Disappearing middle class needs better deal on trade

I recently read the 1886 book by Henry George "Protection or Free Trade"[0], and was struck by how the arguments by Trump, Sanders were more or less in the same form 125 years ago.

It's an astonishing book, not only for the clarity in which it dismantles these arguments in the cause of free trade, but also for how it transcends this, and explains why protectionism remains popular:

"Thus the opportunity of work comes to be regarded as a privilege, and work itself to be deemed in common thought a good... When men are thus accustomed to think and speak of work as desirable in itself, is it any wonder that a system which proposes to "make work" should easily obtain popularity?" (chapter 23)

Remarkable in how relevant this book and its arguments remain.

[0] http://www.econlib.org/library/YPDBooks/George/grgPFT.html

That was suprisingly coherent and well stated. I don't think I understood the currency wars until now.

Ugh I just agreed with Trump.