[lelio]

Your pay and your circumstances are strictly defined by the demand/supply equilibrium of whatever it is you do.

Yes, but now we have a flood of work done cheaply by marxist states. No matter how good you are, you're nothing compared to millions of people working for the state.

We're brought up to believe that if you play by the rules, keep your nose clean, get an education and make something of your life things will turn out alright for you. Granted some people make bad choices (ie a PhD in underwater basket weaving isn't a good career choice) but right now we're under intense subsidized pressure. Is that fair?

Now ask yourself: what happens when we have millions of people unemployed due to this. Do you think they're all going to pick themselves up by the bootstraps and look for the Next Big Thing that's not going to be offshored? Sure some will. The vast majority will be left scrunging around for that midnight stock boy position at the local Safeway.

Now ask: what are they going to do when their standard of living falls? Keep those same people in power that they think (rightly or wrongly) is to blame? No, they're going to vote in the next FDR. Which is what none of us on FR want.

So in short: competition is good. Churn in the workforce is good. Too much of both and we're headed down to socialism voted in by the un- or under- employed.

[massadvj]

we're headed down to socialism voted in by the un- or under- employed.

Trade barriers and socialism go hand in hand. Why do you think they called it the IRON CUTAIN? Because nothing could get in or out: not goods, not information, not people. Freedom requires free trade.

No, they're going to vote in the next FDR. Which is what none of us on FR want.

This is why we were supposed to have a government limited by the constitution. Unfortunately, tyrrany of the voting majority has become a reality. Just look at California. If we succumb to the temptation to impose trade barriers, God help us.

As far as FDR, he never increased government spending to the degree of GW, so maybe he would be an improvement.