Globalization and Choice
27 November 2006
The Editor, The New Orleans Times-Picayune
To the Editor:
Skeptical of globalization, Rae Matthews writes that "Every American factory that's closed and every American worker unemployed has, in my experience, limited my choices" (Letters, Nov. 27).
The truth is the reverse. Factories close because freer trade EXPANDS consumers' choices. Fifty years ago, for example, most Americans could choose only from among cars produced by GM, Ford, Chrysler, AMC, Studebaker, and Volkswagen; today our car choices are much-expanded to include the likes of Toyotas, Hondas, and Kias. Freer trade also, by closing some businesses, releases resources for use in creating other businesses and products - new enterprises that would be impossible if trade did not free us from the need to produce ourselves those goods and services that we can acquire at lower cost from abroad.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Does the Citizen Belong to the State?
26 November 2006
The Editor, New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036
To the Editor:
Responding to home-schooling and "unschooling," Professor Luis Huerta insists that "If the public and policy makers don't feel that this is a form of schooling that is producing productive citizens, then people should vote to make changes accordingly" ("Home Schoolers Content to Take Children's Lead," Nov. 26).
Even if you agree with Prof. Huerta's dubious assumption that the state is a better judge than are parents of how, and for what purposes, children should be educated, what schooling alternative does the professor propose? Government schooling? If so, does he really think that better citizens would be produced by forcing even more children into the chops of the greedy and rapacious teachers' unions?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
On Friedman
25 November 2006
The Editor, The Atlantic
To the Editor:
Your list of the 100 most influential Americans of all time (December 2006) is marred by one glaring flaw: the omission of Milton Friedman. This great economist exposed many of Keynesianism's deep but politically convenient flaws. He also taught the world that government does not create wealth by printing pretty pictures of dead statesmen on ever-larger numbers of small pieces of paper and calling the result "legal tender."
Most importantly, through the clarity and vigor of his popular writings he inspired several generations of people from around the world to cherish individual liberty not only as a means to material prosperity but also as the indispensable foundation for human flourishing and dignity.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Borat and Payday Loans
24 November 2006
Editor, The Washington Times
Dear Editor:
Bravo for Ryan Krueger's defense of payday loans ("Cashiering payday loans?" Nov. 24).
It's ironic that the assault on payday loans comes at a time when many pundits are criticizing Borat for being "elitist." Borat uses comic genius merely to expose some people's ignorance. In contrast, those who would ban payday loans are so drunk with elitist arrogance that they ignorantly want to use force to block poor Americans' access to an important source of short-term credit.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Pilgrims' Progress
23 November 2006
Editor, The New York Post
Dear Editor:
The Pilgrims did celebrate their harvest in 1621, but you are mistaken to count this celebration as the first Thanksgiving ("For Which We Give Thanks," Nov. 23).
That harvest was meager, as was that of 1622, because the Pilgrims at first practiced socialism. All food produced went into a common fund and was distributed according to need. The result was near-starvation.
The first true Thanksgiving was in 1623, the year of the Pilgrims' first bountiful harvest. It occurred only after Governor William Bradford in Spring 1623 allotted each family their own private plot of land. As Bradford records in his history of Plymouth Plantation, "This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corne was planted than other waise would have bene by any means the Govr or any other could use, and saved him a great deall of trouble, and gave far better content."
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
