The True Tariff

Economics, a science grounded in basic principles, does not have the ear of this otherwise great President *.  We knew this was part of his agenda early on. 

(* It may well be that he is actually using it as a threat to secure freer trade with our neighbors?).

But for some countries the true tariff should be us as a consumer with our American social values.

Imagine being a Northerner had the South maintained an independent Confederacy.  You, a loyal Union abolitionist, now has a choice:  buy inexpensive slave made goods OR just as well made expensive goods from wage workers.  Assume that, although laws could be passed to block trade they are ineffective only serving to make smugglers rich.  Thus, it would not be in either country's best interest to outlaw or impose levees or otherwise hamper trade by law. 

Instead of relying in government, a truly free society would give credit to the informed individual.  He would call upon his values to say "I would go without rather than support slave labor'.  Then by virtue of this denial, he has imposed an effective tariff on the South.

In my next post, I will extend this to today given its application to our strenuous trade relationship with China, and ,as a separate issue, the third world.