and we became the richest, most powerful nation due to it
To the extent that it happened, which is far, far less than you think, we became great in spite of it, not because of it.
For those that tried to dump their cheap labor products on us they were slapped with tariffs, that policy was in the Republican platform into the seventies. (when the mistake seems to have been temporarily corrected)
It's called progress. Live and learn from your mistakes.
BTW Mr. Protectionist (corporate welfare advocate), I like less expensive products, so do others or there would be no market for them. I need no protection from you, nor do I desire an artifically high paying job making poor quality products in low skilled industries in order to prop up some Democrats in their phony jobs.
The American economy is still the stongest in the world despite all the gloom and doom scenerios put forth by protectionists for decades. It is because of the RELATIVELY low protectionists policies of government thugs and their enablers.
I love showing Republicans up as anti freedomists and having them defend tyranny. It's so much fun!
What a joke. Exactly what have you shown us, that those Nike sneakers came down a whole bunch when they moved to Vietnam to pay workers .20 an hour? T-shirts at my local Wal-Mart made in China still cost $15.00 to 20.00, same price when they were made in the states, employing Americans.
The idea you're now getting choice is what's delusional. The only choice you're getting is what workers assembled the products, the owners of the companies are the same. Who incidentally are getting richer thanks to government sponsored "free trade" deals. What products are the Chinese or Mexicans buying from us? It's corporate welfare no matter how you want to spin it.