Well, yes I have, Shockadelic.

>>Have you heard anyone arguing we should make "all things" ourselves?... You have an extremist absolutist definition of protectionism, that bears no resemblance to what anyone is proposing<<

Did you actually read what Banjo Paterson was proposing?

"The question between free trade and protection, when you come to the bedrock of it, is simply whether it is better for a community such as ours to exchange its raw materials for the manufactures of other countries, or to tax its own people and so create manufactures."

It was the logical result of such blindness that I was trying to illustrate for you.

More Banjo...

"We will, of course, amass a huge revenue of Government; but I have yet to learn that that is an evil."

Much water has flown under his "North Shore Bridge" since that time, and we know that centralizing the economy in such a way, and then trying to pick winners into which to pour our money, is hopelessly inefficient and wide open to corruption.

Paterson's grasp of economics was as cloyingly twee as his poetry. Bless.

Similarly, SteeleRedux:

>>It should be a prime responsibility of our government to provide opportunities for employment for its citizens. If this entails some forms of targeted protectionism then so be it.<<

Sadly, there isn't a skerrick of business competence in the entire Parliament, and less than half that in the entire public service. And these are the people you want to pick and choose which industries we should indulge in, and should therefore be protected?

Look at the mess they have made over the years with the mining industry. All they have achieved is to allow a few individuals to become obscenely rich through selling off chunks of Australia that they have been allowed to dig up. And along the way, quite probably, making a number of politicians and public service parasites rich in the process.

The quickest way to create a corrupt business is to protect it.

Mafia Studies 101, NSW Chapter.

Dear SD,

I recall a few decades ago when I had to choose a
theme for an anthology of Australian poetry at Uni.
It was not an easy task. Colleagues suggested a variety
of themes, from bush ballads, to war and "protest" poetry,
to love poems and so on. I ended up choosing an anthology
of anti-nuclear Australian poetry - just to be different.
Anyway seeing as you are an admirer of Henry Lawson - here's
a short one for you:

"They lie, the men who tell us in
A loud decisive tone that want
Is here a stranger, and that misery's unknown;
I wonder would the apathy of wealthy men endure
Were all their windows level with the faces of the poor?"
(Henry Lawson, Faces in the Street).

Dear SteeleRedux,

Talking about bush ballads - reminds me of the impact
that Kevin Gilbert had on me while studying Australian
poetry. His "Trying to Save Joan Ella," as one critic
pointed out, "not only stands up well as a bush ballad,
but manages to hold out a significant challenge to the
whole tradition. It tells of an Aboriginal woman's (Gilbert's
an Indigenous poet) arduous and terrifying ride to fetch
a doctor for a dying white baby:

"Quick she rode to Thiraweena
And she brought the doctor back
But the child died - and the father
Cursed the slowness of the black

If this cursed gin had ridden
Faster, harder through the night -
But the blacks are bad and useless -
Can't be trusted out of sight!

Mary bowed her head in silence
Thought: 'I wishit ME had died
Rode two horses an' it killed 'em
Never stop't though me dead tired

Frightened too of horse bin fallin'
When I passed the old ones' grave
Shut my eyes with courage 'gammon'
When the ghosts rise I ain't brave!

Couldn't do no more I tried but
Kill'd two horses; rode to death,
Didn't stop! I kept on runnin'!'
And she wept beneath her breath."

As the critic stated - this was a poem crying out to be
anthologised.

Foxy,
I have the collected works of both Lawson and Paterson, well read. I also have quite a large library of Australian history and writing.
I am a writer of Australian history these days, a work published last year and another on the way. I am part way through a Masters in Writing, currently slowed down by other work.
This forum provides me with many useful insights and whilst I may not be up there with the gun posters I do read the forum on a regular basis. Plenty to learn from those who write the articles and post.
I like some of Kendalls work too, very different to Paterson and Lawson. A softer man trying to understand his world.
Keep on posting , your thoughts are of interest to me and I gather to many others.
SD

Pericles, I don't see anywhere in Banjo's statement that he wants to ban *all* imports or make *all* products locally, which seems to be part of your definition of protectionism.

Even if the government were to spend money supporting industries, would they be spending more than what they now do on welfare?

Dole payments produce no lasting long-term benefit, whereas investing the same money in industry creates employment now and in the future.

This expenditure could be considered a "loan" to be repaid, not a gift.

I don't support "centralising" the economy at all.
I support a domestic free market.
I just don't support "free movement" of goods or people *between* countries.

"Liberalism" on a national scale is beneficial.
On a global scale, it's toxic.

I support a general tax on foreign transactions, greater than a tax on domestic transactions (replacing all other taxes).

This would encourage Australian production, without banning imports outright or involving direct government intrusion into any industry.

The market will still decide the winners and losers, but Australian businesses will get a slight advantage.

Dear SD,

Thank You for your kind words and how great that you're
doing what you enjoy. I wish you well in your pursuits
and it's wonderful that you're doing a Masters.
Congratulations!
It will be quite an achievement. Your family will be so
proud of you. I remember my own graduation from uni - when
my name was called out and I walked up on the stage in my
cap and gown to hear my young son yell out from the
balcony of the auditorium, "That's MY mum!"
It got a lovely response from the audience. I imagine there
were quite a few mums graduating that day.

cont'd ...

Dear SD,

I forgot to ask -

Is it possible to buy copies of your book in any
of the larger book shops? And if you don't want to
give us the title, can you give us a clue what to look
for? I for one would certainly like to read a copy.