Pipe lyin’

On one level,though,the organisation of the protests reflects the post-global era; the debate revolves around “fair trade”,the violation of WTO norms,and not “free-trade-is-evil”. Yet here,again,the limits of an American politics that has failed its workers,and missed out on the fundamental responsibility to tell the truth about a changing economy,are visible. Most out-of-work residents of Granite City,and their cheerleaders in the hyper-patriotic wing of the American media,are encouraged to believe that the problem is that good-quality domestic steel can’t compete with subsidised foreign steel. And yet,according to the US government,Welspun receives mainly one problematic subsidy: India’s commerce ministry’s export promotion capital goods scheme (EPCG). And what does the EPCG do? Why,it helps export-oriented Indian units import raw materials more cheaply. The “subsidy” that the US steelworkers complain of helps the recipient buy and import,say,American automotive equipment — the ultimate destination of much US steel. But it isn’t in anyone’s interest,either the union-indebted Democrats or the out-of-work Republicans,to make this sort of argument. John McCain was hammered when he,during his campaign,told a swing state that “Michiganians have to realise the old jobs are gone for good.” But that’s the sort of truth-telling the man who beat him should start doing.