The more things change…

…the more they stay the same.

From the London School of Economics and Political Science Archives, I present this 104-year-old editorial cartoon:

Steel

Last month–centuries in blog time–I photographed a convention of steel manufacturers. Major American steel manufacturers. Big ones.

They don’t like China.

I learned lots of things at that event, but I can’t say I learned anything as much as how complex the whole protectionism/buy-American argument can be.

NPR: Why Buy American?

I’m political, but not very smart. My Republican friends (as if!) point that out frequently (the not smart part). Look at that: first sentence and I’m digressing already.

I’m political, but I only kinda understand certain things. Lots of things. That’s especially true when those things apply to economics. And trade.