What level of environmental protections are actually necessary? Has OSHA changed from an organization making sure that companies aren't turning off necessary safety features to one nit picking in order hit a competitor I mean non regulatory captured of course with fines?
Why did that industry (say lumber milling about which I know nothing) move to another country? What was the burden on it that made it cheaper? And is that a burden which absolutely should exist for basic environmental and worker protections?
If a company chooses to move manufacturing and production to another country to avoid those costs, why should that company be allowed to sell its products in the US without some costs to make up for not having to comply with the US laws on manufacturing and production?
What trade off between price and environmental and worker protection is the US consumer willing to make? These are the fundamental questions that I don't even see addressed, let alone asked. And these are the ones that the most important.
It is impossible to have adult discussions about adult matters without adults being willing to face harsh realities and without being willing to accept that there is always, always, always trade offs. Always. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch after all.
Yet heaven forfend that anyone even ask these questions. The gods forbid that they be answered. After all, can't click bait and fund raise off that. Anyway, have a red panda. /fin
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