[raybbr]

To all free-traders: (I have been asking this question for two weeks now and no one has answered)

What would our economy and our nation be like if we had a 500 billion dollar trade surplus or, an even trade instead of a 500 billion dollar deficit?!?!

I wait patiently for an answer.

[RockyMtnMan]

I'm waiting for them to answer my question:

What new opportunities will come along that will be able to employ a wide array of offshored professions made up of millions of degreed professionals?

Let me know if you get yours answered.

[DHerion]

Good point.

I don't see protectionism as the answer. We need to seriously reduce the cost of doing business in this country - healthcare reform, tort reform, education reform, environmental reform, tax reform, etc. Personally I think we should eliminate any tax on any business in this country (people pay their taxes anyway). Or perhaps we should have a business tax based on the percentage of workers employed here versus overseas - the more domestic workers employed by a company the lower their business tax.

Without reform or a return to some kind of protectionism (which is a double edged sword in my opinion) the s#$t is going to hit the fan and one of the two political parties will seize the issue. I'd bet my money on the Democrats with a lot of help by the lamestream media. This could be the perfect issue for Hillary Clinton in 2008.