Using ‘reductio ad absurdum’ to shed light on the foolishness of protectionist policies. Brilliant. Shades of the great Bastiat and the Candlemakers’ Petition.

Open Letter to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL): If promoting jobs in American plants that produce sleeping bags justifies a policy of restricting Americans’ freedom to take advantage of alternatives to purchasing American-made sleeping bags, your policy doesn’t go far enough. Why not also slap a tariff on sleeping bags borrowed from friends? Why not also prohibit the use of sleeping bags that are more than three-months old? (You can sell this prohibition not only as a jobs-creator, but also as a means of protecting Americans’ – especially American children’s – health and safety. Only Wingnuts would object to that goal!) Indeed, why not also tax Americans for every night they sleep indoors?