America’s Great Leap Forward?
One thing that has always caused me mental contortions is to read posters like this, or exhortations to buy local and such … and in the next minute hearing exhortations to embrace and celebrate diversity. However before you agree strongly with me, there is a lot of truth to the idea that freer trade leads to homogenization. But that is only perhaps ACROSS communities. It is no doubt the case that freer trade with outsiders leads to much greater diversity WITHIN communities than would otherwise be the case.
I liked the part about keeping the roosters away from the hens.
Thinking about free trade, comparative advantage, and gardening, there is a reason why I grow tomatoes rather than potatoes, and scallions rather than onions. Now, if the USDA would give me $1 per potato, I might even rent a hundred acres to grow potatoes.
You must have heard about the American Poultry Association’s annual Order of Merit prizes. First prize is 100 chicks. Second prize is 1,000 chicks. …