Easy Chair No. 154, September 11, 1987 - The Pitfalls of Free Trade

R.J. Rushdoony and Otto Scott examine the pitfalls of free trade, protectionism, and modern economic policies. Rushdoony notes that free trade presupposes a rational and moral world, ignoring cultural, political, and ethical realities, and argues that no economic system can succeed if the people are corrupt or morally deficient. Scott emphasizes that historical context matters: nations like the U.S. grew through protected industries, hard work, and cultural cohesion, while modern assumptions of universal rationality and economic fairness are misguided.