Economics blog - Why protectionism did not cause the Great Depression

Sir_Humphrey

Wookster wrote: »

Humphrey, is there a single socialist country that has actually worked??

I am not arguing for socialism. I am arguing for a mixed economy.

Wookster

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

I am not arguing for socialism. I am arguing for a mixed economy.

You are arguing for a greater role for the state. The greater the role, the more socialist a country is.

Generali

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

I am not arguing about invading any country. I made perfectly clear that sanctions would do the trick.

I think you may have misunderstood my point. The point is if a populace support a regime (which would be the case in a democracy), then it is less unjust for them to suffer the consequences of the behaviour of that state than if they do not. To illustrate the point with an analogy: You remove a Communist government which involves killing people. Would be it more just to kill dissidents or party loyalists in doing so?

So are you saying that if a country votes to remain as a tax haven, any consequence that results from an economic blockade under threat of invasion is justifiable?

Sir_Humphrey

Wookster wrote: »

You are arguing for a greater role for the state. The greater the role, the more socialist a country is.

If that is your definition, then I cite Germany, Sweden, Norway. Just off the top of my head.

Sir_Humphrey

Generali wrote: »

So are you saying that if a country votes to remain as a tax haven, any consequence that results from an economic blockade under threat of invasion is justifiable?

If a country voted to remain a tax haven, then the blockade would be justifiable, absolutely.

In any democracy, a voter has to consider how the action of their government will affect how their country is treated. For example, I did not vote Labour at the last election partly because I felt the UK foreign policy would lead to negative actions towards the UK.

Generali

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

If a country voted to remain a tax haven, then the blockade would be justifable, absolutely.

In any democracy, a voter has to consider how the action of their government will affect how their country is treated. For example, I did not vote Labour at the last election partly because I felt the UK foreign policy would lead to negative actions towards the UK.

So I guess we return to my original response to you.

How many dead would be reasonable to enforce your tax laws?

I'll give you a clue. Zero is the answer. It's completely unreasonable to invade another country to enforce your tax laws.

China shouldn't invade the UK to impose her tax laws. The UK shouldn't invade Cayman by the same token.

It's late and I'm off to bed. Goodnight guys!