Candlemakers vs. Sun

-- A parody of the arguments for protective tariffs, presented as an imaginary petition addressed to the French National Assembly.--

"  We candlemakers are suffering from the unfair competition of a foreign rival.  This foreign manufacturer of light has such an advantage over us that he floods our domestic market with his product.  And he offers it at an absurdly low price.  The moment this foreigner appears in our country, all our customers desert us and turn to him.  As a result, an entire domestic industry is rendered completely stagnant.  And even more, since the lighting industry has countless ramifications with other national industries, they too are injured.  This foreign manufacturer who competes with us without mercy is none other than the sun itself.

   Here is our petition: Please pass a law ordering the covering of all windows and skylights and other openings, holes, and cracks through which the light of the sun is able to enter houses.  This free sunlight is hurting the business of us deserving manufacturers of candles.  Since we have always served our country well, gratitude demands that our country ought not to abandon us now to this unequal competition.  "
-- Frederic Bastiat, Economic Sophisms
--quoted by Clarence Carson, in Basic Economics

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