[backwoods-engineer]

"Free Trade" is not the only problem. Big government regulation and too-high taxes are the forces that cause businesses to outsource.

I agree that we should not be trading on a peer basis with China; as our primary lender nation, that puts us at a distinct disadvantage.

Given that, I can tell you with certainty: any serious attempt at trade protectionism, a la Smoott-Hawley, will take out present recession and plunge it into a full-blown, deep depression that will will not recover from for years.

[cripplecreek]

Unfortunately we haven’t had “free” trade for quite a while. The days of free trade were before the WTO and other global socialist organizations.

People need to take a long look at the American revolution to understand how much it had to do with being forced to deal only through great Britain. They basically played the role of WTO to the colonies and they did it as a means of control. The Tea Act undercut American sellers (smugglers) who were funding a growing rebellion.

The last two questions asked of Ben Franklin during his examination of the house of commons regarding the stamp act are quite telling. (The colonists were telling the Brits to take their trinkets and shove them up their ass)

>>Q. What used to be the pride of the Americans?

A. To indulge in the fashions and manufactures of Great Britain.

Q. What is now their pride?

A. To wear their old clothes over again till they can make new ones.<<

http://www.bartleby.com/268/8/10.html

[Last Dakotan]

Given that, I can tell you with certainty: any serious attempt at trade protectionism, a la Smoott-Hawley, will take out present recession and plunge it into a full-blown, deep depression that will will not recover from for years.

What? China is going to stop buying our scrap metal and scrap paper? Currently the container ships going back to China have to take on water for ballast they are so empty.