[fortheDeclaration]

The question is, is the trade really free or is it managed?

Americans can compete with anyone, but they are being betrayed by these international trade agreements that are nothing but mercantalism under the guise of 'free trade'

[Louis Foxwell]

mercantalism under the guise of ‘free trade’

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A distinction without a difference. Merchantilism always pressures for free trade as its most efficacious environment.
Freeburg raises an important standard for moral discernment. His analysis holds fast. If the worker demands protection from WalMart he should not buy there.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm a trained economist also with a master's degree.

This guy makes a very eloquent argument on the surface, but that's all the deeper he goes.

He fails to address the costs of Kool-Aid Drinking Free Trade as opposed to economic free trade such as:

1. Societal costs of treating diseases such as TB which were once eradicated in this country by open borders, which is part of the Kool-Aid Drinking Free Trade mantra.

2. Costs of dealing with losses caused by dangerous products, such as the poison toothpastes from China, because the costs can be spread out over a much larger portion of society just like medical care for illegal aliens per the previous example.

3. Increased costs in national defense to counter Kool-Aid Drinking Free Trader sales of high tech equipment to countries hostile to the United States. Remember China, which couldn't launch a military satellite of its own until Loral was allowed to sell their technology to the ChiComs thanks to a large donation to the Clintons?

4. Remember the e-coli deaths traced to ka-ka in the spinach because Mexico refuses to enforce and migrant workers refused to abide by similar food safety standards which we require of American farmers?

The list could go on, but I think you get the idea. Until we figure out a way to fully internalize the costs of Kool-Aid Drinking Free Trade on its advocates, I suggest we promote Free Trade between countries with comparable standards of safety, sanitation and respect for human rights instead-- with a little bit of slack cut for third world countries which are aspiring and actively working toward meeting those standards such as Turkey or India.

Kool-Aid Drinking Free Traders are really no different than the industrial revolution era sweat-shop owners who polluted the air and rivers at will and argued it was an entitlement they were owed by society in return for all the jobs they created.

[DungeonMaster]

Americans can compete with anyone, but they are being betrayed by these international trade agreements that are nothing but mercantalism under the guise of 'free trade'

Not a true statement.

[LowCountryJoe]

The question is, is the trade really free or is it managed?

Okay. I'll concede, trade is managed...and I am not in favor of that. But, the agreements seek to make trade more free and less managed. And they do that! Americans can compete with anyone, but they are being betrayed by these international trade agreements that are nothing but mercantalism under the guise of 'free trade'

I could care less whether or not other countries' governments practice mercantalism. If they want to export to us their low priced quality goods while importing nothing, the I am in favor of unilaterally accepting that deal. And you'll only seek to anger me if you try to prevent me from trading lawful goods through the use of government prohibitions. Individuals/businesses do business with one another in this country, not governments. If these individuals and businesses like the terms of the deals they get, who are you to tell them that they are wrong?