(March 19, 2016 at 10:28 pm)Wyrd of Gawd Wrote:(March 19, 2016 at 8:53 pm)Mathilda Wrote: Regarding the illegal immigrants, all of his supporters on here have completely ignored my point that building a wall is ineffective and the most costly measure for keeping out illegal immigrants.That makes the wall a job creator. So that's a good thing. It will bring new money into the border towns.
This is the broken window fallacy or glazier's fallacy. In short the money would still be spent if the wall was not being built and could be better spent going elsewhere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of...ken_window
Quote:Suppose it cost six francs to repair the damage, and you say that the accident brings six francs to the glazier's trade – that it encourages that trade to the amount of six francs – I grant it; I have not a word to say against it; you reason justly. The glazier comes, performs his task, receives his six francs, rubs his hands, and, in his heart, blesses the careless child. All this is that which is seen.
But if, on the other hand, you come to the conclusion, as is too often the case, that it is a good thing to break windows, that it causes money to circulate, and that the encouragement of industry in general will be the result of it, you will oblige me to call out, "Stop there! Your theory is confined to that which is seen; it takes no account of that which is not seen."
It is not seen that as our shopkeeper has spent six francs upon one thing, he cannot spend them upon another. It is not seen that if he had not had a window to replace, he would, perhaps, have replaced his old shoes, or added another book to his library. In short, he would have employed his six francs in some way, which this accident has prevented.[1]