Sunday, January 14, 2007

One of the best arguments in favor of free trade made in the vernacular

We've long know that the demands by Democrats that our trading partners adhere to First World standards on labor and environmental laws is but a ruse for killing free trade pacts. There was a time when Democrats favored free trade but the current crop of Lou Dobbs Democrats fear free trade opting for the illusory 'fair trade' model.

Blaming international trade for wage stagnation in this country is like blaming lettuce consumption for rising obesity. Trade is about selling American goods abroad as well as buying imports here. Exports have been rising, and studies indicate that the jobs created by exports pay better than the ones destroyed by imports.

[Newly elected Ohio Democrat Sherrod] Brown and others cling to the superstition that we can get rich by sealing ourselves off from the world and paying each other high prices for products made entirely in the U.S. of A. If they manage to erect new barriers to trade, we'll learn once again that protectionism is nothing but fool's gold.

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