I know it’s hard to remember – or maybe care about – but there are one or wto other people in the world besides Americans.

Does that mean a level playing field and doing business with trading partners who have simular values, ethics, or morals? (substitute “business practices” if these ideas are upsetting to you)

Does free trade mean doing business with partners who ignore concerns such as using child labor, using hazardous materials (which may be illegal to use in the states), using unsafe worker guidelines, etc.?

Does free trade mean moving jobs from America to offshore countries so that global companies can increase profits?

There are millions of examples of statistics that can explain away resistance to the so called free trade, but giving away our manufacturing jobs for jobs at the fast food or other service industry type jobs may not be the best move for a long range “American Strategy”. It is time to think our best interests not the global view to an improving economy.

Postrel, who should interject the moral basis for capitalism, never does. At least I havent seen her do it. Freidman does a bit, Sowell very little as well.

The problem with most free trade defenders is the pragmatic approach. How does one combat the bromide of “economic planning, for the Good of the People” with econometrics? Aint gonna happen.