Protectionism 2

Isn't it ironic that the same folks that tend to engage in class warfare in the U.S., demanding that the rich "pay their fair share", confine their view to the nation and not the world? It would seem that the only "fair" solution is to keep poorer people from competing for jobs while taking money from those more wealthy through the tax code. All roads leading to a single set of pockets.

At least the fair traders are consistent, if short sighted, in their arguments. They say they want fair trade, which is to say, they want foreign nations to respect certain labor standards before the U.S. opens its markets to their goods. The government under such policies can then say that it is "leveling the playing field" for all parties.

Aside from the arrogance that the rest of the world ought to follow our labor policies, tax codes, and regulations, this doesn't seem realistic at all. In 20 years, China is going to be an economic superpower. They won't have gotten there by meeting U.S. labor standards. Come to think of it, has any rich nation gotten where it is by applying such standards? No, because such regulations, as important as they are, are a luxury that only a highly capitalized economy can afford. Demanding the same of developing nations is to demand they not develop.

And really, as a humanist, can we say it is a bad bargain to lift 2 billion people out of abject poverty for the price of 30 to 40 years of economic development that does not meet our evolved labor standards? I say humanity will prosper in unimaginable ways by elevating so many people from survival-living to active contributors in the modern economy.

I'll make a prediction, if the economic development of India and China continues without being stifled by nervous rich nations, the damage done to the environment and to people in sweatshopts, etc. will be far, far, far outweighed by the benefits. Consider the inventions that will come from providing education and a free market with capital to 2 billion people.

These developments will raise the standard of living far more than a government regulation about hours worked. They will do more for the environment than a government regulation on green house gas emissions. The vastness of human treasure that is being unlocked is simply not balanced by any other consideration.