You should note that I mentioned that Jefferson changed from that naive utopianist. Of course, Idealists are not always confined to the liberal ranks. However, it is generally expected that a conservative will be closer to reality...trying to conserve it..., rather than given to imaginations thereto.
I fondly remember one of the sayings that Reagan liked to repeat:
"A conservative is a liberal who got mugged the other day."
Jefferson got mugged.
The average Mexican spends more money on US imports than the average American spends on Mexican imports
Even if that were true, of what conceivable relevance?
And the actual trade deficits with Mexico, and Canada respectively set records that blow away the "record" export claims...and the implied "average" purchase comparison. As for those claimed averages, consider these numbers reported last year by the U.S. Census Bureau:
The 2005 deficit with Canada ($76.5 billion), exports to Canada ($211.3 billion), and imports from Canada ($287.9 billion) were records.The 2005 deficit with Mexico ($50.1 billion), exports to Mexico ($120.0 billion) and imports from Mexico ($170.2 billion) were records.
Um, it's you who is wrong. The trade deficit with Mexico look alarming until you realize that there are 300mm Americans, and only 100mm Mexicans.
Here's my own Reagan quote:
"Our trade policy rests firmly on the foundation of free and open markets. I recognize ... the inescapable conclusion that all of history has taught: The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations." -Ronald Reagan