Rehabilitating Smoot Hawley

Uh oh. The New York Times has allocated some of its precious space to an economist trying to rehabilitate the Smoot Hawley Tariff Act.

"The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act got a bad rap in the Great Depression, an economist argues. Temporary protectionism can be a good thing, he says, giving businesses and workforces time to adjust to downturns."

When intellectuals provide the cover for populist politicians, can more trouble be far behind?