Will the US Go Backwards?

United States and TPPA

We at this blog are Free Traders.  Our position on this issue is grounded in private property rights, which in turn are grounded in the divine command not to steal.  If a government prevents a Mom and Pop business from selling to customers in Timbucktoo should they wish to do so it is indirectly stealing from the couple.  (Of course there are legitimate exceptions--but those turn around matters which are the legitimate concern of the State, namely national defence from armed attack.  But in Mom and Pop's case, this is would not be at issue.)

There is also a fundamental economic rationality to Free Trade.  New Zealand once had a state subsidised automotive industry.  It had to be subsidised, because there was no way in the galaxy New Zealand could make cars as efficiently and cheaply as the United States, then subsequently, Japan.  So eventually we retreated to a subsidised vehicle assembly industry.  Eventually, the whole thing was scrapped, despite apoplectic unions.

Once vehicles in New Zealand were uber-expensive and few and far between.  Our roads were populated by ancient, ailing, vastly overpriced Morris Minors and Hillmans.  As soon as all the protection and anti-free trade barriers on vehicles were removed, the wealth of New Zealanders took a huge step upwards.

Scintillating Confabulations of Outrage

An Internationalist Bridge Too Far

The cause of fighting against the Trade Pacific Partnership ("TPP") has been weakened by the syndrome of embarrassing advocates.

A local journalista/opiner has written:

The opposition to the TPP was ugly. Worse than that, it backfired. At first, the crowds of thousands walking Auckland's streets in protest were impressive.  Until you talked to them.

Too many of them didn't even know why they were protesting.  "I dunno, to be honest," was roughly what one man said.  "I'm just here for my people."  The sight of Sue Bradford wrestling with police - again - can do quite a good job of drawing attention to a cause.  But the sight of Sue Bradford sitting on the tarmac in the middle of a main road to deliberately disrupt the traffic of a city already cursed with motorway constipation is just infuriating.

How did the TPP become the fault of Aucklanders who are just trying to get to work? How did it require vandalism of one minister's electorate office?  How would molotov-cocktail bombing another minister's office stop it?

A  delicious irony emerges when considering these embarrassing advocates.

Embarrassing

Time For All Good Men To Come to the Aid of the Party

Sadly once again Maori have been tarred with ignominy, shame, and a loss of mana.  The few have shamed the entire race.  Waitangi Day is supposed to be a holiday celebrating the beginning of the New Zealand nation.  Traditionally, Waitangi plays host to the Prime Minister and a bevy of politicians.  In recent years it has become the pretext for airing of Maori grievances--of which there appear to be no end.

Waitangi and the Treaty Grounds fall within the tribal area of Ngapuhi tribe.  It has traditionally played the role of host for guests and visitors to the Treaty Grounds on Waitangi day.  Ngapuhi is a deeply divided group, bedevilled with internecine bickering and animosity.  At present it appears that the extremists and the radicals are in charge.

One blogger wrote, urging Key not to attend:

John, don't go to the Ti Ti (sic) Marae at Waitangi.    The lunatics have taken control of the asylum.   The debate in Maoridom over the TPPA has become irrational egged on by the lies pedaled by opponents of the agreement.   I doubt whether anyone at Ti Ti has bothered to do the hard yards and read the agreement.   If they had then the sort of canard being pedaled around the unwashed that the agreement could see Maori prisoners sent off-shore to serve their time in US and Aust prisons would be seen for what it is ... loony tunes stuff.

What has happened on the Marae is mirrored in the discord among Ngapuhi as to who has the mandate to negotiate their treaty claim(s) and you can see why. Their leadership has been highjacked by the likes of Kingi Tauroa, Sonny Tau, Hone Harawira, Margaret Mutu and the Popata brothers.   And so it is with the TPPA debate ... rationality has gone out the window.