[kabar]

You are correct about what "free trade" is doing to Ameirca. We are separating the economy from the stock market. Multinational companies will continue to move the means of production to places that offer them the cheapest labor and other incentives. At one time, industries like textiles could move to the South from the North and some workers had the option to follow. Today, workers don't have that option to move to another country. Some theorize that the only way you can get an equivalent situation today is to have a global government, which eliminates nation states and international borders.

check this out http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4304622.html

[looscnnn]

A few things about the article you referenced:

"The first step is to begin an honest debate about where our economy really is and where we are headed as a nation."

Problem is that nothing would come from this debate. They will walk away with the same view as they do now. The economy and nation are in good/bad shape, so we continue with the status quo.

"Real and effective solutions will emerge only when economists and policymakers end the confusion between the free flow of goods and the free flow of factors of production."

That will never happen, that is like trying to anti-gunners and gun owners trying to end the confusion over gun control, etc. There will always be people that have clouded views of things.

"Old-fashioned protectionist measures are not the answer"

Well, since we moved away from them, the country has gone to hell in a hand basket job wise. The further we move away, the worse it gets.

The article failed to even offer some possible attempts to fix the problem other than debate. We have debates over judges and look were we are with that.