The most obvious expansion is the housing market which you seem to not like.
Real estate sales is an immediately contingent part of that economy which is also growing.
It is difficult to say what happens with the $175 you save on a VCR. You might spend it on home improvements. You might save the money. The GDP continues to increase 3-5%-- this is a legit statistic and suggests that wise choices for that $175 continue to be made.
The U.S. continues to grow at a strong rate in comparison to other robust mature economies in Europe. The US continues to be the largest global economy.
It really does seem like free trade has a long empirical record of success.
Where do the protectionist arguments ever prove true?
It doesn't produce anything more than the house. It's a one time thing. Who will live in the houses that have been built once the baby-boomers die off? It's not that far off.
Real estate sales is an immediately contingent part of that economy which is also growing.
That doesn't represent a growing economy. Simply shifting money from one person to another does not constitute a productive economy. In fact, it can be argued that the real estate agent's cut is a slowing factor to that section of the economy.
It is difficult to say what happens with the $175 you save on a VCR. You might spend it on home improvements. You might save the money. The GDP continues to increase 3-5%-- this is a legit statistic and suggests that wise choices for that $175 continue to be made.
Where do you get the $200 vs. $25 figure for VCR's? I don't see VCR's for $25. They average about $40 and since none are made in the U.S. your number is made up.
It really does seem like free trade has a long empirical record of success.
There is no such thing as free trade. If there were, there would not be people such as yourself clamoring for it. All trade on this planet, is regulated in some way.
I have yet to be shown where free trade has worked and lived up to the claims of free traders.
NAFTA is a prime example. It may have benefited the mexicans in some way but for us our trade deficit has increased ten fold since it's ratification.