[Sam the Sham]

People remember the assurances handed out when free trade destroyed the blue collar middle class 25 years ago. Now, white collar workers see it happenning to them.

This time, they are listening to what they see happenning in their lives and the lives of the people they know instead of these rent-an-academic shills.

[OneTimeLurker]

Just close your eyes, say it's not happening and not a bad thing and everything will be just fine.

[Choose Ye This Day]

Free Trade DESTROYED the blue collar middle class 25 years ago?

That will come as such a shock to my blue collar middle class neighbors! I'll have to tell them this afternoon when they get back from work.

That will come as a huge shock to all the middle-class blue-collar 401(k) plan participants I speak with every day. Next week, I'll have to tell them: "You don't exist. Your job was destroyed back in 1979, apparently. Wewould have told you earlier, but I just found out last week when some guy on the Internet told me. Sorry."

[Texas2step]

People remember...free trade destroyed the blue collar middle class 25 years ago

Can stop reading right there. Blue collar workers are wealthier now than they ever have been. Wages are higher. Home ownership is higher. This statement is completely false.