More Bootleggers and Baptists. Or Just Bootleggers.

Russ Roberts on US sugar quotas and imports. The comments section is worth reading as well.

One of the books I'm currently reading is Bastiat's Economic Sophisms. Very early on Bastiat makes the (not original) point that production is not an end in and of itself but is a means for consumption. For example, sugar is not produced because it is enjoyable to make or because it "creates jobs" or for any other production-based reason. It is manufactured because there is significant demand to consume it.

Now if consumption is the end, it should be done in the most efficient manner possible so that costs are reduced and prices go down. There are many obstacles to achieving such a process, but some are more avoidable than others. Tariffs and subsidies should be some of the more avoidable obstacles.

Unfortunately our political system makes the abolition of said policies nearly impossible. As long as hypocrites like Michelle Bachmann are the ones making the rules, you can be sure all sorts of coercive government actions will be taken to maintain the status quo.