[Toddsterpatriot]

Do you even grasp logic?

all I've done is laid out facts regarding the destructive effects these idiotic free trade policies have had on this country. Huge increases of debt at all levels,

I'll agree that govt should cut AID and OPIC and about 50% of the rest of govt spending, but where is the connection between government overspending and free trade?

[american spirit]

When I see some logic I'll be sure to grasp it.....but at least we're in agreement on AID, illegal immigration, etc. that's a start. My point is before the free trade nonsense started this country was in much, much better shape in terms of overall debt and the numbers bear me out. From the Fed's own figures: corporate debt: '83=1 trillion....'03=5 trillion, personal debt: '83=shade under 2T....'03=just under 10T, fedgov debt 1T to 7T in same time frame.

Why the huge increase in debt?...to me it's a simple case of mfg. creates true wealth and when we sacrificed the wealth generating aspects of mfg. and turned towards services this economy turned into a big poker game with the chips constantly moving around the table. If certain folks were down on their luck for a while, all they did was borrow to stay in game or try to become a bigger player....happened to untold corporations and individuals. In the case of the fedgov, it's obvious they've created a giant welfare bubble and slowly inflated it over the last 20 yrs. with more bureaucrats, more Americans and illegals placed on the rolls, troops in almost 100 countries, etc. Obviously our flawed free trade policy has not been the sole cause of our debt problems but it has played a very significant role in our demise.

[XBob]

84 - "where is the connection between government overspending and free trade?"

Because Chinamen and Mexicans don't pay US taxes. Duh !!

All those industries and jobs that went overseas - all those used to pay US taxes, now they don't.