Most American voters are ambivalent on or pro free-trade, not protectionist

[geek tragedy]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/do-americans-support-free-trade-222562

While 43 percent said they did not know enough about ending U.S. participation in free-trade deals like NAFTA or TPP, 28 percent said they would agree with a proposal to end American involvement in such deals. Even so, another 28 percent said they would disagree with that idea.

This poll is typical of the polling that's out there. And it is during a presidential election in which Brexit-style economic nationalism has gone without being rebutted on the campaign trail.

Clinton is right to maintain a more flexible, nuanced view of trade than the protectionist/rejectionist trade policies of Trump and Sanders. Most Americans do not buy into the "close down the ports" approach, even if they have serious and valid concerns about trade agreements. Such concerns which should be debated of course, alongside the benefits (most voters are simply unwilling to pay a lot more for non-imported goods).

[NorthCarolina]

1. Where was all this support for TPP during the primary? Back then it was

just "Hillary has come out against the TPP", and now that the primary is all but over there is suddenly a groundswell of support for TPP among her supporters. Wonder why the sudden about face. Perhaps Hillary was never really against TPP, and instead was just faking it for the primary? Perhaps just an example of the "run left, govern right" election philosophy pioneered by the neoliberal crowd.

[geek tragedy]

3. Labor unions are against it and Democrats won't cross them on this. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. HRC isn't a reactionary

I won't speak to the efficacy or lack of efficacy of any trade agreement but the demonization of trade by both the left and the right will not end well.

One of the main contributors to the economic depression that swept the world in the thirties and forties is that nations started to withdraw into their protectionist shells.

Building walls around our nation to keep out people and/or goods will not end well.

I pray my fellow Americans resist this noxious trend.