[Paul Ross]

Nonsense

That is the factual history of the GOP, whose pioneering national policies blazed the U.S. into unrivalled industrial and technological primacy, by setting and enforcing as "the ruling and uncompromising principle [is] the protection and development of American labor and industry."

[Protagoras]

The idea that protectionism launched the US into prosperity is a quaint attempt to link a favorite policy of some to results which happened IN SPITE OF bad policies.

This country has had just enough freedom to overcome bad policies of all sorts and other countries economies, on a relative basis.

It has survived creeping socialism and a plethora of other problems to be one of the best (relatively) countries in the world. It's frightening to think how far we could have gone with true freedom.