FYI-Latest Pew Trust Poll on Everything

[Leonidas]

Most reliable polling organization in the country. The info is most interesting in the last part of the polling results.

Summary of Findings: Obama's Image Slips, His Lead Over Clinton Disappears

[GregDM]

Of those stats, I'm happiest about the decline in support for free trade agreements. And if you care to disagree, reply without using "protectionist" or "isolationist," because it's an intellectual cop-out.

I'd rather use the terms "conservative trade policies" or "classic trade policies."

[dgrycan]

Originally Posted by GregDM

Of those stats, I'm happiest about the decline in support for free trade agreements. And if you care to disagree, reply without using "protectionist" or "isolationist," because it's an intellectual cop-out.

I'd rather use the terms "conservative trade policies" or "classic trade policies."

Well - maybe we're working towards that right now. The biggest defense (excuse) for free trade has always been to keep the prices down on goods.

With the dollar in the crapper right now, that's going to be harder and harder to do. With the rising price of almost all goods almost a given, there's a good chance that if energy prices dip, and prices remain higher, more American companies might be able to manufacture goods to be sold on our own market.

It's a vicious circle, though. Right now our exports are increasing because of the low dollar (like wheat, for instance), yet there's a shortage for use here at home. I don't like paying inflationary prices for the simple fact that our economy is such that it allows foreign markets to get lazy and just buy it from us.