[epow]

Secondly, what you contrue as protection I construe as buying into a failed philosophy and removing the rights of people to make their own arrangements

Then am I to understand that your infatuation with free trade is based purely on your libertarian philosophy and not on any proven economic principle? I am all in favor of individual liberty myself, including the right to choose where and from whom I buy my goods and services. But I am also in favor of an economically strong, even dominant, nation that can produce it's own necessary hardware and commodities, and do it without outside help if necessary.

IOWs, I am not especially moved by an argument taken just from libertarian dogma. I want to see proof of positive benefits of free trade to the people and the security of the US. The only results I see in this area of the nation are closed factories and unemployed former workers living on the public dole. I am not a greedy individual, but I intensely dislike paying higher local and state taxes to support former workers whose jobs are now being done in 3rd world sweatshops at slave wages.

Given a choice, I would much rather pay a higher price for my household appliances, jeans, or running shoes than to pay higher taxes to the state. Since I wasn't given a choice, I still pay the higher prices for my goods and pay higher taxes as well. A well defined lose-lose proposition. So where did the savings on labor costs go? No need to answer answer, I already know.

[Protagoras]

Then am I to understand that your infatuation with free trade is based purely on your libertarian philosophy and not on any proven economic principle?

You can believe anything you wish. As to the principles, I can recommend some books if you wish.

I am all in favor of individual liberty myself, including the right to choose where and from whom I buy my goods and services.

But only sometimes, I guess.

But I am also in favor of an economically strong, even dominant, nation that can produce it's own necessary hardware and commodities, and do it without outside help if necessary.

Freedom has everywhere and always produced what you seek when compared to other types of human living arrangements. And the idea that this country, if returned to freedom cannot make it's own things is bizarre.

[hedgetrimmer]

Tariffs Can Restore America’s Greatness

A standard error is that tariffs inhibit trade, and have contributed to the "winds of war". Positive tariffs will place the tax burden where it belongs, on the foreign producer. It is a benefit to conduct trade, for there is no "right" to dump products or to sell below costs of the importing societies. Efficiency in markets should not be viewed in world wide terms, for a very simple reason. Globalists manipulate trade agreements to create cartels that they control. Every trade treaty has the same goal, to diminish the independence of national economies and force domestic consumers to become totally dependent upon foreign industries. No nation can remain free, when they are reduced to vassals of international State/Corporations axis.

[hedgetrimmer]

Tariffs Can Restore America’s Greatness

A standard error is that tariffs inhibit trade, and have contributed to the "winds of war". Positive tariffs will place the tax burden where it belongs, on the foreign producer. It is a benefit to conduct trade, for there is no "right" to dump products or to sell below costs of the importing societies. Efficiency in markets should not be viewed in world wide terms, for a very simple reason. Globalists manipulate trade agreements to create cartels that they control. Every trade treaty has the same goal, to diminish the independence of national economies and force domestic consumers to become totally dependent upon foreign industries. No nation can remain free, when they are reduced to vassals of international State/Corporations axis.