[BfloGuy]

Suppose the other party undercuts our prices, ends up owning the entire industry, and finances our spending not by buying the stuff we make but by loaning us back what we spent. Then, when we are used to buying stuff without making anything to sell in return, they pull the rug out. We would be hosed.

Suppose we have a government that inflates the dollar supply for over half a century. Prices and wages are continually higher than they would have been, making our goods and labor too expensive to compete.

You're speculating in semi-Marxist baloney. What I'm saying has actually happened. And, yes, we're hosed. You've reached the correct conclusion, you're just mistaken about how to fix it.

You protectionists, who will defend your other freedoms to the death, are all too willing to suddenly let government regulate our economic lives -- all for the common good, of course.

Well, there's a long history of people calling for "small" infringements on freedom -- for the common good. Funny that the common good is never advanced by them.

[central_va]

You protectionists, who will defend your other freedoms to the death, are all too willing to suddenly let government regulate our economic lives -- all for the common good, of course.

I believe in free trade amongst the 50 states. I believe in protectionism when countries use unfair trade practices or are COMMUNIST. Perhaps you forgot that part.