Before our demands of cheap TVs...

From "America and Foreign Trade" by James Muir Waller from Who Owns America? published 1936.

The idea that foreign trade is necessary or even desirable for our political and economic well-being should be abandoned. We should look solely to the domestic market, the world's largest and richest, for a place to sell the products of our fields and factories. We should move quickly toward creating a completely self-contained national economy as the best cornerstone on which to build a safe and permanent American prosperity, untouched by the political and economic turmoil of the outside world. The best method to bring about self-sufficiency would be to devise immediately a program of protection for all manufactured articles and raw commodities that can be produced in the United States, even if the cost here is very much greater than abroad. These higher costs may result from unfavorable natural factors such as soil, climate, and mineral resources, as well as from higher wages and taxes.

One can dream, can't one? Obviously, today we are no longer the largest market, but still how has free trade benefitted everyone again?

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Good reads of 2009

I haven't made a list like this in a while, and I believe I discussed most of these on the blog as I finished them, but I thought I'd make a handy short-hand list for you and me. These are only in the order I read them and do not indicate any preference. The Open Door * Frederica Mathewes-Green The Children of Hurin * J.R.R. Tolkien The Omnivore's Dilemma * Michael Pollan Agrarianism and the Good Society: Land, Culture, Conflict, and Hope * Eric T. Freyfogle Wonderful Fool * Shusaku Endo Up the Rouge: Paddling Detroit's Hidden River * Joel Thurtell and Patricia Beck Johnny Cash and the Great American Contradiction: Christianity and the Battle for the Soul of a Nation * Rodney Clapp (I started the following in December, but I haven't finished them--so far they are excellent: Love and Hate in Jamestown * David A. Price and The Picture of Dorian Gray * Oscar Wilde) Try one of these--let me know.

Worth Quoting

There are but three social arrangements which can replace Capitalism: Slavery, Socialism, and Property. --Hilaire Belloc ...

The Completely Unsexy Adventures of Constructing a Driveway

Yesterday marked the third phase in our attempt to create a homestead at the Martin Hollow. We now have a gravel driveway. Does this mean wild bacchanalia there? In a word: no. It simply saves me about 400 feet in walking when I'm carrying various tools designed to destroy decontextualized organisms, e.g. autumn olive and garlic mustard. It is also the beginning of our footprint on the land and it helps us to visualize where the house and garage will eventually be placed. The above are two views of the approach from our road which ends in a cul-de-sac (and a large pond just beyond that) to my right (north). Here's a closer view after the gravel has been added (above). This view is from the road facing south. Notice the culvert next the shovel? I told you this wouldn't be sexy. Just below is another view from the road looking northwest. You can see the bobcat tractor in the distance. This (to the left)...

I Am Not Hamlet

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