[RaceBannon]

Not so excellent, for it ignores the amount of cheap labor that could copy the nice little carvings.

This false story assumes that Jerry is the only one making quality carvings for ever, even with the little knock-offs.

We are not a nation of wood carvers, we are a nation of Computer controlled machines, where illiterate unlearned people make the same quality product for less than 10% of the original price

This story does not mention the realities of local competition copying or making similar products that Jerry has to compete with in a normal world, also.

Totally bogus story, making fun of those who see the real risks of exporting jobs that DO exist

[John H K]

Do you support this proposal?

A Level Playing Field Act, where Congress decrees that: Neither a corporation nor an individual shall be permitted to employ a cheaper method of producing a good or service.

http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=3098

[mylife]

Jeez I just thought that the darn premise inspired people to think for themselves!(therefore an excellent post) Did I ever subscribe to one side or the other?

[Willie Green]

Totally bogus story, making fun of those who see the real risks of exporting jobs that DO exist

Yeah, Callahan even naively postulates that Jerry and Sarah have sovereign jurisdiction over their own country and can control access to their utopian valley.

It'd be slightly more realistic if they were subjects of a compassionate ogre whose mignons dictated what type of wood Jerry was permitted to carve and how he was to dispose of his wood shavings. And since the ogre controlled the highway, he entered into agreements with the neighboring ogres that whenever Jerry and Sarah began to prosper, they would transport wood carvings from another region to undermine their efforts, and distribute the profits among all the talentless dukes and duchesses.

Yeah, Callahan's little venture into allegorical fiction is quite amateurish.

[for-q-clinton]

I'm torn on which way to go on this. I do like Free trade and it has many benefits. If someone can produce something cheaper than that's good. Why have a bunch of over-educated farmers tilling a field?

However, if that means China can use forced labor and have little children making shoes for me, then I don't like Free trade.

I think there's a balance that needs to be reached. Some common standards for all Nations to play by. For example, no one under the age of 14 is allowed to work in the production of goods. No one is allowed to work more than a 70 work week. I know 70 hours is a lot, but it has to allow nations to go through their growing pains (just like we did).

With some minor improvements, I think Free trade could be a lot better.

But there is one thing missing...National Defense. A nation that can't build its own tanks will lose in any extended war. Just like the South losing to the North. Everyone knows the South out fought, out thought, and simply just kicked ass. But they were worn down because all they could make is uniforms. All the industry was in the North and this industry is what allowed the North to keep producing the weapons to kill the southerners.