The most powerful instrument of establishing a national, sovereign, integrated, industrial and agricultural economy will always be tariffs.
It was such when Alexander Hamilton established the 'American System' as the U.S. first Treasury Secretary based on protection of key industries and rejection of British Imperial Free Trade. The other instrument is government directed investment in fundamental industrial infrastructure. It was why Hamilton incorporated federally directed credit and investment in transportation infrastructure and regulation of commerce and currency in the national interest. Nothing has changed. This is what built the American economic leviathon. The dismantling of it under the globalism and free markets of last 50 years is why it is in tatters.
I wish Trump would quit this blather of tariffs as being a means to an end of instituting 'real' Free and Fair Trade. The truth is we will always need tariffs. And will always need trade. The two are not inconsistent but should be a out growth of a national policy; and especially of fair trade of valued added product.
Free Trade will always be an element of empire (as is slavery, targeted desperation and captive labour pools). As is regressive taxation and libertarianism. They will always work to enrich the few. Trump's instincts are in the right place which is why he is going full twitter at the Koch Brothers.. the arch American free trade imperialists. I think he needs to tighten his message and focus, by looking to Hamilton.
It was such when Alexander Hamilton established the 'American System' as the U.S. first Treasury Secretary based on protection of key industries and rejection of British Imperial Free Trade. The other instrument is government directed investment in fundamental industrial infrastructure. It was why Hamilton incorporated federally directed credit and investment in transportation infrastructure and regulation of commerce and currency in the national interest. Nothing has changed. This is what built the American economic leviathon. The dismantling of it under the globalism and free markets of last 50 years is why it is in tatters.
I wish Trump would quit this blather of tariffs as being a means to an end of instituting 'real' Free and Fair Trade. The truth is we will always need tariffs. And will always need trade. The two are not inconsistent but should be a out growth of a national policy; and especially of fair trade of valued added product.
Free Trade will always be an element of empire (as is slavery, targeted desperation and captive labour pools). As is regressive taxation and libertarianism. They will always work to enrich the few. Trump's instincts are in the right place which is why he is going full twitter at the Koch Brothers.. the arch American free trade imperialists. I think he needs to tighten his message and focus, by looking to Hamilton.
