"NAFTA Claus"

I'm not sure that cheap, plastic toys are the best illustration of the benefits of free trade, but, as this article suggests, it is one of the reasons people support it:

As I usually opt to give the kids books and clothing, the toy prices surprised me. I was a Barbie fanatic as a girl, and I remembered that they cost around $12 then. But 30 years later, Barbies cost only $6.95, unless you opt for one with a more elaborate set of accessories. Even those didn't top $20.

So I piled a few more things in the cart and continued shopping in the ensuing weeks. Tiny Hello Kitty socks for $1, a stuffed hermit crab for $4.95, glitter bouncing balls for $3 each. In the end, I had a large pile of gifts for the kiddies, even though I hadn't really spent all that much money.

"The kids should thank NAFTA Claus," I joked to my husband, Ted, as I wrapped the presents.