[x]

There's something to be said for the ideas and policies of the early Republicans, including protection, in the context of 19th century America, and perhaps even some applicability of those ideas today. But this is a LaRouchite article, and the LaRouchites are a pretty scary bunch. What's most off-putting about free-traders is the closed, cultic nature of their thinking. The LaRouchites, though, are if anything even more cultic and frightening.

The study of history is fascinating and important. And there are real heroes and villains in history. But those who want to turn history into a simple battle between the good guys and the bad guys or between absolute evil and absolute good -- whether they are Rockwellites, or Randians, or LaRouchians or whatever else -- make a mockery of past events. Good and evil certainly do exist, but one can't simply label all opponents or proponents of free trade or tariffs evil or villainous. Such trade questions were issues about which people of good will could and did disagree.

[A. Pole]

What's most off-putting about free-traders is the closed, cultic nature of their thinking. The LaRouchites, though, are if anything even more cultic and frightening.

You are right that both LaRouchites and free-traders are cultish. But sometimes either of them dig some useful information. Also I think that free-traders are much more dangerous as they have bigger influence and there is much more of them.