[hedgetrimmer]

Let's hope we conservatives allow the third world to become self-reliant

The best way for the third world to do this is to dump their corrupt goverments, have their own American revolution and change their own culture to support free enterprise. Global socialst trade welfare will not accomplish what you say it will.

[Toddsterpatriot]

The best way for the third world to do this is to dump their corrupt goverments, have their own American revolution and change their own culture to support free enterprise.

And then they can start their own farm subsidies.

[winner3000]

I agree with you that the #1 priority for 3rd world countries is to change their corrupt governments. I still don't understand how you would take free trade and lack of subsidies (the hallmark of capitalism) and turn them into socialism. It's subsidies, high taxes, and other forms of government actions that are the hallmark of socialism (think about the French economy).

Just because the WTO (not usually a favorite of us Conservatives) is on the side of low subsidies doesn't mean that subsidies are good (I'll give Wolfowitz the benefit of the doubt, especially based on his performance on this issue).

From the article it says that in return for lower agricultural subsidies, the US wants the third world countries to open up their manufacturing sector. This is what free trade is supposed to accomplish: each country ends up doing things based on their comparative advantage. Subsidies distort those advantages, thereby making trade extensively less efficient and worse for everybody.