"It aint right that comparative something or another"

I have been talking with some older people down at the dog park. I made the mistake of letting them know that I teach economics, and got dragged into is outsourcing good or bad, and is trade good or bad? I explained the concept of comparative advantage and they understood specialization. They accepted the economics of trade and how it makes us better off. One gentleman actually said "that is true! We are much better off then back in the 1970(the year he got married). You know we had more room but... “
Another gentleman jumped in with "that is because of the Arabs and the inflation."
But then one of them said: "what he says makes sense and I've seen it like you (the guy talking about 70s) but there is something wrong with loosing your livelihood." and with a look of disgust "it aint right to be told what you did is done more Comparatively something or another somewhere else."
I was surprised to hear this in Orange County from a guy who has a Bush sticker and other Republican memorabilia on his car.