USA top exports: Aircraft, grains and empty containers

[YALE]

This is one of the things I've never understood about free trade agreements. Sure, we get a lower price on consumer goods here, but why reward companies that sell off american factories just to work 11 year old Indonesians to death?

[AnthonyS]

While our government plays a role in the private sector, they cannot be the ones to blame for everything. Union wages have gone wild and their benefits are even worse. While taxation on our products seems high, the production costs seem to be the killer. China can build just about anything for 1/5 of the costs.

The over-regulation of business hurts, but if we cannot control costs...we cannot compete.

You don't think our government has overplayed their role in supporting unions? Maybe you didn't read the fine print on the auto bail outs..... the unions got money and the stockholders got the shaft. Our production costs are sky high because everyone now days wants to "get paid" for doing nothing. The percentage of people willing to work has dwindled to an all time low in this country. You can't blame China for that.