… has the ethics of a thug.
If the protectionist’s own economic well-being can be improved by coercively obstructing the peaceful commerce of others, he asserts that he is justified in so obstructing the peaceful commerce of others (or in hiring agents – namely, state officials – to carry out on his behalf such coercive obstructionism). The fact that the protectionist suffers no guilt or shame in carrying out his obstructions of the peaceful commerce of others only testifies to the protectionist’s utter lack of any moral compass. The protectionist is concerned only with himself; others be damned.
