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To: DannyTN

We will never agree on this issue. Government is force and has no place in voluntary transactions between individuals and businesses, unless that business is illegal or immoral.

Government’s only legitimate function is to protect citizens from criminals and foreign enemies, and it doesn’t even do that very well.


53 posted on 07/12/2013 7:47:02 PM PDT by Pining_4_TX (All those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48)
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To: Pining_4_TX
"Government is force and has no place in voluntary transactions between individuals and businesses, unless that business is illegal or immoral."

Then why did the founding fathers give Congress authority to regulate trade with foreign countries? They thought it was important. One of the first things Washington did was sign a tariff bill. If they thought it was important, are you sure you're right on this matter?

Jefferson used to think that America should stay an agricultural economy and just trade for manufactured goods. Then in Jefferson's words "the unthinkable happened" and Europe cut us off. Jefferson changed his mind and realized that a strong manufacturing base was essential to maintain a free state.

You say "unless illegal or immoral". That covers a lot of ground, a lot of government intervention. Selling weapons of war to foreign nations is illegal. I could argue that doing business with countries engaged in economic war with the U.S. ought to be illegal. But there is a better way, and that's tariffs. They are less intrusive. They don't cut the supply of anything. But they provide an incentive to produce in America.

54 posted on 07/12/2013 7:59:45 PM PDT by DannyTN
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