You know, it's such an article of faith that free trade benefits us that no one has questioned it for over 30 years. But does it? Where is the evidence that free trade has helped us more than it has hurt us if wages have been stagnant this entire time and ordinary Americans are slipping deeper into poverty? Sure, your HD television is cheap, but nothing else is, from food to health care to nannies to homes. In fact, the high cost of housing, health care and skilled services reflects a situation where we have had price inflation for those 30 years that is somewhat masked by the "benefits" of free trade.

George Friedman of Stratfor noted that we are precisely insulated from the greatest crises going on because we only export 12% of our GDP. As an inefficient free trader we are not suffering from what is essentially a complete and total breakdown in the international trade system. And yes, it is breaking down.

Trump seems to be the only candidate who doesn't want to start a war with everyone and needlessly sacrifice lives and money for other peoples' problems, especially when we aren't deriving benefits from solving those problems. Sure, he wants to carpet bomb ISIS. I couldn't care less if we do. But he's a hell of a lot more rational about the use of force generally than Cruz or Rubio (of course, we can probably forget Rubio exists since no one seems to be "feeling the Rub", so to speak - in fact, I think Rubio's political career is effectively over).

Plenty of intellectuals are supporting Trump. We just have our own reasons, and we aren't spellbound by the vague promise to "make America great again". With the major crises in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, America is perhaps once again in a position to be great regardless of what happens (especially if we can stay out of other peoples' wars).