[throwaway6734]

Many actions could have been taken to prevent people from struggling to adapt to a changing economy such as:

* Subsidies for relocation

* Subsidies for retraining

* Subsidies for drug rehabilitation

All of which could have been funded by the greater economic growth generated by trade. If you want Americans to pay more for goods to subsidize the cost of living of groups of Americans, make it a transparent tax. Don't hide the cost in greater coats for goods.

Also where was this concern when these same issues were hitting poor urban regions throughout the 80s and 90s?