"Somehow, I don't see how America would be better off in the long run if we paid $200 for a $65 pair of shoes because they are made in America or if a new "American made" computer costs $1800 at Best Buy instead of a foreign made one at $499."
Your point is ridiculous because no one here is advocating Zero Trade with other countries. The alternative to Free Trade is not Zero Trade, it's reasonable Tarriffs (as envisioned by the Founding Fathers) so that domestic manufacturers still have to compete, it's just that they get a small edge over foreign competition.
Who's advocating zero trade? Freedom to trade is what's being advocated here - as opposed to more protectionism. Comparative advantage will work if it's given the opportunity.
it's reasonable Tarriffs (as envisioned by the Founding Fathers) so that domestic manufacturers still have to compete, it's just that they get a small edge over foreign competition
How many taxes do you know that remain reasonable? How does protecting our manufacturers from competition help them? Finally, do you think the founding fathers envisioned our current state of corporate taxes, federal income taxes, state income taxes, property taxes, social security taxes, Medicare taxes, excise taxes, sales taxes, capital gains taxes.......
Don't you think we're taxed enough already?