Changes

Theoretically, the advocates of free trade argued, reduction of tariffs would encourage non-democratic and corrupt developing world regimes to become more [[democracy|democratic]]. Alternatively, in the communist bloc of nations, all the contradictions of [[Marxism]] prohibited individuals from making any choices to improve their own economic wellbeing or engage in trade with a profit motive.

Theoretically, the advocates of free trade argued, reduction of tariffs would encourage non-democratic and corrupt developing world regimes to become more [[democracy|democratic]]. Alternatively, in the communist bloc of nations, all the contradictions of [[Marxism]] prohibited individuals from making any choices to improve their own economic wellbeing or engage in trade with a profit motive.

By 2014, when improvement of the [[human rights]] record in countries such as [[Russia]], [[China]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Mexico]] or [[Turkey]], to name only a few, failed to materialize, the belief that shipping U.S. and EU manufacturing jobs to less developed countries would encourage them to become more democratic was exposed as seriously flawed. The [[Iran nuke deal]] - reducing trade restrictions against Iran, and the [[Magnitsky Act]] or [[Russia sanctions]] bill are testaments of the false premise - that free trade leads to democratization and improved human rights. The free trade movement in America was built on this false premise beginning in the 1980s.

By 2014, when improvement of the [[human rights]] record in countries such as [[Russia]], [[China]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Mexico]] or [[Turkey]], to name only a few, failed to materialize, the notion that shipping US and EU manufacturing jobs to less developed countries would encourage them to become more democratic was exposed as seriously flawed. The [[Iran nuke deal]] - reducing trade restrictions against Iran, and the [[Magnitsky Act]] or [[Russia sanctions]] bill are testaments of the false premise - that free trade leads to democratization and improved human rights. The free trade movement in America was built on this false premise beginning in the 1980s.

The post-[[World War II]] free trade movement really dates from the mid 1950s and creation of the European Common Market, which evolved into the [[European Union]] with its own [[parliament]] by the 1980s. To compete with the burgeoning economic power of the European Union, reducing North American trade barriers was finalized in the [[NAFTA]] agreement by 1996. Cold War politics cannot be overlooked in understanding how the modern free trade movement was built on a house of cards.

The post-[[World War II]] free trade movement really dates from the mid 1950s and creation of the [[European Common Market]], which evolved into the [[European Union]] with its own [[parliament]] by the 1980s. To compete with the burgeoning economic power of the European Union, reducing [[North America]]n trade barriers was finalized in the [[NAFTA]] agreement by 1996. [[Cold War]] politics cannot be overlooked in understanding how the modern free trade movement was built on a house of cards.

The artificial European Union superstate was built without a defense budget - the U.S. taxpayer picking up the tab. Meantime, the violent worldwide Marxist revolution aimed at exporting Soviet weapons from Russia to Cuba, to [[Nicaragua]], to [[El Salvador]] and all [[Central America]], and eventually Mexico and the United States to overthrow the capitalist international order, liberate the oppressed masses, and establish [[Socialism]]. Raising living standards in Mexico via free trade and NAFTA was seen as a way to counter Marxist revolutionary ideology, Soviet [[foreign policy]], and compete with the Euro zone.

The artificial European Union superstate was built without a defense budget - the U.S. [[taxpayer]] picking up the tab. Meantime, Marxists dreamed of violent worldwide revolution by exporting Soviet weapons from Russia to [[Cuba]], [[Nicaragua]], [[El Salvador]], all [[Central America]], [[Mexico]] and eventually the United States liberate the oppressed masses, establish [[Socialism]] and overthrow the [[capitalist]] international order. Raising living standards in Mexico via free trade and NAFTA was seen as a way to counter Marxist revolutionary ideology, Soviet [[foreign policy]], and compete with the Euro zone.

===The Wall Street / Main Street disconnect===

===The Wall Street / Main Street disconnect===