If you think DR-CAFTA is a bad idea... - Page 11

Criss Colon · #**101** 10-30-2006, 12:14 AM

Problem with DRCAFTA is that in the DR,they want to "Have Their Cake And Eat It Too!" They have conspired to hide the "Taxes & Tarrifs" thinking that they will get away with it. They won't! They have simply moved the tarrifs into hidden taxes. They want open access to US markets,and to still rip off their own populace by hiding the import fees in other areas.

People all over the World buy products produced in China by "Slave/Prison" labor. Or Child labor in India and Central America. They know,they just don't care! Cheaper" is "Better"!

At least the DR has one "Export" that is both "Cheap",Excellent Quality",and "self-renewing"! Guess we all know what THAT is!!!
And I don't mean "Ball Players"!
I mean "Players",who "Ball"!

That is one "Cake" you can "HAVE", and "EAT" too!
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Squat · #**102** 10-30-2006, 07:17 AM

So, I indeed forgot to mention the MAJOR INCREASE in medecine prices, thanks to that wondefull DR-CAFTA...

The heavy-subsidizers are upset that we break a few copyrights in order to make medecine avalaible to humble people...

-Isn't that unfair ?

Pfizer & Bayer are really in need !

RHM · #**103** 10-30-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squat

So, I indeed forgot to mention the MAJOR INCREASE in medecine prices, thanks to that wondefull DR-CAFTA...

The heavy-subsidizers are upset that we break a few copyrights in order to make medecine avalaible to humble people...

-Isn't that unfair ?

Pfizer & Bayer are really in need !

That's a tough issue. I agree that there needs to be some social conscious. But you have to be careful when you limit profits because it takes away the incentive to innovate for many.

PS: I was a salesman for Pfizer for 4 years. You wouldn't believe some of the stories. Michael Moore's next film Sicko will be interesting.

Scandall

Squat · #**104** 10-30-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandall

I was a salesman for Pfizer for 4 years. You wouldn't believe some of the stories. Michael Moore's next film Sicko will be interesting.

I wish we could sit down & drink an ice-frozen "Grande" so you could tell me some of these stories !!!

Texas Bill · #**105** 10-30-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squat

Free trade is good when it is really free : what we have today is a heavily subsidized US agriculture vs a non-subsidized dominican agriculture. This is not free in my book, this is unfair, this is cheating, or more, I would say, this is a very cynical way to destroy the dominican agriculture.

I am not an expert on Taiwan, so I haven't commented on that free-trade, but I would be interested to learn about the reality of this nation.

I'll be open to Free trade whenever no one is subsidized (or both subsidized at the same level...)

No matter what the subsidy is directed toward. Whether it be cooking gas or electricity.
Governments are going to subsidize what is most important to them. Take a swack at tje EU for a change on the subject of subsidies. They subsidize their agriculture at a much higher level than does the USA, or haven't you been reading the news on the subject?
Nexttime you go to the Supermercado, take a look at the Net weight vs the Dry weight of the product contained in the cans. I think you're eyes will be opened (unless, of course, you have blinders on) when you compare those figures between Dominican canned goods vs US caned goods. With the exception of Corn, you'd have to buy 2 cans of Dominican prodfuct to get the same amount of product contained in 1 can of USA product. And YOU blame the USA for PRICE GOUGING??? And you're not blaming the continues high prices on the right Government. Even though Customs Charges have been reduced on a HUGE number of items, you're STILL paying the same price as if they were still being charged. All Customs did was raise the price of the goods coming in then aply the REDUCED Customs fees and charges. Your Government is going to maintain their same income level, no matter what. Shame on you for not placing the blame where it really belongs.
Read it and wake up. You're just whining over spilt milk.

And, you're right about the Taiwanese. If Dominican businessmen think they're sharp, just wait until they start dealing with the Taiwanese. These people are past masters at negotiations and 'hidden clauses' in contracts.
Their margin of profit must be 10% or greater, or they won't even ship.

Texas Bill

cobraboy · #**106** 10-30-2006, 05:47 PM

T-Bill, don't confuse folks with facts. Haven't you heard the goal of DR-Cafta is to have eeeeeevil US corporations squeeze the life out of the DR?

I never understood why folks think a capitalist wants to inflict harm on it's customers. If anything, they WANT their customers to prosper...better for more and repeat business.

I think economics education should be mandatory in schools.

Chirimoya · #**107** 10-30-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobraboy

I think economics education should be mandatory in schools.

Yes, but with what teachers get paid, they'll all be Marxist economists.

Seriously, I agree with you. I wish I'd been taught economics at school.

RHM · #**108** 10-30-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Yes, but with what teachers get paid, they'll all be Marxist economists.

Seriously, I agree with you. I wish I'd been taught economics at school.

Ironically, I lectured my 11th graders on basic Marxism today.

Our school curriculum calls for basic economics in 10th and 11th grades. The kids actually eat it up and ask a lot of good questions.

Scandall

macocael · #**109** 10-30-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandall

That's a tough issue. I agree that there needs to be some social conscious. But you have to be careful when you limit profits because it takes away the incentive to innovate for many.

PS: I was a salesman for Pfizer for 4 years. You wouldn't believe some of the stories. Michael Moore's next film Sicko will be interesting.

Scandall

That is the line I often hear, but I have also read in several articles that in fact pricing is geared more toward sustaining the companies' huge advertising budgets, and let's face it, they are much more concerned about marketing drugs like viagra than the next cure for some unsexy disease like irritable bowel syndrome! Or helping developing nations to eradicate epidemic diseases. Many people here in DR go without simple but necessary medications like Flourinef, cortisone, pain relievers (and I dont mean NSAIDs) and so one, simply because we have an inadequate supply and the prices are exorbitant. I worked for a short while at Pfizer too, back in the early 80s, and my college roommate became one of their lab researchers.

RHM · #**110** 10-30-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macocael

That is the line I often hear, but I have also read in several articles that in fact pricing is geared more toward sustaining the companies' huge advertising budgets, and let's face it, they are much more concerned about marketing drugs like viagra than the next cure for some unsexy disease like irritable bowel syndrome! Or helping developing nations to eradicate epidemic diseases. Many people here in DR go without simple but necessary medications like Flourinef, cortisone, pain relievers (and I dont mean NSAIDs) and so one, simply because we have an inadequate supply and the prices are exorbitant. I worked for a short while at Pfizer too, back in the early 80s, and my college roommate became one of their lab researchers.

The entertainment (wining and dining) budget dwarfs the advertising budget. And then there were the "grants" that sales reps could give. I worked with both community based physicians and as a hospital rep (Harvard and Boston U. systems)...lots of stories.

Scandall