The U.S. economy was recovering from a brief recession in 2001, a recession often provokes histrionics against the open market, from politicians reflecting popular demands that the government "do something." Unfortunately, all too often the government has "done something." President Bush's tariffs on steel imports to "protect" workers in the U.S. steel industry from outside competition, resulted in between 45,000 and 75,000 job losses in those U.S. industries which use steel [and which employ approximately 40 times as many people.] 1 President Bush had also signed a bill preventing federal governments from outsourcing contracts overseas. A previous federal ban on outsourcing in Indiana resulted in taxpayers facing a total bill of $23 million for processing unemployment claims, an increase of 53 percent over outsourcing to India for $15 million. 2 When Robert McTeer the President of the Dallas Federal Reserve was asked about possible government policy toward outsourcing, he responded "If we are lucky, we can get through the year without doing something really, really stupid."

When we find a voice, a style which suits us, but find it in another's writings, the choices become painful. Do we settle for a weaker script, a less truthful script? Or do we swallow our pride and march on, shameless in our mockingbird nature? Do we bear false witness or do we steal? Surely the latter is more brazen, more triumphant, more courageous? But for that I require your permission -- right, my friends?