Though I agree with Obama's Cuba position, it is all about big business

[pampango]

13. Trade seems to be good for workers and the safety net in Europe and in other progressive countries.

They have much more trade than we do in the US, yet have stronger middle classes and unions and better social safety nets.

Our 1% has been able to harm our middle class, weaken our unions and shred our safety net although trade is a much, much smaller part of our economy than it is in Europe or other progressive countries.

The lesson to me is that the 1% can decimate society regardless of the amount of trade it engages in. (republicans did a good job of that for 12 years before FDR when there were high tariffs and little trade.)

Progressive countries have comparatively high levels of trade, but promoting trade may be a policy choice not the cause of their shared prosperity. With strong unions and labor laws and effective safety nets people seem assured that the benefits of trade will be equitably shared. In countries with weak unions, ineffective labor laws and porous safety nets the benefits of trade are not likely to be equitably shared. Of course, the benefits of domestic commerce are not likely to be equitably shared either.