I was listening to NPR yesterday on the way home from work, and I ended up sitting in my car for over an hour(with my dogs of course) listening to the subject matter. The discussion was on small government and free trade, and the information was very compelling. They talked about how free trade actually INCREASES the size of government in America because free trade lowers salaries, decreases jobs which drives up employment insurance, welfare, food stamp and various other social services. They made an interesting point that before free trade agreements were in place, the unemployment level was around 5-6 percent. Post recession we are sitting at 9.2%, and in Cali were I live, it is 12.9%.

Automobiles used to be made in Michigan, and exported all over the world. Lots of people had well paying jobs with great benefits. Local business thrived, which fed other local businesses. With free trade Michigan lost a ton of jobs, and manufacturers began to localize their production in countries they actually sell the cars. Local businesses closed as workers were laid off, and what is left is cities like Detroit. As a matter of fact, most of the Midwest went from a production hot house to what they call the rust belt.

They also made a direct correlation between the outsourcing of jobs to China, and falling of wages here in the US(illegal immigration didn't help either). They also made a direction correlation between free trade and falling wages(two big duh's). We in America were told that free trade would INCREASE jobs, raise wages, and actually benefit our country. We were hoodwinked, and actually sold ourselves out based on the propaganda we were fed.

The round table discussion was so interesting I just could not stop listening. I was glad for the information, but it quite frankly outraged me.