There will be plenty of people who say "no" or disagree, but the modern 'free market' is not free...at least not for everyone. At no point in history had there ever been a non taxed and zero tariff international trading system until Reagan and the US led "globalization" process. When you eliminate the tariff tax you are essentially pulling the rug out from under the people who do not have the means of investment and capital to invest in global trade...and that is exactly what happened.
The big corporate conglomerates we see today that had the capital to engage in a global market before tariff elimination and NAFTA have been soaring out of control being able to freely engage in trade across the entire world with NO governmental restraints. This has done two things. Absolutely, 100%, destroyed the 'free' market because any business wanting to get a foothold into the market automatically has a disadvantage and inevitable death sentence not being able to compete on the global level. Secondly, it has elevated the merchant class and wealthy elite above the ruling class (government).
For the first time in history, the merchant class is running the show. This is why we see the huge division of labor and wealth that is rapidly growing and the slow inevitable death of sovereign nations, it is also what Reagan was referring to when he made his 'new world order' speech about how free, unregulated markets were the "future". Try to ignore the simple minded nationalists and entrepeneurs.
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