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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (8076)	2/4/2012 1:13:51 PM
From: TimF	1 Recommendation Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 85487

Sweat Shops and the Need for Libertarian Moral Outrage June 4, 2011 by markpenningtonlondon I haven’t been able to post for the last week or so owing to my lecturing on the Institute for Humane Studies Liberty and Society Summer Seminars (i’m currently between seminars). Last week’s seminar included a great presentation by Scott Beaulier. Using data on wage rates published by anti-sweatshop campaigners (i.e not from ‘right wing’ think tanks), he showed unequivocally that sweatshops operated by US and European companies significantly improve the available opportunities to workers in developing countries, often providing wage premiums more than 50% higher than the rates offered by local employers. In view of the overwhelming weight of this evidence it was depressing to hear Scott report on the often hostile response to these research findings from the so called ‘anti-poverty’ campaigners he often has to deal with. Distinguished economists such as Jagdish Bhagwati have been booed off stage for having dared to make the economic case defending a liberal trade regime in terms of the benefits it can bring to the poor. This raises an important question for libertarians and others who wish to promote open markets. If providing rigorous economic arguments backed up with good empirical data doesn’t convince the anti-market brigade then what options do we have left? Apart from continuing to make the economic/empirical case I would suggest that there is no substitute for some moral outrage. Those who make a living from giving the appearance of caring for the poor and destitute (or who wear the fair trade t-shirts) while simultaneously lobbying for the eradication of the best opportunities that the least advantage have, should be exposed for the weakness of their morals. It is a profound weakness to prefer having the ‘right’ social image to having the nerve to confront the best evidence and to support what really works. pileusblog.wordpress.com

To: TimF who wrote (8076)	2/4/2012 1:39:00 PM
From: grusum	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 85487

What will the new cities of the United States and Europe look like as factories move out? he talks as if factory closings here are inevitable. they're not. but they will happen more and more if we continue on the road to socialism. he's overlooking a major factor that would make us more productive. that factor is automation. we should fully embrace automation. it would make us more productive so that the jobs he talks about would multiply, and the value of our labor (wages) would rise. said simply, automation gives all labor in the USA a pay raise. we need to remove all types of taxes on automation, and make the equipment tax write offs immediate. other than him forgetting about the power of automation, i think he's right.