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.
No Logo
That can be said more honestly of those opposing China and its designs.
Have you read the late Dr. Constantine Menges?
A short summary of a portion of his conclusions:
China is pursuing an eight-phase path to global dominance:
Phase I: A normalized relationship with the democracies will bring the economic, industrial and technological benefits China desires. It follows from an Asian proverb that, “A rich state has a powerful army.”
Phase II: China uses its immense wealth generated through trade surpluses to influence and coerce. As President Jiang Zemin stated, “intimidate with force and seduce with money.”
Phase III: China takes control of Taiwan. Whether this is accomplished militarily or through political coercion, it would be a tremendous blow to U.S. credibility.
Phase IV: China dominates Asia and ends America’s security relationship with Japan. The United States is no longer a significant force in the Pacific and China is the guarantor of peace and stability in the region.
Phase V: Western Europe is neutralized. China uses financial incentives to woo Europe away from its participation in the NATO alliance. China shifts its massive hard-currency reserves from the dollar to the euro - further damaging America’s image, signaling America is in a serious decline
Phase VI: China strikes an alliance with Russia, but as the senior partner, it is able to dictate terms. China offers Russia much needed hard currency in exchange for access to Russia’s great mineral wealth.
Phase VII: China’s Global preponderance has left the United States isolated and severely weakened. China and its allies now control the vast majority of the world’s oil resources and have a near-monopoly on advanced computer chips. In addition, it controls all the world’s vital transit areas. China can now coerce states, especially the U.S., by threatening to cut off vital resources.
Phase VIII: China achieves global dominance. It insists that all other countries agree to dramatic cuts in the military and nuclear arsenals or face severe economic or military consequences.