4 ms·

No. They aren't supposed to protect the population. This is a lame excuse to implement it without popular revolt. I was born in Brazil and lived there for most

by henvic 5y ago

No. They aren't supposed to protect the population. This is a lame excuse to implement it without popular revolt. I was born in Brazil and lived there for most of my life. When I was young, it was, in practical terms, forbidden to import computers and cars to the country to protect the "nascent" national industry. I know very well from a close point of view how tariffs can make everyone's lives miserable. My father had to import his first computers illegally. Knock-offs IBM PCs bought in Paraguay. Imagine in the early 80s to travel from NY to San Francisco to smuggle computers over the border because a mad man in the state decided you cannot trade goods with someone who lives far away. This is what customs is about. Protectionism is not only dumb, it's vile! Pure evil! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7njIlZ2xYq0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7njIlZ2xYq0

magicalhippo 5y ago
For me, banning the import of legal goods is something else. Here in Norway you're allowed to import certain cheeses that are also produced locally, but you'll have to pay a 300% or so duty on them. So it's strongly discouraged but not banned. Similar for other food stuff. And as I mentioned in another comment, there's quotas given for a lot of these food items, that exempts duty for a certain amount of imported goods. This way the government can give strong protection for the amount produced locally, while meeting consumer demand via imports. I feel this is a good compromise. Textiles is another example which have a 12% duty, a relatively minor protection. And that's about the extent of our protectionism.
- henvic 5y ago
  No. A good compromise is leaving business between A and B if you are C. If you produce the best textile in the world and charge only a penny, but someone would prefer to pay a pound for something awful from overseas, they should have the liberty to do so. It's none of your business how other people trade.
  - gambiting 5y ago
    This is the craziest idea I've ever heard when it comes to economics . Isn't that basically the libertarian "everyone should be allowed to do whatever the fuck they want to do" approach? As in....do you not recognize that society might want to value having functional industries and employment above absolute freedom for businesses? And as someone else already pointed out - there are whole bunch of externalities that we all pay for by allowing this unfettered and unlimited trade. With your approach if it was cheaper to ship fresh salad 20k miles than buy local, it should be allowed because after all, why should you interfere with local businesses? Sometimes it is a matter of national security too, where one country knowingly attempts to destroy another's industry by dumping their product at cost prices - great for consumers I imagine you'd say. But again, you are being very short sighted.
    - henvic 5y ago
      And who decide that? You? Go mind your business.
      - gambiting 5y ago
        I thought we were having a civilized discussion, not Reddit back and forth. But to answer your actual question - societies decide it, through trade bodies, through unions, through courts, through commissions , parliaments, senates and so forth. Individualism is nonsense and never makes sense out of internet arguments.
        henvic 5y ago
        Society as a whole doesn't decide shit like you pretend. People with power to force their ideas unto others by means of violence promoted by the state do. Wait, why do you even expect me to have a civilized discussion with someone who says that they feel empowered to block my voluntary transactions with other people because you don't like how you are left out of it? Be an adult. Go mind your own business. Your childish collectivism is nonsense. Individualism? Okay, you mean basic adult behavior of respecting boundaries is nonsense and want to be taken seriously?

by henvic 5y ago

magicalhippo 5y ago

For me, banning the import of legal goods is something else. Here in Norway you're allowed to import certain cheeses that are also produced locally, but you'll have to pay a 300% or so duty on them. So it's strongly discouraged but not banned. Similar for other food stuff. And as I mentioned in another comment, there's quotas given for a lot of these food items, that exempts duty for a certain amount of imported goods. This way the government can give strong protection for the amount produced locally, while meeting consumer demand via imports. I feel this is a good compromise. Textiles is another example which have a 12% duty, a relatively minor protection. And that's about the extent of our protectionism.

henvic 5y ago
No. A good compromise is leaving business between A and B if you are C. If you produce the best textile in the world and charge only a penny, but someone would prefer to pay a pound for something awful from overseas, they should have the liberty to do so. It's none of your business how other people trade.
- gambiting 5y ago
  This is the craziest idea I've ever heard when it comes to economics . Isn't that basically the libertarian "everyone should be allowed to do whatever the fuck they want to do" approach? As in....do you not recognize that society might want to value having functional industries and employment above absolute freedom for businesses? And as someone else already pointed out - there are whole bunch of externalities that we all pay for by allowing this unfettered and unlimited trade. With your approach if it was cheaper to ship fresh salad 20k miles than buy local, it should be allowed because after all, why should you interfere with local businesses? Sometimes it is a matter of national security too, where one country knowingly attempts to destroy another's industry by dumping their product at cost prices - great for consumers I imagine you'd say. But again, you are being very short sighted.
  - henvic 5y ago
    And who decide that? You? Go mind your business.
    - gambiting 5y ago
      I thought we were having a civilized discussion, not Reddit back and forth. But to answer your actual question - societies decide it, through trade bodies, through unions, through courts, through commissions , parliaments, senates and so forth. Individualism is nonsense and never makes sense out of internet arguments.
      - henvic 5y ago
        Society as a whole doesn't decide shit like you pretend. People with power to force their ideas unto others by means of violence promoted by the state do. Wait, why do you even expect me to have a civilized discussion with someone who says that they feel empowered to block my voluntary transactions with other people because you don't like how you are left out of it? Be an adult. Go mind your own business. Your childish collectivism is nonsense. Individualism? Okay, you mean basic adult behavior of respecting boundaries is nonsense and want to be taken seriously?