I don&#x27;t think anyone believes protectionism is good for EVERYONE, that&#x27;s a straw man that sounds as ridiculous as you&#x27;ve made it sound.<p>Rather, protectionism is good for the countries that apply it. And in particular for certain populations in those countries. Wealthy capitalists are almost always best served by unfettered free trade (if there are no limits on what the wealthy can do with their wealth, the wealthy benefit, surprising no one). Middle-class or working-class people are far better served by protectionism.<p>If California tech companies insisted on only California law firms to take them public then yes it would be better for California than having them send all their money out of state to New York.