[Destro]

The Athenian gentry were confronted with this problem. They also feared what the have nots would do. Instead of going the route the republican Romans did - the bread and circus state- the Athenian gentry gave up a portion of their wealth and imposed "trade sanctions" (not really but close enough) to grow a new yoeman self sufficient farmer middle class--they called it the Hoplite class and the Hoplite dominated city state gave birth to the modern world.

Fair trade not free trade.

[Recourse]

"Fair Trade" is built on a faulty premise, which is that current protectionist measures are good for the United States, but we're willing to abandon them if other countries abandon theirs, since we really want to get into their markets. That is like saying, I'll agree to stop banging my head against the wall, but only if you stop banging yours. The implication is that it makes sense for me to bang my head, but I am willing to negotiate that asset away.