There's Free Trade....And There's Mike Huckabee's Version of Free Trade

By Chris Rossini

Politicians can contradict themselves with a straight-face like no other.

The definition of free trade is so simple that a toddler can understand it. It means (A) and (B) can trade freely with one another without government sticking its nose into the deal. As long as the exchange is voluntary, and there is no fraud involved, there is absolutely no reason for government to get involved.

Free trade means free of government interference.

Now let's watch Mike Huckabee treat the concept of free trade like a circus contortionist:

"If we do another trade deal that drives American wages lower, and that isn’t monitored, and isn’t secured to be completely fair in how it’s administered, then that’s not free trade. Free trade is about trade going both ways fairly, accurately."

Huckabee wants price controls (on wages), and wants trade to be "monitored," "secured," and "administered" by government.

In his eyes, that would be known as free trade.

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Chris Rossini is author of Set Money Free: What Every American Needs To Know About The Federal Reserve. Follow @chrisrossini on Twitter.