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Thomas Hahn's avatar

Matt, a terrific post. You are right about the Noonan op-ed - it was brilliant read on the pulse of the country that gave rise to Trump. But the WSJ - like National Review - has become nothing more than a flag-bearer for the "protected". Sad to see. The GOP ruling class in Ohio is populated with the same "protected" class - time for a change here as well.

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Deborah Guebert's avatar

Thanks for reminding us that Peggy Noonan was once a reasonably sensible writer. Strange that she has managed to lose her way so profoundly. In her older years, perhaps she has succumbed to the scaremongering "elites."

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Louis's avatar

"Or…hear me out—we can bilaterally remove all tariffs, barriers, and quota limitations on goods so consumers decide which goods they want to buy at the prices offered. If foreigners don’t want our cars but Americans want their cars, then so be it. Same for wheat and every other good."

Sign me up to that!

But do you think this is the desired end game of the admin? It's hard for me (who's only half paying attention) to tell. The above was kinda the guiding principle of NAFTA, but that seems to be very unpopular now.

My sense is there is a material % of supporters of this tariff strategy that would be upset if the above quote (sans China) ended up being the ultimate outcome.

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