Yes, the reader is asked to simply accept the author's interpretation that "proper provision and due pains" means "breaking the laws of other countries", and th

Yes, the reader is asked to simply accept the author's interpretation that "proper provision and due pains" means "breaking the laws of other countries", and then "At least part of the "Report on Manufactures" can therefore be read as a manifesto calling for state-sponsored theft and smuggling.". This non-sequitur is then the basis of the following arguments. Just enough facts to make it taste right, so the rest one swallows without question. Is our history pure and virtuous?...of course not. But to say that China today is the equivalent of the very, very young U.S. at the time of the Industrial revolution is quite a stretch, to me.