one of the many areas where the status quo has conflicting policies can be seen in the fact many politicians will support free trade while at the same time push for tighter environmental regulations. There are good reasons to support free trade- such as the notion that it will improve life for people around the world and prevent war and promote better understanding- there are also good reasons to be concerned about the environment.
The problem is that the argument for government regulation is that corporations can not be trusted to maintain environmentally safe policies while the argument for free trade is that the free market will benefit the general population and must be encouraged.
You can not hold both beliefs as the same time one of the two must be dismissed- this means either supporting an Eco tariff where you compare the cost of meeting regulations in the US vs those of other nations and taxing the difference or coming up with a free market solution to protecting the environment. I would prefer to look at the free market solutions that protect private property- which would include consumer advocacy and education, along with union negotiations and may be law suits so companies will be forced to pay restitution when their pollution harms people and their livelihood.
If a toxic chemical can not be dumped in the Red River between Oklahoma, Texas- where I grew up- then I don't want to see it dumped in the Red River in Vietnam.
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