Fairgoers catch toddler hanging from fair ride

^IMO...there IS a disconnect. Unfortunately (putting on my economist's hat), the failure to "reconstruct" the American economy when we first bailed out Lee Iacocca and the auto industry means that we've entered a sad era of protectionism. Economically, that's tragic....see Herbert hoover. On the other side of the coin, when you run hog-wild into other people's countries (see sig below) it really destroys any credibility you might have as a "peacekeeper" when it comes to the global issues of "the War on Terror" or even civil disputes inside a nation's borders. Personally, protectionism in all its forms is terrible - but then again, we have too many people employed in industries that SHOULD be sending jobs overseas....just if it all happens at once, you cause economic meltdown inside our own borders. Economics is the art/science of recognizing where you are "on the margin", and how to get where you need to be. Politics is the art/science of coercing your enemies to join you and your friends in the international scene (so that Russia CAN be convinced to leave Georgia merely by applying economic pressure). As always, these are MY opinions - not (necessarily) facts. ;)

Protectionism doesn't work, and hurts us in the long term, and that should be obvious by now. Obama has not done a good job in framing that debate, because he and the campaign keep tying the Bush tax cuts he wants to repeal as having allowed "companies who ship jobs overseas" a break. Well, that's true I suppose, but it doesn't mean they all did it.

We need to be first to market in new energy, technology and medicine. No president will do that for you, but I do think they have a responsibility to get it on the cultural agenda.