Protection and Freedom
The French economist Frédéric Bastiat is an economist whose writings are more than accurate, they are wise. This is a disturbing observation from Economic Sophisms and “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen”:
“What is the term that is common to both restriction and prohibition?”
“Protection.”
“What is the final effect of protection?”
“To require a greater amount of work from men for the same result.”
“Why are people so attached to protectionist regimes?”
“Because freedom is bound to provide the same result for less work, this apparent reduction in work terrifies them.”
One could argue Bastiat saw men as fulfilled by work and that the loss of work was threatening. Or is it the obverse? Is the freedom that less work offers the terrifying element?
The French economist Frédéric Bastiat is an economist whose writings are more than accurate, they are wise. This is a disturbing observation from Economic Sophisms and “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen”:
“What is the term that is common to both restriction and prohibition?”
“Protection.”
“What is the final effect of protection?”
“To require a greater amount of work from men for the same result.”
“Why are people so attached to protectionist regimes?”
“Because freedom is bound to provide the same result for less work, this apparent reduction in work terrifies them.”
One could argue Bastiat saw men as fulfilled by work and that the loss of work was threatening. Or is it the obverse? Is the freedom that less work offers the terrifying element?
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