[Toddsterpatriot]

Only a percentage of that money ever comes back in any form.

They put it under their pillow?

The money is removed from the economy.

They eat it? Burn it?

It doesn't get spent to pay wages, buy food, pay mortgages, or even pay taxes.

They take our money in exchange for their goods and don't use it for anything? How is that bad for us?

Its wealth redistribution.

If I buy some German beer for my dollars, I've exchanged value for value.

Only when the government takes my money and gives it to another is it wealth redistribution.

[central_va]

Name one product in the western world that can't be produced in the third world by peasants? If you take the pro Free trade argument to its ultimate conclusion, everyone in the developed world should commit suicide. But you see that won't happen. This country is dangerously close to going full scale collectivist, in part due to free trade.

I usually find myself in disagreement with Karl but on this one he is right.

the Protective system in these days is conservative, while the Free Trade system works destructively. It breaks up old nationalities and carries antagonism of proletariat and bourgeoisie to the uttermost point. In a word, the Free Trade system hastens the Social Revolution. In this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, I am in favor of Free Trade.

                  -- Karl Marx

[driftdiver]

Yes, China and India love free trade deals. its helped them build their countries. They aren’t our friends.