Oh you, NPR...

Those rascals over at NPR are at it again, filling the air with misologisms (see previous Curious Word) and other silliness.

Popping my head in the car just long enough to transport myself over to a local watering hole, I happened to hear enough of an argument by a commentator to chuckle.

This brilliant talking head tackled the issue of unilateral sanctions of Iran by the U.S., surprisingly (/sarcasm) coming out against the decision by our head of state. His thesis started off in a compelling way, arguing that sovereignty as we know it is on the decline. Military opponents are increasingly nonstate actors, many issues of the resources and the environment transcend simple national boundaries, and international corporations are entities unto themselves, not clearly beholden to any given flag, but wielding enormous power and influence.

So far, so good. In fact, I even remained in my car, waiting to hear where he was going, ignoring the temptation of frosty beverage visible through the window. Ah, but my hopes were shortlived.

This logician of formidable repute then highlighted the efficacy of global financial markets. Amazing the goods you purchase come from every corner of the globe, with such incredible efficiency. The international markets manage to resolve problems of resource scarcity and shortcomings in production by boosting production elsewhere and turning to alternatives to the resource so thin on the ground. If we have such an effective system of international markets, clearly, in this age of declining national sovereignty, we must be one step away from an effective system of international governance.

A...hem. In short, the fact that you can by wine from New Zealand and strawberries from Chile is argument for China and Russia to determine whom we sanction and when.

"Barkeep...a glass of your finest."