[expat_panama]

Are all decisions to be based on purely economic outcomes? Are there other values that should be considered, such as protecting our own citizens?

Some how I didn't see the part in the article where the writer said "we need TPP because of economic outcomes alone and to hell with protecting U.S. citizens."   

fwiw, over the centuries the nations that amassed the most wealth though trade with other countries ended up being the most powerful and having the happiest citizens.

[The Toll]

Those Nations had borders though.

[central_va]

fwiw, over the centuries the nations that amassed the most wealth though trade with other countries ended up being the most powerful and having the happiest citizens.

That is BS. During the USA's first 130 years there was amazing economic growth and there were huge tariffs on imports. The Federal govt was funded purely on tariffs and no income taxes. Nirvana!