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Thanks everyone for the viewpoints. Just one concern which remains to be addressed. This country sees more long term benefit through trade, championing free trade as it is called, than "fair" trade. If the US today were to assert her right to make trade "fair" then it would destroy the system. This system existed long before the the WTO. The WTO is actually a global system which integrates nations peacefully into the international fold. Most of the State Department jibberish in diplomacy is laced with advancement of goals through trade. It is my humble opinion that as the leading economic engine in the world, the US must sometimes accept less in order to get more. On economies of scale, people - individuals - are hurt by this action but in the broader sense (cents) we all benefit from the advancement of these policies. I'm sorry for those who cannot make a living wage, or those out of work. I'm also sorry that some believe taxing the rich will allivate this plight at the expense of future growth and job creation. There are no easy answers but I make one simple suggestion - do not work for someone else if starting out in life, but rather engage in a vocation that is in demand so that you own your means of production; while I know this is not possible for everyone, it is the best I can come up with.

In the USA today, people are given an opportunity to succeed. Most Americans prefer to get "jobs". Those who immigrate prefer to create their own jobs. In Europe, they have a social safety net for everyone, but there is no opportunity. Without opportunity as an incentive, there is no significant individual spirit released to become creative. I watch my EU coworkers every single day struggle with knowing that their current plight is the penacle of their social experiment; faced with restructuring because their society cannot any longer provide for all as it has in the past. It is better that we Americans suffer as we than collectively as Europeans.

There is not a single answer politically. Currencies will play a pivital role in trade and job protection; not tarrifs or policies, least we revert to wars throughout the world tomorrow.

Jumper, accept less in order to get more? Sorry, that is not going to fly politically and the longer this "free" trade drags on, the more likely the voters in the US, fed up with more declines of their standard of living, will elect those who will make the uS a European style welfare state. Theory may make sense, but sorry, it wont fly in the real world. The US consumers has been helped by a massive expansion in the M3 money supply that really loosened up credit standards, but this situation can not go on long term. When the bills come due and more and mroe consumers can not pay them, they will elect those who promise to help them.