Hello Russell,

> I realize that one e-mail won't make you change your mind (that's why
> I'm keeping it relatively [for me :-)] short.

I'm afraid it is a bit on the long side, by my standards. :-)

[snip..snip..snip..snip]
> "Free trade" on an uneven field is helping us blind ourselves to the
> fact that we are living on the backs of those with aspirations not at
> all unlike our own. The inequities that we sow today will help shape
> how we get on a few decades from now.

Russell, I have great respect for your opinions, especially given the fact 
that most of the time they coincide with mine. ;-) But, with all due 
respect, I do not see your point.

Are you saying that trade restrictions are better than free trade in 
protecting the workers from corruption, inequality, and poverty?

I was once accused of exploiting Chinese workers, because our products are 
built in China. But wouldn't it hurt the Chinese workers, if we moved 
production back to the United States?

I agree with the author of "The Benefits of Free Trade: A Guide For 
Policymakers" that free trade helps spread democracy. People in China today 
enjoy freedoms unheard of only fifteen years ago. The freedom to "exchange 
the fruits of one's labour" IMHO is one of the most important freedoms. So 
again, people are better off because of free trade.

Two questions for you:

- What solution do you propose to the problems that you have described?

- Let's forget about developing countries for a second. Do you think that 
unrestricted trade between two industrialized nations (say, US and NZ) is 
also detrimental?

Best regards,

Vitaliy 

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