[ConservativeMind]

What Milton did not take into account was that our society, largely due to a loss of Christian work ethic and the addition of the Welfare State, leaves our nation at a true financial disadvantage. Add to that our policy is to over tax and over regulate businesses and individuals, while not getting anything back from which to recover those practices via an excise tax, and we wind up with sheer madness and a cycle into a hole in the ground.

Taxes are a penalty. Taxing imports is reasonable, as it appears taxing reportable work is also “reasonable.” But, which is healthier for a country, to penalize cheap imports that didn't employ a US citizen or pay taxes, or to penalize someone who does reportable work (and not tax welfare, etc.)?

Please tell us, oh wise one. Oh, and no country has "free trade" with any other country, today.

[aquila48]

“Please tell us, oh wise one.”

Glad you recognize wisdom when you see it. :-)

True Chinese labor doesn’t pay US taxes. Instead what it does is buys US debt called treasuries, which pays for the budget deficits.

[arrogantsob]

“Please tell us, oh wise one. Oh, and no country has “free trade” with any other country, today.”

There never was free trade, it is an ideal state not an actual one. Trade was protected by fleets and armies not economic logic.