Steven Landsburg: "Buy America" is Like Racism
University of Rochester Economics Professor Steven E. Landsburg argues convincingly on Fox News why it is a lot like racism for us to give preference with protectionist trade policy to total strangers born in Detroit over total strangers born in Japan or Mexico.
"Both major parties are infested with protectionists who would discriminate on the basis of national origin no less virulently than David Duke or any other racist would discriminate on the basis of skin color."
Fox News guy doesn't get it.
6 Comments:
Landsburg is an idiot in how he presents, 'letting market forces work'...
Seeking to portray protectionism as racism is akin to saying fish are a lot like cattle...
There are only a few things cattle have in common with fish... They both eat and they are both eaten...
i disagree... id like to see anyone try to answer the good professors' question about how nationality differs from race when it comes to economic discrimination.
we hear that it matters when it comes to foreign policy, so why not economics?
Being a Christian I am going to try to approach this issue from a biblical perspective. God commands us to love our neighbor. Most pastors are quick to point out that "our neighbor" means everyone. I think this "everyonoe" is true to the parable of the good Samaritan. However, due to the meaning of the word neighbor itself, I think that Christ's meaning for this command is to love everyone, starting with those who are closest to us. Applying the above principle to trade policy, I conclude that it is preferable to give a very slight preference to USA made products over foreign made. Personally, I shop based upon price and quality first, then all else being equal, buy made in the USA.
I don't think he makes a good case. He only makes a good case when he is preaching to the converted. I mean I completelly agree with his sentiment, but not with the way he presents his ideas.
Hey anon @ 9:57 A.M., why don't you define what YOU mean by, "economic discrimination"?
"we hear that it matters when it comes to foreign policy, so why not economics?"...
Who do you hear this from? I assume you are saying that foreign policy and economic policy are inextricably intertwined with each other, right?
Hmmm, was econ 101 a real toughie for you?
Initially it was for me but then I read from Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, and Walter Williams and it helped me to clarify a lot of stuff..
"You could nuance it, but I get your drift."
translation: your plain words don't inflame my viewers, so I'm going to twist them to something that will.
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