Dobbs's is the TRUE 'Freakonomics'
11 October 2006
Editor, CNN.com
Dear Editor:
Lou Dobbs alleges that free trade hurts America's middle class ("Middle class needs to fight back now," Oct. 11).
Craziness. By implying that protectionism help ordinary Americans, Dobbs insinuates that the key to widespread prosperity is monopoly - producers shielded from competition. So for consistency's sake, Dobbs should demand not only an end to competition from abroad, he should demand also an end to competition at home. He should howl and growl disapprovingly - in his trademark bloviating manner - whenever any customer of one American firm seeks out and finds a better deal from another American firm.
He should express satisfaction with economic policy only when government forces each and every one of us never to change the way we spend our money. Only then would monopoly masquerading as economic security be complete.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Editor, CNN.com
Dear Editor:
Lou Dobbs alleges that free trade hurts America's middle class ("Middle class needs to fight back now," Oct. 11).
Craziness. By implying that protectionism help ordinary Americans, Dobbs insinuates that the key to widespread prosperity is monopoly - producers shielded from competition. So for consistency's sake, Dobbs should demand not only an end to competition from abroad, he should demand also an end to competition at home. He should howl and growl disapprovingly - in his trademark bloviating manner - whenever any customer of one American firm seeks out and finds a better deal from another American firm.
He should express satisfaction with economic policy only when government forces each and every one of us never to change the way we spend our money. Only then would monopoly masquerading as economic security be complete.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Friday June 1, 2007 at 4:39pm