Although I doubt that DJT has really grasped the disastrous implications of upending free trade (not without its flaws) I am confident that others around him know precisely what they are doing. What we see happening is, I think, exactly what is happening - the deliberate trashing of the global economy to produce instability, chaos and poverty. These are the circumstances in which the far/fascist right are most able to take and hold power. Its not about economics. Its about politics. Both Sen Chris Murphy and Hillary Clinton have made this observation recently and I fear they are correct
One of the first things the Republicans in Congress need to do is team up with Democrats to pass legislation that’ll stop Trump tariffs. It would also be nice if the courts did something, since the latest tariffs may not be legal. Congress never gave the president the authority to enact tariffs on anything he feels like.
There is a school of thought - led by tech bros such as Thiel, Musk et al - "if it ain't broke - break it." Trump thinks he has a mandate - and yes, it's true that he won the popular vote this time - and can do as he likes. 40 years of right wing radio telling how all the 'liberals' were godless commies played out as planned and we are where we are.
As a Brit living in US I am reminded of Brexit. I thought Brexit was a disastrous mistake and said so often and forcefully to my friends, most of whom were as anti-Brexit as I was. But once Brexit was a fait accompli I wanted it to succeed - I wanted Brexit Britain to be economically successful, with manageable inflation, full-ish employment, a welcoming home for cultural and social diversity and all the rest. I have no such wish for Trump's USA. Maybe we need a reminder every two or three generations that the man who says he knows everything does not, that Jews or Blacks or women or gays or trans folk are not handy scapegoats for all societal ills, and that the wealthy will not save the rest of us. And if that reminder comes at the cost of my retirement savings, well so be it.
Although I doubt that DJT has really grasped the disastrous implications of upending free trade (not without its flaws) I am confident that others around him know precisely what they are doing. What we see happening is, I think, exactly what is happening - the deliberate trashing of the global economy to produce instability, chaos and poverty. These are the circumstances in which the far/fascist right are most able to take and hold power. Its not about economics. Its about politics. Both Sen Chris Murphy and Hillary Clinton have made this observation recently and I fear they are correct
One of the first things the Republicans in Congress need to do is team up with Democrats to pass legislation that’ll stop Trump tariffs. It would also be nice if the courts did something, since the latest tariffs may not be legal. Congress never gave the president the authority to enact tariffs on anything he feels like.
There is a school of thought - led by tech bros such as Thiel, Musk et al - "if it ain't broke - break it." Trump thinks he has a mandate - and yes, it's true that he won the popular vote this time - and can do as he likes. 40 years of right wing radio telling how all the 'liberals' were godless commies played out as planned and we are where we are.
As a Brit living in US I am reminded of Brexit. I thought Brexit was a disastrous mistake and said so often and forcefully to my friends, most of whom were as anti-Brexit as I was. But once Brexit was a fait accompli I wanted it to succeed - I wanted Brexit Britain to be economically successful, with manageable inflation, full-ish employment, a welcoming home for cultural and social diversity and all the rest. I have no such wish for Trump's USA. Maybe we need a reminder every two or three generations that the man who says he knows everything does not, that Jews or Blacks or women or gays or trans folk are not handy scapegoats for all societal ills, and that the wealthy will not save the rest of us. And if that reminder comes at the cost of my retirement savings, well so be it.