Yesterday, I linked to a Daniel W. Drezner’s detailed critique of economic protectionism, a potentially disastrous strategy currently being embraced — rhetorically, at least — by many on the left, including top Donk John Kerry. Today, I’ll point you toward Ted Balaker’s Reason piece, “War Against the Machines,” which I recommend as a gloss on Dr. Drezner’s more in-depth examination:
John Kerry seems to enjoy playing Pat Buchanan. Just as Buchanan once called on his peasant army to take up their pitchforks and rail against NAFTA, today Kerry wants those pitchforks aimed at “Benedict Arnold CEOs” who outsource jobs to foreign lands. And why wouldn’t Kerry enjoy playing Pitchfork Pat? After all, he gains new credibility with blue-collar workers who might have previously seen him as an elitist with soft hands and an expensive haircut.
And the message is catching on. As angry protestors scorn outsourcing, the Senate’s indignation takes bill form, and squeamish executives suggest ditching the o-word entirely. Raging against outsourcing may even bring Kerry something Buchanan never came close to
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[…] fact, I’ve been hammering away at this point since the early days of this site: the current progressive left and the fringe right have much in common, from their stance on trade […]