Another idiot US senator, this time Ernest Hollings, is blocking free trade and making life harder for the US consumer all in the name of "preserving the American way" and "national security." The fact that protectionist and proud of it bozos like this one can get away with what they do shows what a miserable job free trade supporters have done of explaining why lowering barriers helps people, especially poor people.

What's the issue this time? The Germans (shock! horror!) want to buy a minor US cell phone carrier. I remember when the fuss was about the Japanese buying American assets, which would of course "undermine the US economy." People forget that the Japanese lost their shirts, and Americans became rather rich.