Tufts University recently released a report that will make wacko free traders' heads spin.  A heretical report.  A report that cannot be true, because it challenges the Washington Post editorial board's free trade religion. 

The Global Development and Environmental Institute report says that trade harms hungry third world people.  Trade liberalization destroys those countries' internal food production infrastructure and moves peasants off the land.  Not happy stuff.

Each country should preserve its ability to make economic and industrial policy.

Below the fold is the bullet point summary. 

China is just more efficient than us.  We can't compete in the U.S.  Natural causes.  Just comparative advantage at work.  Haven't you ever read Adam Smith?  Well neither have I but we know comparative advantage explains all this stuff about jobs and outsourcing.  

Market forces like this are at work. China's government subsidizes fuel, at least $40 billion this year, but you know we can never believe their numbers.  China is the biggest fuel subsidizer in the world, it seems.

No surprise.  Peppers from Mexico caused 1,294 people to be infected with Salmonella Saintpaul in 43 states and Canada. 

Imported food is given preference in our system.  We regulate and inspect U.S. food (justifiably so), and wave the imported food through.  Big cost advantage for the imports, which use banned chemicals and have no inspectors, or few inspectors, or paid off inspectors.

McCain had a good last week/early this week, pulling closer in many important states.

But Obama's European trip made very good news for him, with good imagery.  Rasmussen has him up by 6 in their daily tracking poll.  After a few days, we'll see if this bounce sticks or dissipates.  Bubba don't care about Berlin, but the pictures were nice.

Never count McCain out.  His candidacy was believed dead one year ago.  The comeback was astounding.  Republican voters, smaller in number than Dems, will come home in November.  The Dem enthusiasm may counter Republican unified loyalty this time, or it may not.

Elsewhere:

New Mexico Pres:  Obama's lead shrinks from eight to five.  46-41%

New Mexico Senate: Tom Udall leads Steve Pearce 59-34%