Comments on: individualism, properly understood

By: Cascadian

Cascadian — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:28:08 +0000

I’m thinking of the problems of gradating society from the National to the family level in conjunction with the many different types of protectionism. Is investing in education a subsidy for the industries that eventually employ the students? Is the ban on exportation of water, or State water rights a form of protectionism? How about local investments in energy infrastructure. Can the benefits of that investment be kept for local populations? Down the road can that be cast as protectionism on the export side? Basically, I’d argue that protectionism can be more complex than a federal government imposing an import tax and that not all forms of protectionism are bad.

By: E.D. Kain

E.D. Kain — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:55:23 +0000

I’m not sure I follow. I think protectionism, broadly defined, is an act of the government which raises tariffs or provides subsidies to specific industries or players within those industries in order to “protect” them from foreign competition. Environmental protections can certainly be abused, the regulations distorted, etc. but they are not the same thing.

By: Cascadian

Cascadian — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:55:55 +0000

Isn’t talking of sin in this context encouraging local behavior that doesn’t resort to the institutional variety? Is the only kind of protectionism institutional? If I put up billboards encouraging people to buy Cascadian, is that fundamentally different than having my neighborhood association, city, or State (Province) doing the same? Do you consider resource or environmental protection, restrictions on internal investment, to be protectionism?

By: mike farmer

mike farmer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:31:07 +0000

There’s no “we” in “I”, unless like me you have multiple personalities. Today, I’m working Mike on a capitalist quest to conquer my market, maximize my profits and keep mustard off my shirt.

By: mike farmer

mike farmer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:26:41 +0000

I grew up in the city, but, later i lived on a farm — I’ll take the city.

By: E.D. Kain

E.D. Kain — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:02:34 +0000

Lord of the Flies

By: Jaybird

Jaybird — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:46:29 +0000

I was thinking that “we” could do stuff that “I” would never ever do.

By: E.D. Kain

E.D. Kain — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:49:23 +0000

Thanks, Mike.

By: E.D. Kain

E.D. Kain — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:48:34 +0000

Or centralized responsibility…

By: Mike at The Big Stick

Mike at The Big Stick — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:41:55 +0000

Ultimately I think their notion of us all moving back to the farm is pretty fantastical. Most of us who believe in localism are like you and myself, we look for ways to stay where we are and increase the bonds of community. FPR seems to think that is only possible when we move away from cities. I say the more worthwhile goal is to stay and fight.