Xiaofan Chen wrote: > On 7/3/07, Gerhard Fiedler wrote: >> >> Anyway, this wasn't the comparison I had in mind. What I had in mind is >> that the arguments for both tariffs and the war on drugs are mostly fueled >> by what I think of as FUD: the argument that when you loosen up control, >> all hell breaks lose and the world as we know it ends in mayhem. >> > > Why is it a FUD? A common abbreviation for "fear, uncertainty and doubt", usually used in a situation where at least one side of an argument uses arguments that have less to do with plain facts and more with instilling FUD in people. (It's not a four letter word, even though it's sometimes used as such :) I think the arguments for import tariffs usually fall into this category. My view of how they really get set is more cynical: I think it's usually due to political lobbying, which I see as a very dirty business that has almost nothing to do with facts and the good of the public and much to do with personal gain of involved individuals. The tariffs thusly implemented are then justified with FUD instilling, usually populist demagoguery. Gerhard -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist