https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2012/04/21/the-hidden-hand/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usTue, 09 Jun 2026 22:22:32 -0400<![CDATA[Why the consumer pays what he does at the pump or the store is not always obvious. Some costs have nothing to do with actually manufacturing a product. For example, merchandise shipped over the ocean must contain a tiny provision for costs associated with fending off pirates. A teeny bit of your gas bill goes to that. Did you know that a whole lot more goes to fighting off other kinds of pirates?]]>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:56:54 -0400<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2012/04/21/the-hidden-hand-n191597