I must apologize for confusing Mason Gaffney with my remark that  
"Trade has been normal throughout the history of Man."  
  
He assumed I meant that "Trade (referring to free trade) has been  
normal throughout the history of Man."  
  
Of course, I didn't. Trade is so normal that the attempts to  
prevent this natural cooperation have led to terms such as "black  
market" and "smuggling" both of which are pejorative descriptions  
of people acting naturally even when it entails great risk.  
  
Which leads me into the continuing discussion of Ricardo.  
Portugal does not send wine to the Brits. Jose does, Alonso does  
- maybe even Arecelli and Bethania do - but not Portugal.  
  
And when Jose sends his wine to Charlie in Saffron Walden, he  
does so only because he expects to get back something more  
valuable than he sent (though one must wonder what that might  
be.).  
  
However, Jose and Alonso disappear behind the big picture where  
such incongruities as imbalances can occur. If Jose doesn't get  
what he wants he won't trade with Charlie again. He doesn't allow  
the 'imbalance' to mount.  
  
That demands political control of trade, examples of which were  
listed by Mason.  
  
I was pointing out in an adult class that while a written  
contract is a record of what was decided, the actual enforcement  
of contracts is in the minds of the contractees.  
  
Of course, the students were not convinced. Then, one of them,  
David Stein, said he did business all over the world without  
contracts.  
  
"But what happens if someone reneges on the contract?" asked a  
student.  
  
"David smiled. "Then I don't trade with him any more."  
  
I suggest that this is more illustrative of the reality of trade  
than can be found in the umpteen economic texts that seek to  
analyze it.  
  
There is no sensible or economic reason for nation-states to  
restrict trade - particularly imports. It might make more sense  
to welcome imports and ban exports.   
  
Harry Pollard