November 14, 2014
It is bizarre how many people can’t seem to understand that patent and copyright protection are “protection” and not free trade. It doesn’t matter if your friends are the ones who benefit from them or even if you think these forms of protection are good for the economy. They are still forms of protection. By giving firms and/or individuals monopolies, they are 180 degrees at odds with free trade.
This is why everyone should be very angry when the NYT told readers that:
“Mr. Obama has made clear he intends to work with congressional Republicans to push for fewer restrictions on trade.”
This is not true. He is going to push for trade deals that will reduce some restrictions and raise others. It is entirely possible that the economic impact of the increased restrictions will exceed the impact of the reductions. (If the NYT has a basis for arguing the opposite, it has not shared it with readers.)
These trade deals will also impose a regulatory structure on a wide range of issues (e.g. the environment, work place safety, privacy) that will supersede domestic laws and regulations. It should be possible to report on these deals accurately.
Comments