How fascinating: the "isidewith" test identified me as more a
fan of "Protectionist" economics.* I didn't know what that even
was.* Apparently, it's based on Mercantilism, the economic
theory that Adam Smith famously shredded way back when. Philipp
Wilhelm von Hornick in 1684 outlined Mercantilism in bullet
points and as I'm reading it, I'm agreeing with it, not as an
absolute policy for a nation (because we DO need to help each
other out as well) yet, generally, this is how I side at the
moment.* I'm surprised to be honest.* Learn something new every
day, eh? ===== That every little bit of a country's soil be
utilized for agriculture, mining or manufacturing. That all raw
materials found in a country be used in domestic manufacture,
since finished goods have a higher value than raw materials.
That a large, working population be encouraged. That all export
of gold and silver be prohibited and all domestic money be kept
in circulation. That all imports of foreign goods be discouraged
as much as possible. That where certain imports are
indispensable they be obtained at first hand, in exchange for
other domestic goods instead of gold and silver. That as much as
possible, imports be confined to raw materials that can be
finished [in the home country]. That opportunities be constantly
sought for selling a country's surplus manufactures to
foreigners, so far as necessary, for gold and silver. That no
importation be allowed if such goods are sufficiently and
suitably supplied at home. ==== As an absolute,
no-wiggle-room-allowed economic police state policy, its
benefits would eventually run dry. HOWEVER, as a "general
stance" _allowing for_ some free trade as well and support of
struggling nations through other policies, it could work well.
== He had a tremendous impact on the world economy and continues
to. But I think the baby can get thrown out with the bathwater
as it were. Business class is corrupt *yet* from a national POV,
a semi-isolationist economy is not necessarily a horrible thing.
Historians love to blame, I dunno, just about ALL post medieval
war on mercantilism and perhaps they were somewhat correct. But
after 300+ years of Adam Smith's rule, maybe a little
protectionism wouldn't be the worst idea for a few generations
== Reading this, discovering that I indeed HAVE an economic
stance, I felt like I'd reached in my pants and discovered, "Oh
look, I *do* have a penis. What's it do?" ==
