As we have mentioned in our book and in a recent article, we need international trade and we need to have an open society in order to progress.
The Economist’s Lexington, in his final article for the publication, puts forth an excellent case for the same point. Some good quotes:
The government subsidises foreigners to acquire PhDs at American universities and then kicks them out of the country.
and
America is a wonderful place to visit, but its border bureaucracy is arguably the worst in the rich world.
and
Ruinous tariffs are easy to impose, as was discovered during the Depression. Foreigners can be mistreated without electoral consequence, since they cannot vote. Yet this would be a colossal mistake. These days it is not only the world’s tired, poor huddled masses who yearn to breathe free. More often, it is the energetic and upwardly mobile. A fifth of China’s graduates say they want to emigrate; few peasants do. The open society needs defenders.
We at Dumbagent salute Lexington, and we hope President Obama takes Lexington’s advice to heart.
Full article here.
