So far I have been accused of being a communist chinese plant to influence Free Republic for taking the free trade position. (So far)
Now Free Trade advocates are being lumped with the Islamofacists?
I'm building quite the resume!
Great isn't it?
BTW, for me, it's not a free trade issue, it's a freeDOM issue.
These folks refer to countries, and yes even continents as if they were individuals.
"What should we do?" and "Us against them".
It's not two people agreeing on a mutually beneficial transaction where both get what the want, it's a small group of elitist "we know whats good for you" that make the decisions.
Another point. Some of these people no doubt would describe themselves as Christians. I always wonder how they reconcile their Christianity with their advocation of forced policies which say that people in some countries are entitled to live at a certain level while those in another country are lesser and don't deserve a chance to make a living. WWJD?
You draw a line in the dirt with your foot, and anyone on the wrong side of it can eat the dirt while the others trade among themselves as long as they are in collusion that no one will compete on the price of their labor too vigorously.
In case you do not know what a free market looks like. Here is an example - the free currency market of free people in the US and Canada;
Trying to compete against China is like playing against a stacked deck. Maybe you would have a better understanding how American firms feel as they are told they must produce for the "Chinese" price.