Free Trade

Donald Boudreaux expounds on the "logic" of protectionism, with the help of a manure machine:

Let's revisit some of the 'logic' of protectionism. Many people today are torn by the age-old worry that trade with foreigners will reduce domestic employment or wages or both. The logic of this fear, such as it is, isn't. Indeed, the illogical, baseless, and factually mistaken beliefs that sustain fears of free trade are too numerous to review even in any decent-size book, much less in a single blog-post.

So let's keep this entry short by asking a simple question of all protectionists: if a machine were discovered that, with only water combined with dried leaves or dirt or animal manure, could at the mere flip of a switch produce almost unlimited quantities of high-quality automobiles, household furniture, life-saving pharmaceuticals, personal computers, cell phones, clothing, and chia pets, would humankind suffer from this discovery?

Read the whole post here.

You can see Dr. Boudreaux debate Thea Lee, national policy director of the AFL-CIO, at Bucknell on November 2 at 7PM in the Vaughan Lit (Trout) Auditorium on the topic "Is Free Trade Good for America?" Dr. Boudreaux will be arguing in favor of his manure machine!

The debate is part of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's Cicero's Podium: Great Issues Debate Series, and will be cohosted by the Bucknell Conservatives Club and the Students for Fair Trade (with far too many cosponsors to mention).

Peltier

As we reported in the last issue of The Counterweight, Bucknell's Sociology and Anthropology Department hosted a "Free Leonard Peltier" event at Bucknell on September 30. For those of you unfamiliar with Peltier, check out this article about the brutal murderer from the Wall Street Journal.

For a complete review of the dispicable event, and hopefully an explanation from Sociology and Anthropology as to why they felt it was appropriate to host an event supporting a double murderer, check out the October 26 issue of The Counterweight.

9/11 Memorial Project Reactions, Again

The individual who said, "I don't support the cause" when we asked him if he'd like to donate funds to support Marines wounded in the Iraq War, requested that his comments be amended slightly.

He noted that as he was walking away (none of the four students there heard this, but I am inclined to believe him) that he said that he didn't want to give any money because he didn't see a link between 9/11 and the Iraq War and that he donated money to victims' families.

While certainly giving to the families of the victims is valuable I imagine that given their average compensation is nearly $2 million (yes million), they probably don't need more money. People who do seriously need help are these Marines who were sent to war to make sure that another September 11 never happens again. These brave men and women, have put their lives on the line for America, and have received minimal compensation. As they struggle to overcome serious combat injuries they are also faced with the daunting task of making mortgage payments, raising their children, and buying groceries.

While Iraq may not have orchestrated the terrorist attacks on 9/11, their ties to terror organizations were extensive and well known. Moreover, Iraq (as Osama bin Laden himself has said) is the central battleground in the War on Terror. The marines, sailors, and soldiers who are there now are fighting to make sure we will never again suffer the loss of innocent life like we did on September 11, 2001. They and their families deserve and need our support.

Donations to these brave Americans can be made through the Semper Fi Fund.