Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“The consumer who prefers paying $1 for a widget made in China to paying $2 for a widget made in the US, [Oren Cass] correctly argues, ‘will probably not consider the broader importance of making things in America.’ Question: Why SHOULD that consumer consider that ‘broader importance?’ Well, says Cass, not doing so creates negative externalities — indirect costs to uninvolved third parties. Which is where his argument falls apart, because the supposed externalities he describes either don’t exist or are net positive externalities to any version of ‘America’ where broad freedom and prosperity are considered more valuable than the warm feeling one gets from indulging the authoritarian fantasies of Oren Cass.” (09/26/24)