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Source link: http://archive.mises.org/4124/roy-blunt-becomes-a-free-trader-for-now/

Roy Blunt Becomes a Free Trader (for now)

September 24, 2005 by

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) sent a letter to the president earlier this week requesting that he drop tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber and Mexican cement. He points out that “the softwood lumber tariff alone adds at least $1,000 to the average new home.” If that is the case then why wait for a hurricane to drop the tariffs? Get rid of them now, permanently. Blunt, like most Republicans in Congress, operates on politics and not principle. If tariffs result in higher prices for Americans then why doesn’t Blunt call for an end of tariffs on everything, not just on lumber and cement. After a couple of years with no major hurricanes, I’m sure that Blunt would be one of the first to call for tariffs on lumber and cement.

{ 4 comments }

Roy W. Wright September 24, 2005 at 1:45 pm

Most people seem to believe that anything, no matter how fundamentally moral and beneficial, can go too far. In this case the thing in question is economic freedom.

“Moderation in all things.” It’s self-contradictory.

Paul Edwards September 26, 2005 at 12:35 am

Well said, Roy. That’s why I like to take my moderation in moderation. In particular, i think an intense dose of radical libertarianism and all out anarchism in thinking is a must to maintain logical and moral consistency. I don’t see the point in moderation there. Eliminate all tariffs? Yes? Eliminate all taxes? No need for moderation there. Eliminate all coercion based government? I’d go all the way. I really think moderation can be a detrimental thing if wrongly applied. And it is certainly being wrongly applied in Washington.

katie ryan October 14, 2005 at 4:19 pm

I haven’t studied von Mises for the last twenty years, but have studied Murry N. Rothbard. How close to either economist is Roy Blunt ?

Paul Edwards October 15, 2005 at 12:16 pm

Katie:

It would appear that all three would advocate eliminating tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber and Mexican cement. I think the similarity ends there.

The difference on the topic of tariffs is that Mises and Rothbard would advocate removing them always and for all industries and for all countries, not just Canadian softwood lumber and Mexican cement. Furthermore, they would advocate it in principle as being economically best for everybody. I would doubt Blunt advocates anything on the basis of principle, and certainly not on an economic principle.

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