« February 2005 | Main | April 2005 »
March 31, 2005
Taco Bell reply
I’d like to thank the number of people who seem to be joining in on the Taco Bell debate. I’d like to take this opportunity to write up some off the cuff remarks regarding the comments that my posts have generated thus far.
I have been asked to clarify why I view the Taco Bell boycott as anti-capitalist. First, let me say that my initial opinion editorial pieces about the boycott were in direct response to a meeting I attended at Loyola University New Orleans, held by the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. At this meeting the individuals running the show continually blamed big business and corporations for the moral depravity of Immokalee worker conditions, and made direct references to the Marxist view that labor wages are set through exploitation. Email notifications for the meeting contained the phrase, “Want to bring down corporations?” I do not rule out the possibility that the individuals at this meeting do not represent the majority of the Boycott supporters and perhaps I received a biased sample, as Charles Johnson has accused, claiming that I have painted a misrepresentation of the CIW. However it explains my experience of interaction with the boycotters, which I have made into a short film and hope to be capable of streaming through this websit sometime this summer.
The second qualm that has been raised about my stance on the issue is the role of government. The Austrian school and libertarianism alike are against government control of market transactions, but the CIW appears to be refraining from such tactics, so what’s my problem anyway? Simply put I believe, there are more ways to be anti-capitalist than just using government. Mainly promoting ideas that capitalism is evil or claiming it resorts to rampant market failure are, in my view, anti-capitalist.
To summarize Mises in Theory and History; ideas matter and shape the course of human action. Actions may be ends in themselves or they may be performed as means with the intent to promote certain ideas and greater ends. This is known as a means ends framework. Satisfaction and value obtained from action is subjective. No objective quality or quantity of value can be inferred out of another persons actions. I cannot claim that you brushing your teeth produced X amount of utility. But if an end is claimed, there is a possibility of objectively determining if a mean was successful in obtaining it. Flapping my arms did not permit me to fly. Means are successful if they achieve their ends.
It is the means ends dichotomy which bothers me so much about the Taco Bell boycott. I would argue that their means (boycotting) are not efficient in obtaining their ends (higher real wages and living conditions for the Immokalee workers). In the direct sense the boycott strategy ignores the effects that a drop in demand for tacos will have on wages related to the production of tacos. If this is the case it leaves me skeptical about their intentions to promote the ends which they claim to promote (higher wages and living conditions).
I argue that alternative means would be more effective at obtaining the ends of higher wages and living conditions for the Immokalee workers.
1. Any form of productivity. Allegedly the housing prices in the Immokalee area are exorbitant, and contribute to the poverty conditions of those who live there. So this is an entrepreneurial area that could host the energy of riled activists that is instead being diverted by this boycott. If these activists were instead producing houses, clothes, and consumable goods to be exchanged with the Immokalee workers they would be more successful in improving their quality of life. They don’t produce anything tangible in their boycott efforts that can lead me to understand an end which it satisfies. For example, food satisfies hunger. Instead these actions produce a rallied group of activists which may provide satisfaction in its own sake but of what kind?
2. Buying more rather than fewer Tacos. I explained this already in my piece on mises.org.
3. Supporting competing industries that purchase Tomatoes. Boycotts in general are not anti-capitalist, but I think this one in particular is for one simple reason; there is no viable or suggested alternative. Competition is the best mechanism for increasing product quality and lowering costs to consumers. If more firms were bidding for the labor that the Immokalee workers are providing we would see an available mechanism to make this boycott work. It wouldn’t just be a “boycott Taco Bell” campaign, but a “buy brand X instead of Taco Bell” campaign. This strategy would protect the migrant workers wages against the fall in demand alluded to earlier. So when analyzing a strategy, we should ask how will this affect competition? The Taco Bell boycott doesn’t make it more attractive for firms to hire Immokalee workers.
After looking at these preferable alternatives we are left to doubt the proposed ends (higher living conditions) that the CIW asserts. It is my claim that they hide behind such benevolent intentions and are seeking after the ends of power and authority received by bullying large companies. Look at some of the results that have developed out of their alleged restrain of using government involvement.
