The cries between the two sides are loud, so sometimes in all the noise we lose the truth.

I believe in free trade if it is on a level playing field. By that, I mean that both countries have suspended protective tariffs and that the only basis of choice between exchange of goods is the price.

However, many countries have protective tariffs against imports. This puts our merchants in a bad way. If we at the same time have no protective tariffs, then foreign products can be imported here and sold more cheaply than our natural industry products. This leads to outsourcing, mass layoffs and economic despair.

A solution to this is to do total free trade only if the tax structure of import/export is left untouched and nonexistent on both sides. Then we need to suspend corporate tax to allow our products to be made and sold cheaper. We also need to keep protective tariffs if other nations with whom we trade do so.

Adam Smith is my favorite economist. Sadly, he wrote of a world without a meddling government. I hope that a government like Smith talks of comes along, but until it does we need to protect our industry here at home.

Joe Garrison

West End