[calcowgirl]

Thanks for the response. I agree with some of what you posted, but disagree with others. I'm not familiar with the detailed reasoning of either Dobbs or Buchanan, but I can see where deeming NAFTA not "Fair" is perfectly consistent with conservative principles. You're probably aware that the U.S. agreed to drop or phase out tariffs on their products but allowed Mexico to continue tariffs for many years. I don't think the issue is so much about "Fair Trade" as much as a "Fair Agreement". If I give you a dollar for 10 nickles is that Fair?

A couple of other things... You wrote:

But giving in unions, Democrats, etc. on some of these issues is sometimes needed to increase freedom of trade.

I disagree. See tagline. It diminishes out sovereignty and freedom in the name of "free trade". New requirements placed on USA businesses, and jurisdiction of foreign courts or other quasi-governmental bodies is not a positive step, IMO.

And...

But I think both are eminently justified, as proven by the opposition of Teacher's unions.

I don't see these issues as two dimensional. Opposition by one group does not rise to the level of "proof" in my estimation.

[mjolnir]

I agree that the fact that Teacher's Unions are against vouchers doesn't mean they are good--- I was being a little humorous (all right, very little). I do think given the general record of the unions, their opposition is a good sign, though, and that there are many other good reasons to buy into vouchers.

Mexico keeping its tariffs hurts Mexico; if that wasn't the case, it would simply keep raising its tariffs. Sure, Alexander Hamilton advocated tariffs to protect infant industries, but as Ronald Reagan noted, these infant idustries have a way of never growing up. The United States would be better off if it phased out all tariffs, regardless of what other nations do. As President Coolidge put it, "The business of the American people is America is business" not any particular business.

I agree with you that "new requirements placed on USA businesses, and jurisdiction of foreign courts or other quasi-governmental bodies is not a positive step" but Nafta constituted a net lessening of regulation upon American businesses by increasing their freedom to buy and sell where they wished to.