Agree Allison. I’m a free trader and a Trump supporter (and Canadian lol). One of conservatism’s greatest achievements over the last generation or so is the conversion of most of the left to accepting and pursuing more free trade. Are we in jeopardy of nullifying this achievement? I want to believe there is an end game where reciprocal tariffs will enable freer trade. I want to believe that there are elements in the administration that see Trump’s protectionism as a means to an end in this regard. Ultimately, we’re conservatives who know in our bones that protectionism kills growth and my hope is that this view will eventually win in the White House. Am I out to lunch? A gullible idealist? I just can’t accept that. Sanity will prevail. Where are the other conservatives making this forceful case outside of WSJ Opinion. Thanks, Harvey.
Agree and that’s unfortunate. I think we essentially made a trade with Trump. We tolerated risks on protectionism and isolationism, which we have trouble supporting, in exchange for tax cuts, deregulation, and judicial appointments, which we love. Are we going to end up with more than we bargained for by getting too much on the tariff and isolation fronts? We’ll see how it plays out. I’m always an optimist but lately I’m nervous.
I agree I am conflicted on tariffs. I can see utilizing tariffs in a quest to seek fairer trade. In addition I believe it is a national security imperative that we maintain a vibrant manufacturing sector. Ukraine heightened the importance of old school artillery.
a modicum of fairer trade would be most welcome to us yokel's in the heartland, a smidgen of less debt and inflation too. There's a lot of noise out there, but you've discerned the signal which are some reforms and recalibrations after a prolonged period where either of those concepts resulted in endless pearl clutching.
Agree Allison. I’m a free trader and a Trump supporter (and Canadian lol). One of conservatism’s greatest achievements over the last generation or so is the conversion of most of the left to accepting and pursuing more free trade. Are we in jeopardy of nullifying this achievement? I want to believe there is an end game where reciprocal tariffs will enable freer trade. I want to believe that there are elements in the administration that see Trump’s protectionism as a means to an end in this regard. Ultimately, we’re conservatives who know in our bones that protectionism kills growth and my hope is that this view will eventually win in the White House. Am I out to lunch? A gullible idealist? I just can’t accept that. Sanity will prevail. Where are the other conservatives making this forceful case outside of WSJ Opinion. Thanks, Harvey.
I am not certain that those conservatives exist any longer. Or if they do, they do not have the guts to speak out due to MAGA fear.
Agree and that’s unfortunate. I think we essentially made a trade with Trump. We tolerated risks on protectionism and isolationism, which we have trouble supporting, in exchange for tax cuts, deregulation, and judicial appointments, which we love. Are we going to end up with more than we bargained for by getting too much on the tariff and isolation fronts? We’ll see how it plays out. I’m always an optimist but lately I’m nervous.
I agree I am conflicted on tariffs. I can see utilizing tariffs in a quest to seek fairer trade. In addition I believe it is a national security imperative that we maintain a vibrant manufacturing sector. Ukraine heightened the importance of old school artillery.
a modicum of fairer trade would be most welcome to us yokel's in the heartland, a smidgen of less debt and inflation too. There's a lot of noise out there, but you've discerned the signal which are some reforms and recalibrations after a prolonged period where either of those concepts resulted in endless pearl clutching.