Quote of the Day


"Free trade, one of the greatest blessings which a government can confer on a people, is in almost every country unpopular. "
 
(Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay)

Comments

Jim said…
I would agree with Thomas Mscaulay on this except I would remove the words "which a government can confer".

A government conferring it suggests it is a gift from a government, its not, its just what happens in a law abiding society when government keeps its neb out of things.

It is true you can make a very good argument (one i would fully support, if i did not propose it) about a government providing means in which to uphold laws which prevent anarchy, like a police force of some description. But that is a far cry from free trade being a gift from any government.
Chris Whiteside said…
That's a very good point, Jim - it's a bit like those infuriating people who insist on describing any cut in taxes using expressions like "give away."

As if the chancellor concerned, of whatever party, was actually giving people money instead of taking less of their own away from them.
Jim said…
Exactly, and "such proposal would cost £X to the exchequer" is another.

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