Some New Year's Resolutions for Economic News Reporting

"6.) Trade Deals Do Not Mean ?Free Trade,? So Don't Call Them ?Free Trade Agreements?--Everyone likes freedom. That is why politicians who put forward trade agreements call them ?free trade? agreements. But, these deals are not free trade agreements. They don't free all types of trade (they do little or nothing to remove the barriers that protect doctors, lawyers, and other highly paid professionals) and they actually increase some types of barriers to trade, most notably by increasing the strength of patent and copyright protection. Back in the 80s, President Reagan dubbed the controversial MX missile, the ?Peacekeeper.? To their credit, reporters continued to use the neutral ?MX? term to refer to the missile. In discussing the current round of trade agreements, it would be more accurate (and save space) to simply refer to them as 'trade? agreements?, rather than free trade agreements." Amen to this! No wonder people distrust economists so much. (Scroll down for the complete list.)