The Polish Ham Question  Email Print  The Polish-Ham Question
by Walter Block by Walter Block Recently by Walter Block: Contra
Horwitz   From The Libertarian Forum, June/July 1972.  Supposed
exponents of free trade, like YAF, conservative clubs, the Birch
Society, and other right-wing groups have long been actively
opposing the importation of Polish hams. We shall prove that
whatever principles such actions could be based upon, they are
not the principles of the free-market laissez-faire system,
which holds supreme the rights of trade, of property, and of
voluntary association.  Opposition to the importation of Polish
hams has been defended on the grounds that it is immoral to
trade with thieves or receivers of stolen merchandise — a
description that eminently fits the Polish government.  It is a
description, however, that also eminently fits the US
government, with its vast taxing system, its monstrous budget
deficit, and its astronomical national debt!  But more
destructive of the private-property system e