July 28, 2005

CAFTA, Si!

Sometimes, my friends, it is good to have the GOP in charge. Not all the time, but sometimes -- and this is a good week, with CAFTA passing the House 217-215.

Will Franklin notes the movement of Democrats to protectionism and the movement of Republicans to free trade between NAFTA and CAFTA.

Next stop: a free trade agreement between all free countries.

Hat-tip: Instapundit
Economics and Markets Posted by jk at July 28, 2005 1:08 PM

All countries? *gulp*

Let's just work with the free countries first.
Liberal Democracies, Republics, etc..

Kind of like the idea of abandoning the UN and creating a United Free Nations.

Carrot/Stick kind of thing.

Posted by: AlexC at July 28, 2005 8:19 PM

Sorry if I was not clear -- all FREE countries. You and I are on the exact same page here!

Posted by: jk at July 29, 2005 11:19 AM

I once told JK I didn't believe we should engage in any trade at all with un-free countries. "Free trade cannot exist between un-free trading partners," I said. JK then posited his "liberating force of free trade" argument. I wasn't immediately persuaded.

Yesterday I heard a Cuban American call the Limbaugh program (Roger Hedgecock guest hosting) and after thanking Castro for causing such a disaster in Cuba that he came to America and has a greater life than was ever possible there, echoed JK's theory with a real life example. When Castro softened restrictions on expats returning home (as a desperate attempt to bring capital to the island), Cuban citizens saw janitors and bus drivers from America spend thousands of dollars in a week. They then thought hey, maybe this capitalism thing isn't all bad!

So, I'm now on the bandwagon. Free trade with all nations! (Besides, then I can buy legal cigars without going overseas.)

Posted by: johngalt at July 29, 2005 3:19 PM | What do you think? [3]