And FWIW, at no other time in this nation's history, have so many people owned their own homes, had so many things, and enjoyed as much free time. People who keep talking about some long lost "GOLDEN AGE", here, either have memory problems and/or don't know any accurate history.
When Washington gave Lafayette those buckles, the vast majority of Americans were farmers, most people made their own clothes, and there was still slavery. Abigale Adams begged her husband, in letters, to try to get her pins ( for sewing ) from Europe. They weren't made in America.
And America has been buying "cheap goods", which were NOT made in America, for many, many, MANY generations; this is nothing new.
Uh, just what makes you think those pins were cheap??! Do you have any idea about the cost of importing things in those days?
Seems to me your usage of the Abigail Adams example and attempt to "pin" your hopes on that...points up a number of the free traders mistakes: The view of any reaonable person would be that the example instead proves the need, not for for free trade, but for a robust indigenous U.S. (or should I say, Colonial) manufacturing base. One which the British attempted to prohibit, so that they could monopolize manufactures. And btw, there weren't any egregious U.S. unions for you to genuflect against, unless you count the FreeMasons. And most of the Founders were such...
Own them or are mortgaged?