[fporretto]

There's much here that's both true and important. However, some of the criticisms of Bush Administration backing for protectionist tariffs and farm welfare overlook an important point: Dubya had to promise these things to get elected. Had he not followed through, his credibility would have plunged.

I dislike the tariffs and the farm bill myself. I dislike even more the president's recent pledge to jack up foreign aid. I can only hope that at some point in the near future, he regains his ability to steer policy according to constitutional and free-market principles, rather than continue to craft giveaways to interest groups. Surely he's near the end of the list of groups and regions he promised special favors to -- ?

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[CaliforniaDreamer]

"But the world economy may now be moving from a revolutionary period into one of incremental change, as new technologies are adapted, perfected and applied to everyday services and products." Those silly Europeans will cling to statism at any cost. There will always be unexpected and revolutionary new technology - just when the technocrats tell us that everything important has already been invented. AND it won't come from Europe.

[LarryLied]

My take on it too. Unfortunately, our system is designed to give people what they want. If Bush continues protectionism as well as huge increases in guns and butter spending, we will experience something similiar to what occurred under Nixon, Ford and Carter. The voters never learn. Or they just want to grab all they can while they can.

[headsonpikes]

The harm being done to U.S./Canada relations through the tariff measures on softwood lumber is incalculable.

Purely political reasons drove this action, spearheaded by Senator Max Baucus, watch-fob of big timber interests, but apparently more powerful than the President.

Just another destructive government intervention all done nice and legal. Move along-- nothing to see here!