Fascinating point.
We are the ONLY first world nation that has bought in on this free traitor craziness!
Could it possibly be because it profits only the mega rich political contributors?
Nothing wrong with free trade if you can compete. I used to think the US was extremely competitive, but since 1980 I think something has gone really wrong.
Some facts from the CIA fact book 2005
Norway:
Agriculture: 2,2%
Industry: 36,2%
Service: 61,6%
USA:
Agriculture:0,9%
Industry: 19,7%
Services: 79,4%
I am from a small town of around 50000. I know that the last years the three main factories have reduced staff and increased productivity. One place have almost cut their staff in half and increased productivity. The other factory has had a productivity gain of around 10% with less workers. All of them are competitive. Our shipyards has full orders.
Actually not the first. The first global superpower was Spain and she was ruined by the New World gold - it was easier to import foreign goods. Next was Britain in second half of XIX (when she started to believe her own free trade propaganda).
"Let London manufacture those fine fabrics of hers to her heart's content; let Holland her chambrays; Florence her cloth; the Indies their beaver and vicuna; Milan her brocade, Italy and Flanders their linens...so long as our capital can enjoy them; the only thing it proves is that all nations train their journeymen for Madrid, and that Madrid is the queen of Parliaments, for all the world serves her and she serves nobody." (Prominent Spanish official - Alfonso Nunez de Castro in 1675)
"Fascinating", but FALSE.
Is it time to change your handle to "Iconbfooled"?