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I reject the idea that protectionism equals patriotism.

I do, too, and exchange rates and cost of living should eventually work everything out. But the problem is that there is a lag between the loss of American jobs and an increase in the standard and cost of living overseas. That can lead to a large number of unemployed and deeply in debt people. And since we live in a world where subsistence living off of the land is not possible and increases in productivity means that there may simply be no need to employ everyone. Unemployed people either need to be provided for or they will cause substantial social problems (they will emply themselves in theft, etc.).

Please note that a move towards both men and women working outside of the home as well as single parenthood has contributed to the problem. Where one employee used to be able to maintain a household, now two are needed because land and housing prices (which are the biggest single expense in many parts of America) are now calibrated for two incomes. Things can adjust back to a more stable situation but it isn't going to happen overnight and the question is over how much upheaval we'll have between now and then. If enough people wind up in economic freefall, things could get very bad before they get better.

and to add to your good points, this "equalization" you speak of in standard of living is a race to the bottom, these countries will not rise to the US level, we will fall to theirs. Only government subsidy will sustain the majority of our citizens who are unable to get a job that does. And in the end, that's what will build a permanent Democrat majority in this country, as the private sector middle class devolves into lower paid service sector jobs and require more government help to survive, they will vote for the party promising them the most goodies, and who are willing to tax higher wage people to pay for it.

I agree with you in large part. I would add this-2 incomes are often required not just because of the cost of living, but because of confiscatory taxes to support the welfare state and because many need to send kids to private schools because of our education system. I think it is short-sighted and perhaps dangerous to attack immigrants as the problem. The real problem is the out-of-control scope and cost of government.

Unemployed people either need to be provided for or they will cause substantial social problems (they will emply themselves in theft, etc.).

And there seems to be a disturbing trend among our young people that lead many to believe traditional methods of earning a living are no longer worth pursuing, as they are doomed to fail, so they instead pursue fame or crime.