Market Correction

30 March 2006

Editor, The Boston Globe

Dear Editor:

Jan Goriansky repeats many myths about Wal-Mart ("We Pay a Price for Lower Prices," March 30). Perhaps the most egregious is the claim that "Wal-Mart has caused manufacturing jobs to disappear as fast as you can say 'China.'"

In fact, U.S. manufacturing jobs have been replaced not by workers abroad but, rather, by machines here at home. This mechanization greatly improved worker productivity: today's manufacturing worker in America produces nearly 350 percent more output per hour than did his counterpart in 1962, the year Wal-Mart was founded. One result is that, although service-sector output has increased substantially over this same period, the share of GDP accounted for by manufacturing output is today barely unchanged from its share back then.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University

29 March 2006

Editor, The Washington Times

Dear Editor:

Observing anti-immigration maneuvers by pundits such as Cal Thomas ("Whose Country....," March 29), I wondered Whose life is this? Mine? Or government's? Why are politicians and bureaucrats entitled to pre-select the pool of persons from which I can choose my friends, lovers, employees, and associates? Why can't I - an allegedly free American - decide for myself which Mexicans will mow my lawn or break bread with me in my home? Why must my choices in these matters first be approved by government in order to be 'legal'?

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University

28 March 2006

Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20071

Dear Editor:

Charles Krauthammer justifies the U.S. war in Iraq by alleging that "there is not a single, remotely plausible, alternative strategy for attacking the root causes of Sept. 11" ("Fukuyama's Fantasy," March 28).

What about Uncle Sam using his troops and war machines only to defend Americans at home rather than to "build" nations abroad? What about a return to the prudent non-interventionism endorsed by George Washington who warned us against foreign entanglements? In short, what about U.S. neutrality - including in the Middle East? After all, al Qaeda doesn't seem to be intent on terrorizing the Swiss.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University