04 April 2006
Uchitelle and Layoffs
In his new book, The Disposable American, Louis Uchitelle, the New York Times economics reporter, proves himself again to be an interventionist. Back in 2003, he argued for government policies that strengthened domestic manufacturing, saying that American “power” is tied to its ability to produce physical goods for its own consumption and export. Now he makes the argument that it is the government’s responsibility to prevent manufacturing jobs from moving overseas in order to preserve social harmony in the country.
It is these kinds of “statist” principles that have led to civil conflicts and have restricted the pace of change over the course of history. Smug confidence in the superiority of one’s culture, as in France, is valuable to all humanity in small quantities – mainly because it serves as a control and retains certain universal treasures (good wine, good food, ineffable style); but its rigidity can reach limits, as we have recently seen in all French cities.
Free markets are a better solution to the advancement of human welfare than intervention by mankind’s instruments of government. It is not essentially different to call for sovereign “corrections” of macroeconomic trends than to insist that medical research conform to religious doctrines.
In his new book, The Disposable American, Louis Uchitelle, the New York Times economics reporter, proves himself again to be an interventionist. Back in 2003, he argued for government policies that strengthened domestic manufacturing, saying that American “power” is tied to its ability to produce physical goods for its own consumption and export. Now he makes the argument that it is the government’s responsibility to prevent manufacturing jobs from moving overseas in order to preserve social harmony in the country.
It is these kinds of “statist” principles that have led to civil conflicts and have restricted the pace of change over the course of history. Smug confidence in the superiority of one’s culture, as in France, is valuable to all humanity in small quantities – mainly because it serves as a control and retains certain universal treasures (good wine, good food, ineffable style); but its rigidity can reach limits, as we have recently seen in all French cities.
Free markets are a better solution to the advancement of human welfare than intervention by mankind’s instruments of government. It is not essentially different to call for sovereign “corrections” of macroeconomic trends than to insist that medical research conform to religious doctrines.
Comments:
Post a Comment
