The opium wars are not a good argument for a number of reasons: 1. Opium != marijuana in an important way. One is physically addictive and the other is not. 2. Opium was marketed into China so that foreign powers could profit. I think the opium war makes sense as an argument against fossil fuels as much as it does as an argument against the good herb.

I agree... I'm one of the few home-grown grad-students here. It can be tough keeping up with some of the bright international students, but it makes more sense in the long run to keep the smart people here (hopefully, we can outbreed the people who voted for Bush). Having smart people in the country will do way more than any economic stimulus, tax rebates, or what have you. Here's an article about the perils of protectionism during the first great depression http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/id/17606.htm .