tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999963944248120727.post6954817171936322519..comments2010-05-24T04:01:03.530-07:00Comments on Many Ideas: Local Produce vs. International PeaceLeDoporehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847811219191643234noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999963944248120727.post-73078622834964815302010-02-09T19:26:30.607-08:002010-02-09T19:26:30.607-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1999963944248120727.post-64458365803780469082007-04-19T20:00:00.000-07:002007-04-19T20:00:00.000-07:00Two comments: First, it's a little known (and litt...Two comments: First, it's a little known (and little touted) factoid, that just prior to the outbreak of World War I, international trade in Europe was at a historic all-high. From record trade straight into all-out war. That we're unlikely to go to war with countries we trade with is not as established a truth as we'd like it to be (the vital Panama canal, didn't stop the U.S. from invading). There are a lot of other factors that play into it, not only trade. In fact, I'm not even sure trade plays a vital role, historically seen (The Crusades and The Silk Road also spring to mind).<BR/><BR/>Second, your post is a bit of a blow to the old "think globally, act locally"-slogan... I guess it's the (growing?) tension between free commerce and the nation-state (I have to get around to reading Adam Smith one day). <BR/><BR/>I suppose I can be committed to a "buy local" policy if the alternatives are national alternatives (e.g. buying California grown oranges and not Florida grown), since the money will still be kept within the U.S. economy. If the alternatives are international on the other hand (say, Kenyan AA coffee vs. Hawaiian Kona coffee) it's a bit more of a dilemma. Do I value free trade with developing countries over supporting my "local" economy? And to make it even more excruciating, if I buy the Kenyan coffee am I supporting one of those "big bad" American coffee-companies that drive a hard bargain towards (i.e. underpay) the local coffee farmers? And if I do, would it be better or worse for the farmer if I didn't buy it? Seems to me it's a "damned if I do, damned if I don't" situation.Knaldskallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09422833562183339649noreply@blogger.com