Source: Reason
by Eric Boehm
“Donald Trump’s protectionist running mate declared that ‘a million cheap, knockoff toasters aren’t worth the price of a single American manufacturing job.’ On its face, that’s just rhetorical silliness. Common sense says anyone should be willing to make that trade: Affordable and abundant appliances are part of the reason that 21st century America is the best place to live in the history of the human race. Jobs are abundant too …. But when right-wing populists such as Vance make this argument, they mean something less literal: that America would be better off if the nation manufactured more and imported less, and Americans would be better off working in metaphorical toaster factories than doing whatever job they have now. Both ideas are wrong.” (for publication 11/24)
https://reason.com/2024/10/03/the-brave-little-american-toaster/