Chris

>Definition of free trade
>
>Trade between nations without protective customs tariffs.
>

>snip<

Well, I'd agree with this but as you know this really isn't what's really going on 'out there'. I suppose I'd agree with Jim Nelson's remark that free trade really isn't.

Perhaps in all of this we've (as a nation) neglected or forgotten that this world runs on different rules than those we would like in an ideal world. I think sometimes conflicts like these are representations of one's world views and I think for us, as a nation, we have been suffering from something of a disjointed world view for some time - both internally and externally with our neighbors, friends and enemies. For me, based upon my belief system, I'd like to see the absence of greed, envy, lust and other nasty human characteristics and if this were possible I fully believe that there are enough goods and foodstuffs to feed, clothe, house, educate (etc) the entire human population. However, also based upon my belief system, I am also a firm realist in my recognition that mankind will never be able to lift itself into these noble goals (that is, the absence of greed, envy, etc...).

So.. What's one to do?

Well, recognizing that mankind is indeed basically self-centered rather than others-centered the notion of competition looms large and as such I don't have any problem with nations competing. Of course, I'd like them to all follow the same rule but that's also a bit naive I'd suspect. <g>

So... What does one nation do when other nations 'bend' the rules or just do not play by the basic rules? Or, perhaps we should ask just what are the fundamental and basic rules for human interaction? Honesty I suppose is prime. It affects contracts, weights and measures and all the other accoutrements of effective trade. Dishonesty is what you see in fraud, smuggling, extortion and so forth.

So.. Again.. What's a nation to do when a nation bends the rules and dumps steel in an attempt to gain market share? If nations can do this why can't Microsoft (allegedly) do this with their software or Standard Oil with their oil as Rockefeller did?

IOW, I thnk there's a lot more to this than meets the eye but your raising the issue is IMO great!