What if, free trade?

[Gr8adv]

Ok, not purely bmw…

I am re reading Orwell’s 1984 and although this has little to do with it, it has me thinking abstractly.

Please realize this is not ever going to happen and I am not suggesting it should. So no need to dig in the heals and protect anything. Nor is it necessary to get political.

I wonder what the economy would be like if the US focused heavily on two areas only: Agriculture (to feed us) and the exceeding fluid technology industry. Then allow free trade with the rest of the world without the worry of protecting US industries from foreign products. We could sell more, and buy more.

The job market would obviously look different, however I would think that those two industries, along with the thousands of others business that would not be affected, the overall job market could be fine. And prices I expect could be much lower. Idk

It would be great to hear some insightful thoughts. (Although I am sure the usual suspects will chime in with their omnipresent wise and intellectual one liners….)

 

[BER18 100]

In Orwell's 1984, I remember the main character (Winston) lived in a world where he could be arrested for "Thought Crimes". President #4 James Madison claimed; "No man shall be incarcerated for his thoughts."
For if so, everyone would live in a penitentiary.

As to your question about food and technology, I suspect different markets are deeply interconnected.

 

[Rufus]

Having heard so much about Orwell over the years at the age of 55 I decided to do something about it, so last year bought and read 1984, Animal Farm, The Road to Wigan Pier and Down & Out in Paris & London. IMHO it’s very easy to recognise much of what he wrote about 80 odd years ago, happening today. I can understand why so many reference his work. Sadly. Going to leave it there.