A Few Comments on the Current Thing
A recent poll of Trump showed that 43% of him wants tariffs to reindustrialize the US, 27% wants to use tariffs to bluff other nations into lowering trade barriers, 19% doesn't know, and 11% knows but won't tell.
On the other hand, maybe Trump is deciding on tariff policy by asking a Large Language Model.
“Everything's computer!”
We have reindustrialized before. We can sign free-trade agreements. After NAFTA, US industrial production soared. The “giant sucking sound” came from the US. In 1992, protecting domestic industries was a major issue. By 2000, it wasn't.
I'm not sure why the MAGA people are willing to deport alleged criminals to El Salvador.
After all, every time you deport someone to El Salvador, you're putting Americans out of work!
How long before Trump tries deporting anti-tariff economists?
The claim that imports are a subsidy to foreigners reminds me of a Woody Allen line: “My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch.”