by Stan Sorcher

One popular position on trade is to "level the playing field."

I'm not always sure what that means, but I'm in favor of it.

Any intention to level the playing field starts with a simple realization -- that rules of trade can favor one outcome over another. For instance, our current free trade policies tip the playing field steeply in favor of more imports, and movement of production to low-wage countries. This is good for multinational businesses and investors, but bad for workers and communities. Trade agreements spell out investor rights in fine detail, while pushing aside environmental conditions, labor rights, human rights and public health.

News from the Alliance@IBM CWA Local 1701,
Washtech CWA Local 37083 and TechsUnite
Communications Workers of America, AFL/CIO
The unions for the information age

As unemployment increases, IBM continues to abandon the US workforce in favor of offshore workers. Not only is IBM shifting work from US locations to low wage countries it is also importing foreign workers to replace US workers.