July 28, 2004

Debunking 10 myths

Brink Lindsey, author of Against the Dead Hand: The Uncertain Struggle for Global Capitalism, has an interesting article on 10 Truths About Trade at Reason. Good ammunition for those of us who get in arguments about free trade with people every once in a while.

Posted by richard at July 28, 2004 03:03 PM
Comments

Some good fodder, but nothing terribly new. You're right, though. it's good to have some ammunition.

I'm not sure anyone who reads — or comments on — this blog disagrees with you one bit on free trade (although I may have critiqued some of your arguments and links). Would that current president George and future president John came around to our point of view on this oen . . .

Posted by: Mike F. at July 28, 2004 11:55 PM

Free trade is for sissies. And that's what the two of you are — you're a couple of sissies.

There's nothing more manly than a good, solid trade embargo or farm subsidy. That's when a country flexes its muscle and says, "Yeah, you wanna make somethin' of it, ya Third World punk?"

"Go back to the bar and drink your girly-drink with the pink umbrella in it, you sad-sack sub-Saharan African countries. 'Cause we're having a bottle of our home-grown stuff tonight, baby!"

"Free trade! Free trade!" Substitute "Hello Kitty" for "free trade" in everything you write, and the two of you are just a couple of giggling schoolgirls. Oh no, you are already, because you're for free trade.

MADE IN BANGLADESH, my butt. Big tariffs = big balls. End of story.

Posted by: Brad A. at July 30, 2004 05:38 PM