[AdmSmith]

The protectionist argument is a lie designed to create economic monopoly.

True, and bribe parts of the electorate to get votes. It only works in the short run.

If the politicans had supported the steam engine and prevented the otto engine from entering the market in the US, would we have GM or Ford?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[nyconse]

Really, I suppose it's my imagination that the textile industry is gone, the electronics industry is gone and the auto manufacturers have lost over 30% market share-one Chryslers has ceased to exist. Free trade is the reason the steel industry is crippled. why should American worker compete against enslaved and extremely low wage workers? I say bring back the tariff. A country that produces no hard goods can not remain an economic power in the years to come. The myth here is that free trade is good for America. It is not. A corporation has the right to make any profit it can, but when it buys inferior steel from abroad or moves their plant to another country to make the maximum ....profit-while Americans loose their jobs, it's just plain greed.