Lol, it's hardly a problem of personalities. The American people have been lied to about the 'benefits' of our one-sided trade policies for at least fifty years. One of the best things that could come out of the Tea Party movement in the near future would be an objective look at the results of the one-sided trade arrangements, and our mushrooming trade deficits, and budget deficits, and unemployment, etc.
Time to ignore the globalists' rhetoric and evaluate the results.
Exactly, our real problems are issues like excessive taxes. So how about we start tax-cutting by eliminating taxes on imports?
Our trade deficit is caused more by our budget deficit than than the lack of import duties or quotas. If Beijing can keep buying T-bills with their dollars, there is no reason for them to buy american products or make american investments.
The loss of manufacturing is due more to regulations and taxes than import duties or quotas as well.
The American people have been lied to about the fact that more government intervention in the market means higher prices and lower efficiency? It is fascinating to me that some people will argue that greater government control of the economy is bad except when it comes to trade. Do you believe that when the issue of trade is involved all of a sudden government becomes capable, reliable and responsible? If so, you may be a big government conservative - whatever that is.