Posted by djdamico at 3:34 PM | Comments (1)
March 26, 2005
Links
My other websites:
The MISEScreants podcast
Dan D'Amico's photoblog
Austrian Economics Forum
Blogs:
Aubrey Herbert’s Economic Education
The Austrian Economists
Austro-Athenian Empire
Becker Posner Blog
Café Hayek
Cantillon's Paradise
Catallarchy
Common Knowledge
DJ Matty’s pick hits
Econlog: Library of Economics and Liberty
The Epicurean Gadfly
The Filter
History News Network
InvisibleHeart.com
Lew Rockwell Blog
Libertarian Jackass
lowercase liberty
Loyola University Economics Club
Marginal Revolution
Misanthrope’s Guide to Washington DC, A
Mises Economics Blog
My Mother is a Fish
New Anarchist Man
Truth, Justice, and the American Way
Rough Ol' Boy
Economics Cites:
Abbeville Institute
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
American Economic Association
Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics
Cato Institute
Econ Journal Watch
Economist, The
EconPapers
ERel
Foundation for Economic Education
Fraser Institute
George Mason Unviersity
Hayek Page
History of Economic Thought
Independent Institute
Institute for Humane Studies
Library of Economics and Liberty
Ludwig von Mises Institute
Mercatus Center
Molinari Institute
Mont Pelerin Society
Pacific Research Institute
Society for the Development of Austrian Economics
Forums:
Anti-State.com
Austrian Economics Forum
Independent Austrian Economics Forum
Objectivism Online Forum
Liberty Cites:
Against Politics
Anarchism.net
Antiwar.com
Bureaucrash
Free State Project
LewRockwell.com
Libertarian Party Home Page
Libertarian TV
Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances
Reason Magazine
Strike The Root
People:
Barnett, Randy
Becker, Gary
Benson, Bruce
Block, Walter
Boettke, Peter J.
Caplan, Bryan
Coyne, Chris
Epstein, Marcus
Friedman, David
Garrison, Roger
Hoppe, Hans Herman
Kinsella, Stephan
Leeson, Pete
Long, Roderick
Murphy, Robert
Roberts, Russel
Sowell, Thomas
Stringham, Edward
Wagner, Richard E.
Williams, Walter
Posted by djdamico at 3:25 PM | Comments (0)
Taco Bell boycott over, but not how we'd hope.
Thanks to Ben Kilpatrick for sending this radgeek write up to me. It shows how Taco Bell caved-in to the bullying tactics of the Imokalee Migrant Worker Coalition. If only Taco Bell had the "Nestle" mentality that David Veksler pointed out recently. Having more companies cowtale to the interests of political groups, distorts the perception of capitalism held in the minds of liberal America. If only people stopped to think about the wealth, prospertiy, and satisfaction that large companies provide society with, rather than slinging moral accusations at them for earning profits, than such activist programs could be exposed for what they are; shake down artists.
Posted by djdamico at 1:54 PM | Comments (3)
March 25, 2005
An early draft and a lively group discussion of Graffiti
The first draft of my paper co-authored with Block was hosted at a website unrelated to economics but specializing in the topic at hand. View it here.
Also, anyone interested in discussing the original or later versions should visit the Austrian Economics Forum.
Posted by djdamico at 4:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2005
BK Marcus Nominated my Taco Bell article for Mises top article
This post by BK Marcus, nominating my Taco Bell article for one of the top 15 on mises.org, just came to my attention. Thanks again, it's an honor to be listed amongst such great names and glad to see people have enjoyed the debate.
Posted by djdamico at 5:36 PM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2005
A Legal and Economic Analysis of Graffiti
This paper, co-authored with Walter Block has been posted on Mises.org's working paper section.
Abstract: A case for the de-criminalization of graffiti is made, based on the existence of an unjust government, and predicated on private property rights. A distinction is made between artistic trespass, or vandalism, on the one hand, which we claim can be undertaken only on private property, and, on the other, graffiti, which in our view can only occur on public property. If the government that claims ownership of the latter is an illicit one, then graffiti can reasonably be interpreted as a justified attack on it, or rebellion.
Posted by djdamico at 12:31 AM | Comments (2)
March 12, 2005
Loyola Lecture Flyer.
Here's the wonderful flyer designed by Virginia King from my recent speaking engagement at Loyola University New Orleans, hosted by the Loyola College Libertarians. I'm forever grateful to the SGA for approving the funds and the college libertarians for organizing the event. It attracted about 20 or so students. I had a great time with it and look forward to the Loyola libertarians growing and developing into a major influence in the movement for freedom. I'm writing up my lecture into a formal speech and submitting it for online publication. So, be on the look out for that shortly.
Posted by djdamico at 11:50 PM | Comments (0)
March 9, 2005
A sad day for taco eaters!
Taco Bell has been fending off the political tactics of the Immokalee Migrant Worker Coalition for some time now. The CIW has been trying to wage boycotts and launch smear campaigns alleging Taco Bell's responsibility in regards to low farmworker wages in South Florida. Free market commentary has been done by myself (here and here) and Art Carden on the matter yet our insights have fallen on deaf ears apparently. This Miami Herald breif tells the update.
Posted by djdamico at 9:27 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack