[DiogenesLamp]

Now you’re saying the Europeans were dumb. They had to have been to know they had NO competition with U.S. shippers out of the picture, and not change whatever they wanted to.

This is another example of you trying to put *YOUR* words into my mouth. The Europeans would have sold them shipping at lower rates than the Northern shipping industry, or else the Confederates would have simply continued to use the Northern shipping industry.

Basic free market economics informs us that prices will drop with competition, to the lowest sustainable level.

As a conservative, you should know how basic economic forces operate.

If protectionism by the US government didn't work to increase prices, they wouldn't do it.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Yeah sure, they’d continue to use the same Northern shipping that YOU say were ripping them off. And the British, like OPEC, wouldn’t realize they’re the only game in town and raise prices. Sure.

[SoCal Pubbie]

You realize of course that there was a glut of cotton in England in 1861 and the British were turning to India and other sources. King Cotton’s reign was ending and those big extra profits would have never happened.