Monday, November 20, 2006

MAKE TRADE, NOT WAR

As a strategy for achieving world peace, this has to be by far one of the most idiotically self-absorbed and narcissistic suggestions anyone could ever make. Just the sort of thing that the brain-impaired leftist remnants of the 60's would suggest. As Wretchard wryly observes, "Be sure to wear some flowers in whatever hair you have left."

The fact that the MSM thinks such ridiculousness is newsworthy shows how unserious these morons are about the subject of world peace (or should I say "whirrled peas"?).

Those who are truly interested in world peace--and not just for their own malignantly narcissistic gratification--would do well to read this piece in the CSM by Donald Boudreaux, however (please read it all):
...as the Wall Street Journal reported recently, "Democrats' stances against free trade helped build the party's success at the polls and could tip the balance on trade matters. The new dynamic could put a definitive end to the already troubled effort to reach a global agreement to reduce tariffs and open markets...."
Protectionists (of whatever party) believe that consumers who buy goods and services from foreigners cause domestic employment - and wages - to fall. Economists since before Adam Smith have shown that this belief is mistaken, largely because foreigners sell things to us only because they either want to buy things from us or invest in our economy.

These activities employ workers here at home and raise their wages. Mountains of empirical evidence show that protectionism is economically destructive. The facts also show that protectionism is inconsistent with a desire for peace - a desire admirably expressed by many Democrats during the recent campaigns.

Back in 1748, Baron de Montesquieu observed that "Peace is the natural effect of trade. Two nations who differ with each other become reciprocally dependent; for if one has an interest in buying, the other has an interest in selling; and thus their union is founded on their mutual necessities."

If Mr. Montesquieu is correct that trade promotes peace, then protectionism - a retreat from open trade - raises the chances of war.

Plenty of empirical evidence confirms the wisdom of Montesquieu's insight: Trade does indeed promote peace.

All the arthritic hippies in the world screwing themselves into oblivion, while getting high on various drugs to block out any hint of meaning or connectedness that might come from their orgasmic follies, would never in a million years be capable of realizing that their trusty old slogan "Make Love, Not War" has absolutely no relevance at all to the real world. As they search for new climactic heights to achieve in their self-centered little worlds, they will thankfully be in no rational state to appreciate the global fucking that certain death-worshiping religious jihadists have planned instead.

Far out, dude, they might intone groggily in a purple haze.

No, it is far more likely they would accept the death-worshipping jihadists than any suggestion that capitalism and trade are correlated with peace; or that the overwhelming evidence indicates that trade reduces conflict.

Shit man, they don't need no stinkin' evidence. In their gentle souls they know the truth and have passed it on to the next generation of idiots.

Their feelings were all that mattered in the 60's; and their feelings then and now tell them quite clearly that capitalism sucks. Every postmodern leftist; almost every 21st century Democrat believes this fundamental truth all the way down to the core of what is left of their souls.

That poverty and misery have a cure; or that making trade decreases the chances of war simply does not compute.

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

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