[MadIvan]

I have been on Free Republic for nearly 8 years. Virtually every word you've said, every cliche, every phrase is something I've heard before. You people never learn, never think, and are militant in your refusal to acknowledge facts.

At the heart of the protectionist fallacy is some idea that mother, nanny state can protect you from the rest of the world. It can decide to throw up barriers to protect domestic industries without penalty, and indeed lead to prosperity. This is not what would happen. Trade wars invite retaliation, and the people who would suffer most are those who are reliant on exports - as we are all reliant on exporting to each other, we all would suffer. Similarly, if we make it easier to trade to each other, we all will prosper. This simple truth has never penetrated the thick cranium of any protectionist idiot because like bratty children, they'll keep on sucking on their thumbs and demand mummy protect them from the mean nasty foreigners.

To conclude - unless you have anything new to say, shut up.

Ivan

[hedgetrimmer]

Similarly, if we make it easier to trade to each other, we all will prosper.

This is an outrageous statement. Making it easier to trade with slavers doesn't mean we will all prosper. Thats nothing but hogwash.

You are the one mouthing platitudes dear friend.

[hedgetrimmer]

ONE example of "free trade" where everyone doesn't prosper:

Freer trade can displace workers in developing countries and contribute to emigration pressures. Honduras liberalized trade in rice in 1991, and subsidized US rice soon displaced most Honduran rice farmers; their number fell from 25,000 to 2,000. However, rice prices for consumers did not fall, allegedly because intermediaries took the savings in profits. Some of the ex-rice farmers migrated illegally to the US.

In fact citizens in this country were harmed, because we have to pay the social and infrastructure costs for the illegal immigrants displaced by the fraudulently named "free trade" system.