60% of Repbulicans polled are skeptical that free trade benefits the U.S. See here (HT)for a good explanation of why dismissing these folks as economically illiterate misses the point.
"Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed" – Blaise Pascal
3 responses to “Increasing skepticism about free trade”
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I have a very basic question when it comes to free trade: Why should I care about what benefits the nation as a whole when my friends and family are losing their jobs and my town (where the two biggest employers are automobile manufacturers, one of which is closing next year) is facing an economic crisis? I understand the arguments for free trade, but I have loyalties that are deeper than abstract economic theory. While that may be simple-minded it is very compelling to me.
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I think yours is a perfectly respectable argument. It’s more than a little ironic when libertarian economists tout self-interest as the prime mover of a prosperous economy but then ask people to swallow free trade as the policy that serves the greater good in a spirit of altruistic sacrifice.
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Good question, Jeremy, and good answer, Lee! I’m a libertarian who happens to agree completely with you.
A Thinking Reed 
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