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Economic Sophisms: II.3, The Two Hatchets Nov 7, 2014

Petition of Jacques Bonhomme, Carpenter, to M. Cunin-Gridaine, Minister of Commerce Mr. Manufacturer and Cabinet Minister: I am a carpenter, as Jesus was; I wield the hatchet and the adze to serve you.

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Economic Sophisms: II.2, Two Systems of Ethics Nov 3, 2014

Having arrived—if he does arrive—at the end of the preceding chapter, the reader may well exclaim: "Well, was I wrong to accuse economists of being dry and cold? What a portrait of mankind! Plunder is represented as an omnipresent force, almost a normal phenomenon, assuming every guise, practiced under any pretext, legal or extralegal, perverting to its own purposes all that is most sacred, exploiting weakness and credulity by turns, and constantly growing by what it feeds on! Could any more depressing picture of the world be imagined?"

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Economic Sophisms: II.1, The Physiology of Plunder Oct 31, 2014

Why do I keep dwelling on that dry science, political economy? Why? The question is a reasonable one. All labor by its very nature is so repugnant that one has the right to ask what purpose it serves. Let us investigate and see.

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Economic Sophisms: First Series, Conclusion Oct 30, 2014

All the sophisms that I have so far attacked concern only the question of the policy of protectionism; and even of those, out of pity for the reader, "I pass over some of the best": acquired rights, practical difficulties in the way, depletion of the currency, etc., etc. But political economy is not confined within this narrow circle. Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, communism, mysticism, sentimentalism, false humanitarianism, affected aspirations for an imaginary equality and fraternity; questions relating to luxury, wages, machinery; to the so-called tyranny of capital; to colonies, outlets, conquests, population, emigration, association, taxes, and loans, have crowded the field of...

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 22, Metaphors Oct 29, 2014

Sometimes a sophism expands until it permeates the whole fabric of a long and elaborate theory. More often it contracts and shrinks, assumes the form of a principle, and takes cover behind a word or a phrase.

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 21, Raw Materials Oct 28, 2014

It is said that the most advantageous of all branches of trade is that in which one exchanges manufactured goods for raw materials. For these raw materials are the staff of life for domestic labor. Hence, the conclusion is drawn that the best tariff law would be the one that would most facilitate the importation of raw materials and would erect the most obstacles to the entry of finished goods.

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 20, Human vs. Mechanical Labor and Domestic vs. Foreign Labor Oct 27, 2014

Destroying machinery and interdicting the entry of foreign goods are alike in being both founded on the same doctrine. Those who at the same time applaud the appearance of a great invention and nevertheless advocate protectionism are most inconsistent. What is their objection to free trade? They charge it with encouraging foreigners who are more skillful than we are, or who live under more advantageous economic conditions than we do, to produce things that, in the absence of free trade, we should produce ourselves. In short, they accuse it of injuring domestic labor.

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 19, National Independence Oct 25, 2014

Among the arguments that have been advanced in favor of the protectionist system, we must not forget the one that is founded on the idea of national independence. "What shall we do in case of war," people ask, "if we have put ourselves at the mercy of England for iron and coal?" The English monopolists for their part do not fail to exclaim: "What will happen to Great Britain in time of war if she makes herself dependent on France for food?"

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 18, There Are No Absolute Principles Oct 24, 2014

We cannot but be astonished at the ease with which men resign themselves to ignorance about what it is most important for them to know; and we may be certain that they are determined to remain invincibly ignorant if they once come to consider it as axiomatic that there are no absolute principles. Attend a session of the legislature and listen to a debate over the question whether the law should prohibit international exchange or permit free trade.

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Economic Sophisms: Chapter 17, A Negative Railroad Oct 23, 2014

I have said that as long as one has regard, as unfortunately happens, only to the interest of the producer, it is impossible to avoid running counter to the general interest, since the producer, as such, demands nothing but the multiplication of obstacles, wants, and efforts.

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