At his campaign rally last night President Trump vowed that he’d make “America wealthy again.” But the taxes he’s imposed on Americans in the form of tariffs are making America poorer—both materially and spiritually. When Trump imposed tariffs on China last year I mentioned that in 2019 the tax would cost households to suffer losses…
This past week, Tucker Carlson started his show by criticizing free-market principles he feels have harmed Americans, praising Elizabeth Warren for her “Plan For Economic Patriotism.” He characterized Republican politicians as superficial libertarians who support certain free-market policies because they favor multinational corporations and large banks, painting a picture of a destitute American economy where…
Christina Fattore, West Virginia University The Trump administration says it intends to slap a 5% tariff on every medium-sized car, avocado and other Mexican import beginning June 10 – all almost US$1 billion worth that crosses the border into the U.S. each day on average. The president is using the policy as a cudgel to…
By Joe Wolverton, II The domestic damage done by President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods will now be exacerbated by the president’s proclamation of his intent to blunt the blow by giving a multi-billion dollar bailout to farmers affected by the fallout. You read that right. Not only are American consumers going…
“In the last few weeks,” writes Tyler Cowen, “I’ve seen a lot of evidence that a new political era truly is upon us.” Specifically, he refers to the stunning upsets against left social democrats around the world, along with the rise of what is being called the New Right. The New Right is not generally about dismantling…
FEE readers understand well the destructive economic effects of Trump’s tariffs. More than economic prosperity is at stake; the survival of humanity may depend on continuing to grow trade between the US and China. Thucydides’s Trap Harvard professor of government Graham Allison has made a career of examining how government decisionmakers and bureaucracies respond to…
Past comments from Donald Trump indicate his threats and initiation of tariffs are part of a long term strategy to reduce restrictions from trading partners. In the below tweet, for instance, he also implies equal tariffs between countries is “fair”. Taking for granted that Trump’s actual purpose with tariffs is to force other countries to…
The following is an excerpt of our conversation with Kevin Nicholson in October, reprinted because Wisconsin’s primary is now just days away… The contours of Wisconsin’s Republican US Senate primary in 2018 seem pretty straightforward. Leah Vukmir is a state Senator, and has held elected office since 2002. In the estimation of most Wisconsin Republicans, she’s…