If GWB did not endorse MFN, conservative textile and light manufacturing communities would provide the margin of victory for McCain. Instead the GOP catered to the free traders, passed MFN, WTO and want even more free trade with Latin America, and the blue collar Reagan Dems went with BO. You can not lead an Army to victory if you start screwing the troops who support you.
You’re right. If we didn’t let those companies outsource most of their production, those jobs - and the jobs and receipts of the bosses and company owners - would have been lost as well...
Better to let the company die altogether on US soil rather than survive with manufacturing overseas!
/sarc