Ben Shapiro Interviews Stephen Harper

*Unedited, one draft post.

Now let's take a look at a leader Canadians chose to not elect to give Trudeau a majority government.

Ben Shapiro interviews Stephen Harper. It's an interesting dialogue. Harper does a good job crystallizing the issue of immigration where he argues it's ludicrous to accept illegal immigration while entertaining the notion that cheap, low-skilled workers - that put a downward economic pressure - are needed in North America, and trade where Trump's assertion China is a closed economy blocking access to its market while the West is open for them and that new trade deals are necessary is a correct one. In each of these cases, the current set up hurts the working poor and middle classes of all races.

I do want to take a brief second to address his perception of libertarianism on both of those subjects.

At around the 12 minute mark he mentions the "libertarian delusion" where they want immigrants (illegal or not) to come in but will not have access to social services. While it's true there are 'open borders' libertarians, the ranks are far from united on this front. After all, they're libertarians. Reason magazine has especially been somewhat perplexing with their stance on illegal immigration which strikes me more as 'anti-Trump' than a logical and realistic stance on immigration. They just claim immigration is good all the time. Period. Which is unfortunate because they are no different than mainstream media outlets who fail to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. No one is against the former. Not even Trump. The focus is on the LEGAL entry into a country and this has not been addressed enough.

As for the second part of the argument, I've not read this anywhere and the closest to it comes by way again from Reason magazine who posit immigrants use less welfare and social services and allege pay taxes. I find this to be specious myself. 

Same on trade. Reason exhibits the same "zero-sum" posture here as they do with immigration. All trade and immigration is good. True. But there are times where trade and immigration are bad. They completely fail or choose to ignore the possibility of this. In the process, give the impression the grievances against poor trade deals and illegal immigrations are without merit. I feel there's more than enough merit to them. It's neither protectionist or xenophobic to thinks so either.

He also claims libertarian thinking runs contrary to data. Here, he is wrong. I find of conservatives, liberals, socialists/progressives, and libertarians/anarchists, libertarians are not only hyper-aware of data but they digest and interpret them better than most as well maintaining a level of consistency and dedication to their core principles. 

This is what distinguishes libertarians from the others and has kept me involved in their ranks. Problem is, the no compromise on principles tends to not be a good match for politics at large.

Hence, why they either form a enclave within the conservative ranks in Canada and the United States or stand on their own on the fringes of political life.

But their influence and ideas do often make their way into public life and policy making. Where they were probably once more closer akin to liberalism, the libertarian diaspora finds more allies and sympathies from conservatives.

I think Harper under shoots their respect for data and commitment to core principles.

In any event, a great interview.