Reagan “was a devout champion of open trade who used tariffs sparingly and reluctantly.”
.......... Reagan did, in fact, repeatedly emphasize the virtues of free trade. Like all modern presidents, he nonetheless imposed some tariffs for political reasons. But Reagan always stayed within the boundaries of the law, using his right to impose discretionary tariffs as pressure release valves rather than abusing his authority to make tariff policy an instrument of his personal whims. ........... Reagan did many things that, I believe, harmed America. Indeed, I would argue that his tax cuts, deregulation and anti-union policies, as well as his exploitation of racial tensions, were critical in laying the foundation for the plutocracy that is now destroying our democracy. But one thing that was clear to me while working within the Reagan administration was that Reagan and his people — totally unlike Trump — took their promises to other countries seriously. If a proposed policy was in clear violation of our international agreements, it was simply out of bounds. ........... everything that Trump has done on tariffs involves breaking solemn, supposedly binding past pledges to other nations and expecting those countries to meekly go along.
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
An Autocracy of Dunces How stone-faced generals, Wall Street pushback, and a government shutdown may save America’s quickly declining democracy ......... If America still had a fully functioning democracy, Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday to the assembled generals would have ended his presidency. Trump treated the event like a political rally and was clearly taken aback by the refusal of the audience to applaud or laugh at his jokes. Delivering a nakedly partisan speech to a mandated assembly of military officers was a gross violation of the Hatch Act. The content —telling the officers to be ready to use force against U.S. citizens — was clearly an impeachable offense. In an earlier era, Trump’s incoherent ranting would have paved the way for his immediate removal from office under the 25th Amendment. ............... It’s clear that the decision to summon top officers from around the world to receive a lecture about “warrior ethos” from a man who installed a makeup studio at the Pentagon was made by Pete Hegseth. It confirmed publicly what is being whispered within the military, and presumably among our allies and enemies: that Hegseth is an abject incompetent
who isn’t remotely up to the job. And this toe-curling performance is a reflection of his underlying panic. ................... authoritarian regimes don’t want competent people, who might sometimes take a stand on principle ............. They prefer crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty. ............. The same logic surely explains the appointment of the hapless Hegseth. ........... Hackification is also an important factor in the government shutdown. Democrats have made their willingness to supply the extra votes needed to keep the government open contingent on an extension of the Biden-era expansion of health insurance subsidies, which will expire at the end of this year. .............. The political puzzle is why Republicans didn’t see this coming. The One Big Beautiful Bill carefully and cynically delays big cuts to Medicaid until after the midterms. Why didn’t it include a similarly cynical delay to the looming premium apocalypse? ........... Chuck Schumer, who met with Trump Monday, said that the president appeared to be “not aware” of the impact of expiring subsidies. ............. many Republicans, like Trump, simply weren’t aware of the issue. ........... America is no longer a fully functioning democracy. ........... like all authoritarian regimes, America’s autocracy is being run by malevolent incompetents. And while our hallowed institutions are utterly failing to rise to the occasion, the sheer incompetence of these hacks is generating pushback that may yet save us. ............... the top ranks of the US military .. their stony reception of Hegseth and Trump. ....... the many Disney subscribers who canceled after the abortive attempt to fire Jimmy Kimmel. ..........
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
Gen Z Kranti (novel)
The Banyan Revolt (novel)
Madhya York: The Merchant and the Mystic (novel)
Deported (novel)
Empty Country (novel)
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