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To: long-gone who wrote (56240)	7/14/2000 12:38:46 PM
From: Rarebird	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116822

In contrast to you, Richard, who merely pays lip service to our most basic human freedoms, I am a strong advocate of free trade. I don't see how anyone with a clear conscience can be opposed to free trade? The fact is that we live in an international economy where the vast majority of American midcap and largecap companies do the bulk of their sales overseas. Why should these companies be unfairly taxed for doing business with other nations? The argument against free trade stems from American protectionism and weakness of spirit. By eventually eliminating all tariffs, the argument goes, many companies will close down their operations in the United States and move them elsewhere, where the labor and cost of maintaining operations are substantially cheaper, resulting in the loss of jobs for many Americans. In short: to preserve American jobs, we must oppose free trade. What is lost in this argument is that all Americans will pay less for goods produced overseas and imported into this country. Moreover, what right does the government have to prevent a company ( or individual) from maximizing profit? Most American companies already have operations overseas. This expansion has been taking place for decades. Should a business not use computers because it means more Americans will be employed as clerical workers? I think not. Progress, the art of making a deal to maximize profit on both sides of the equation, will always hold sway. Why? Because the stronger will always overpowers the weaker will. In Darwinian terms, we can say that life ( and free trade ) is “survival of the fittest”. The “fittest” human beings are those that are the most intelligent rational beings. As the Kings and Queens of this Civilized Wild Jungle called Life, humans have the right to manipulate the environment and society on behalf of the principles of free trade, as exemplified in the North American Free Trade Agreement, or any free trade agreement for that matter. Moreover, the spirit of Adam Smith’s “laissez-faire capitalism” is reflected in the these free trade agreements.There should be no government interference in the affairs of the economy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, entrepreneurs and business leaders have greater experience and more knowledge than Government bureaucrats concerning the sound principles and practices of maintaining a vibrant healthy economy. Secondly, democratic governments only remain democratic if it is run for the people and by the people. Too much government interference in the affairs of the economy leads to totalitarianism and communism, which has been proven ( in the case of the Soviet Union ) to lead to economic ruin. In a democratic society, international trade agreements, such as N.A.F.T.A. represent not only sound economic policy but ensures that only the best human products and services will survive and thrive. Free trade is as essential to a democracy as Freedom of speech, Freedom of the press and Freedom of Religion. This is Capitalism, Richard: the art and science of making a free trade for the sake of profit.