[LINK] FTA Politics

[Robert Hart]

On Mon, 2004-08-09 at 08:40, Roger Clarke wrote:
> FTA: bad politics drives out good economics
> The Sydney Morning Herald
> Date: August 9 2004
> By Ross Gittins
> http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2004/08/08/1091903446058.html
> 
<snip>
> It's doubtful that the deal's modest benefits exceed its costs and 
> risks, particularly in the area business people and the political 
> pundits either don't understand or don't care about but is now being 
> highlighted by Mr Latham's tactics: intellectual property protection.
</snip>

It would seem that, despite the airing the FTA section on IP received
here on Link, neither the nation's economists nor its jounalists follow
link (with notable exceptions to those in both camps who are regular
participants here).

It seems we have been preaching to the choir - or probably just
ourselves.

Why does watching current public life make me feel like I am a renegade
lemming, standing to one side as my fellows stream, head down bum up,
towards the chasm, driven on by politicians and media who, amazingly,
are running with them towards what will be a shared fate?

Today's Australia is not the country I signed up for in 1979...

-- 
Robert Hart					 hartr at interweft.com.au
+61 (0)438 385 533
Brisbane, Australia			   http://www.hart.wattle.id.au