Reply #3: The media will always frame it to support the status quo on trade [View All]

After decades of watching/reading the news, I see we just can't win. They'll just frame the stats so as to continue to support unrestricted free trade. For example:

1) If the trade deficit goes up ( even a huge amount ) the finance media shrugs it off as inconsequential OR spins it as a positive by saying how "consumers" are feeling confident, or how great it is that "consumers" get all this cheap stuff blah blah blah. Nothing said of the CITIZENS who used to be "consumers" back before their jobs were exported.

2) The smallest of drops in the trade deficit ( occasional downward dips in an otherwise big upward trend ) is ballyhooed as absolute evidence and validation of the present free-trade / globalistic policy in which our gutted manufacturing base is somehow going to export our way out of the deficit ( which they don't care about anyway ) feel-good lip-service.

They'll just trot out either of these 2 mantras to fit whatever case. I believed it all....Once....20 years ago....till I saw the disconnect between propagands and reality.