Anyone who might believe that the Washington Times is a friend of free markets and free trade should read this editorial produced today (August 21) on the steel tariffs. The basis of the editorial is that we need to keep the tariffs because 45,000 steel workers lost their jobs. I remember reading where the cost of each job “saved” was more than $1 million. When I mentioned that to a Buchananite who sent an angry email to me after one of my Mises.org articles, he said that whatever we spent was worth saving jobs. Of course, I doubt he would be willing to pay a million bucks to kid mowing his lawn, but then Buchananites have never been clear thinkers on the simple issue of exchange.
Posted by William Anderson
