Problem is Brad that the statement in question is populist bullshit. No matter whether it is wittered by a neo-nazi in Europe, or repeated by intellectually indolent folks that should know better on internet forums.
Globalisation is NOT slaves making stuff for the unemployed. Its a catchy slogan, and the less sophisticated amongst us will clearly lap this shit up all day long.
A few facts;
a) Globalisation has delivered an enormous rise in living standards for hundreds of millions of people around the world. China, India, the Tiger economies of Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe have all benefited from the vast investment in infrastructure and manufacturing capacity. Millions now have food, sanitation, healthcare, education etc etc that would never have existed without globalisation.
There will always be bad apples that mistreat their staff, but for the majority the word slave is not appropriate.
Those millions of people are now potential customers. You ask the marketing departments of luxury western brands where their biggest market is. You ask Boeing where their growth is forecast to be. You ask Coca Cola, Rolls Royce, BMW, Rolex, Johnnie Walker, smart companies that make products that people want are reaping the benefits of globalisation. Coal miners in the rust belt and truck makers from Detroit not so much.
Its called change and it has always happened. The poor have always been there. They will always be there.
b) The West has benefited on a vast scale. Western companies and financial institutions are earning countless billions from their investments in low cost manufacturing. Stockholders, pension funds, traders, insurance companies, brokers, and basically any individual with money in a financial institution has benefited from the efficiency of globalisation.
There is a very strong argument that says even more of these profits should benefit the ordinary guy - The way that Google / Apple et al behave in order to reduce their taxes is frankly revolting. These are taxes that the US needs. If the likes of Apple paid what they really owed then the govt debt and the tax burden on individuals could be reduced.
c) The living standards we enjoy in the West are 100% the result of globalisation. It is fashionable now to use the word in a derogatory manner - but we owe everything to globalisation. Decent reliable cars, cheap plentiful food, white goods that are cheaper now than they were 20 years ago, IT that now delivers every aspect of your life. None of these thing would be possible with out globalisation.
Some of you wont remember the malaise of the 1970's ( Markham maybe ) but the 70's and 80's are when the west realised that subsidising heavy industries that made things that people did not want was fruitless. Detroit does not make cars anymore because the product was rubbish, the unions were too powerful for change, and the Japanese did it better. Are you suggesting that the Japanese were slaves ?
Globalisation was not some vicious plan concocted by evil Soros / illuminati types in order to enslave the people. Globalisation is the inevitable result of man kinds endeavours. Globalisation is what you get when you have container ships that can deliver goods anywhere in the world at an incredibly low unit price. Globalisation is what you get when opportunity for profit and modern transport meet to deliver a better product for the consumer.
A few more facts :
Trump will not get people burning coal again.
Trump will not persuade US consumers to buy expensive poor quality items.
Trump will not force China ( or any other country ) to do things they dont want to do.
Trump will not undo 40 years of automation.
Trump will not stop Uber from running driverless cars.
Trump will not take his tongue out of Pootins ring piece.
Protectionism of US industries will make them even less efficient, protectionism of US industries via levies and regulations will result in stagnation and zero investment. However protectionism make Trumps new buddies in Wall St and the oil Biz even more richer than they already are.
The west is doing just fine, America is not broken, Globalisation is not a dirty word. Trump the arch capitalist has sold you a pig in a waistcoat, the ultimate snake oil - a cure for a problem you dont even fucking have.
