<the theory behind "free trade" is that nations will become so economically entwined that they will never risk outright hostilities towards one another.>
Hawk, I don't buy that theory. And you can't force me to buy it, even if you have an army and we have a free trade agreement. Well, actually, you could and that's the problem.
Politicians just love forcing people to buy their wacky theories and are not in the slightest shy about using a local bureaucrat, backed by a fleet of lawyers, agreed by a court ruling, enforced by the local constabulary, supported by the neighbourly SWAT team, backed up by the army and air force. Even the most free of countries are suffocated with screeds of obscure victimless crimes, regulations, rules and arcane ritual, all of which is compulsory and which nobody, even the enforcers, can know - they detect something then spend years and many courts and lawyers, and most importantly, collecting a LOT of money, to try to figure out what some ignorant individual was supposed to know on the spur of the moment.
Politicians also love forcing neighbouring countries to supply or buy, with our without free trade agreements. It's the sense of power and control which they seek. They would rather be big fish in a little, impoverished, pond than just another nobody looking for a real job in a Libertarian free market world. Their purpose of being is not material prosperity. It's megalomania, power, control, the centre of attention, adulation and alpha male or female status in a chimpoid tribe. They get the girls and the money. Free trade and freedom in general, for other people, doesn't figure in it.
To get you to buy my theory of megalomania and the irrelevance of intertwined economies to peace, light, harmony, happiness, health, prosperity, longevity, fun and love, think of a lot of marriages. Now THAT's an entwined economic system but outright hostilities are constantly breaking out, with great financial damage, and sometimes physical destruction, not to mention psychic mangling.
While all is hunky dory, things go along swimmingly. But when the pressures come on and different points of view arise, of irreconcilable opinions unable to be compromised, then it's difficult to separate the positions peacefully.
Closely intertwined international economic systems might even exacerbate the problem. Countries which live totally separately would have no benefit in having conflict with neighbours because that would result in harm to both of them and since they don't have to agree on anything, they have no reason to come to blows in the first place. Except that when we sail our ships over there, and dig for oil there, and go fishing there, and they are polluting our radio spectrum, not to mention our drinking water supplies from the river, which has mostly dried up anyway as they are taking it all, they hassle us and threaten us, so we'd better protect ourselves. Bring it on baby!!
Of course there is an answer. Yes indeed, the NUN. Combined of course with education of children and adults to understand private property, freedom, voluntary association, self-determination. A NUN full of thieves won't work.
Unfortunately, even in the most free of countries, children are taught to do as they are told, obey authority, that collectivism is good, Big Brother is better, the individual doesn't matter, taxes paid to thieving voters is a good thing and they should get a piece of the action too.
Mqurice |
