N o vem b er 17, 2010 Çortlanb (Observer Page 15 New Prices Effective May 1,2010 |C canpipates RUNNING FbR OFFICE (M THE USA ACCEPT UNUMVTteP P o NAT io N s FROM ONSPEClFfEP SOURCES .1 ^3 Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG $45.00 o S A small distanee/travel charge may be applied 0 0 o 0 CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area A to m -, . HATfOMAU CoRÇWAlJOHSj Pre-Spray Traffic Areas $ X .' NOT C orruption Cleaning _E THE same pîfferbkeî , (Includes: I small Hallway) Al W Vy W o flp £ -\\ v X P olitical speech 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With O ther Services): $25.00 Free Trade: A Corporate Scam A race to the bottom for wages W illiam A. C ollins Free trade isn't the only thing ruining America, but it's a biggie. The most obvious reason is that so many jobs have gone overseas, You'd thinkeconomists might feel a duty to explain to our leaders what's gone wrong. Well, that's their job, but most economists these days work for industry, largely the very same employers who benefit from cheap foreign or imported labor, They're surely not going to sound the alarm. Other economists work for uni- versifies, where they're still caught stake—always—is greed. Manufacturers and mar­ keters don't know avoca­ dos from blueberries. But they do crave cheap labor anywhere they can find it, from Poland to Palau, What's more, they pay big money to lobbyists and to political campaigns to get it. Afterall, Ameri- can workers aren't their responsibil- ity. They answer to investors. Agribusiness is the same. It's heavily subsidized by Congress and loves selling its low-cost products tariff-free in lands where nocompet- up in ancient post-mercantilist ide- ology. Early in Econ 101, you learn the mantra of "comparative advan- tage." In other words, each country or region should do what it does best and then trade its surplus out- put to other countries with a mini- mum of restriction. Mexico should send avocados to Maine and get blueberries in return. That way ev- eryone makes a profit. Such is the foolish logic that presi- dents of both parties have used to sell free trade agreements to Con- gress, and which Congress buys all too often. Unfortunately what is at ing subsidy exists. That may drive local farmers out of business, but the companies don't care. They're not our brothers' keepers. Most nations have imposed tar- iffs or quotas to protect local indus- tries against such cheap foreign competition. This healthy protec- tion is what free trade agreements seek to overcome. Expanded to the grand scale of world trade, these actions have led to our rampant unemployment, a depressed economy, and an unsus- tainable trade deficit. Two current examples: Whirlpool is moving more by production to Mexico and GE is closing its last light bulb plant in America. So why not impose more tariffs to raise prices for specific foreign goods and services? Not only would this save and pos­ sibly create jobs, we could use the law to prohibit entry o f those products whose manufacturer destroys the environ- ment or abuses workers, g o v ern m en t fails to p u rch ase enough goods at home. The long- established Buy America Act re­ quires only that a product bought with federal tax money be 50 percent American. Additional loopholes take that down to about 25 percent in practice. Further, in 2008, there were 65,000 waivers granted to avoid the law altogether. There's more, way more. Corpo­ rations, lobbyists, importers, politi­ cians, news media, and many econo­ mists are in on the deal. They kow­ i t i r tow to employers, investors, and . . . t / l C T C S ¿7 l O t O J advertisers who make a bundle off f i i the "race to the bottom" for wages. T D O T IC y t O D C ITICICIC If by chance you would like to do / J p v t r n v i r i Q th f> your bit for the economy, you can " urge your members of Congress to C U V l T O I l l l I C I l t C llic l oppose the upcoming free-trade agreem ents with Colom bia and South Korea. They would only make unemployment worse. And, don't pay attention to econo­ Well, there's a lot ofm oney to be mists on trade issues. Too many made in destroying the environment have sold out. They warn of trade and abusing workers. That's why wars, but ignore the collateral dam­ multinational corporations invest age of the trade peace we're suffer­ big bucks in the legislative process ing today. to assure they can continue to do OtherWords columnist William just that. Only citizen protests slow A. Collins is a former state repre­ them down. sentative and a former mayor of Disappointingly, even our own Norwalk, Conn. abusing workers. Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool): $40.00Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: Additional $ 10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spaying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139 Chair or Recliner: $25 - $49 Throw Pillows (With Other Services): $5.00 ADDITIONAL SERVICES • Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning • Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning • Deodorizing & Pet Odor Treatment • Spot & Stain Removal Service • Scotchguard Protection • Minor Water Damage Services SEE CURRENT FLYER FOR ADDITIONAL PRICES & SERVICES Call for Appointment (503) 281-3949