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Will Obama Slam the Door on Oregon's Export Economy?
By Mark Ellis
With the exception of Iraq, nowhere is the difference
between John McCain and Barack Obama more profound than on
economics, especially on the issue of global trade. As 2008’s
interminable primary season unfolded across a nation, which
many feel has been adversely affected by the realities of
the global marketplace, those differences came into striking
relief.
The usual contextual duality applies. Unrepentant free traders
claim that U.S. citizens experience net economic gains as
a result of our participation in international trade. Voices
on the other side proffer dire anecdotes that demonstrate
we are losing to competitor nations on an uneven playing field.
One hostage to the drama is the Columbia Free Trade agreement,
which President George Bush claims would help the U.S. economy
and “advance America's national security interests in
a critical region. It will strengthen a courageous ally in
our hemisphere.”
Congressional Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
— with the blessing of Hillary Clinton — have
held up a vote on the deal, stating that they must first take
up separate legislation that would help protect American workers
who might lose their jobs.
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