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The Nation is a lefty mag but this comment about politicians is absolutely correct:

I ask Gomory what he would say to those who believe this is a just outcome: Americans become less rich, others in the world become less poor. That might be "a reasonable personal choice," he agrees. "But that isn't what the people in this country are being told. No one has said to us: 'You're probably a little too rich and these other folks are a little too poor. Why don't we even it out?' Instead, what we usually hear is: 'It's going to be good for everyone. In the long run we're going to get richer with globalization.'"

I support global free trade even though it has negative consequences--but I have no sympathy for our politicians who lie to the American public about it.

The reason I support it btw is that trade is not simply a zero sum game. A stronger world economy will drive the creation of new technologies that will create vast new wealth worldwide.

However, that new wealth will be unequally distributed and there is no assurance that the US will be an overall net gainer in the transaction.

Economics is truly "the dismal science". That is why almost all politicians lie about it.

However, that new wealth will be unequally distributed and there is no assurance

And what's wrong with unequal "distribution" (the latter a favorite word of Hillary-types? This is the way a capitalist world works.

Assurance? That's the nature of the beast. Risk/reward. Of course there's no assurance. But if American remains competitive and smart it will prosper as a whole. Will every US citizen prosper? No. Not all deserve to.

However, that new wealth will be unequally distributed and there is no assurance that the US will be an overall net gainer in the transaction

Gosh, what a wonderful worldly little Universalist you are.

Almost Saintly in your concern for the masses of the Earth - even willing to see your own country experience, er, "negative consequences".

How Noble of you.

Maybe you should apply for a job at the UN!

there is no assurance that the US will be an overall net gainer in the transaction.

While you are technically correct, the reality is that any country that has freedom, true freedom for individuals and companies to innovate and reap the rewards of that innovation, will never fail to prosper. The problem we have in the US right now is the leaden hand of government rests soggily on the engine of our growth, and gains weight and mass every day.