(Seton Motley) – We are still mired in pronounced, prolonged supply chain shortages in nearly all sectors of our economy. If you’re wondering why – the short answer is “government.”
DC’s Uniparty – Democrats and Republicans both – has spent the last several decades making it harder and harder for domestic producers to produce domestically. Ever-higher taxes, ever-more regulations and idiotic trade policies has made the US an ever-less attractive place to do business.
We awaken from our half-century slumber – and are shocked (SHOCKED!) to find we no longer make anything. (The idiotic fact that our #1 global enemy China makes so much of our stuff is a whole other can of stupid worms.)
If we are to emerge from this government-imposed malaise – we need to be realistic in our prescriptions. Reality not being the Leftists’ bag – here I am addressing conservatives.
Conservatives are supposed to favor the real over the theoretical. We rightly mock Leftists for myopically adhering to the political theory of Collectivism (Communism, Socialism – all of the tree’s awful branches). And no amount of evidence disproving their theory – like, say, the entirety of the 20th Century – rids them of their myopic adherence.
Unfortunately, far too many conservatives are as singularly wedded to theory as the Leftists they mock for same. And like Leftists, no amount of evidence disproving these conservatives’ theories – rids them of their theories.
Well, we endeavor to persevere. Here’s some more evidence for them.
(For clarity, from here on we’ll call these ideology-over-reality conservatives Conservative, Inc.)
“Free Trade !!!” They Screeched
Like Conservative, Inc – I’m all for free trade. Unlike Conservative, Inc – I acknowledge what DC has been doing for decades ain’t free trade.
As we batter US companies with taxes and regulations – China and every other nation entice with tax and regulatory exemptions and reductions.
To make things even more unfair, China and every other nation also offer (often massive) cash subsidies to their domestic producers. More and more of whom are ex-US producers.
So foreign producers are making their stuff MUCH cheaper than US producers can make their stuff. Because they are paying less taxes, facing fewer regulations – and getting government-cash infusions.
Which allows foreign producers to sell their stuff MUCH cheaper than US producers can sell their stuff.
But wait – it gets worse.
We then impose almost no tariffs or limits upon their mass-government-subsidized stuff. Further undermining our producers. Who have to compete with real market prices – against their artificially low, fake “market prices.”
But China and everyone else impose all sorts of tariffs and limits upon our stuff. FURTHER undermining our producers. Who are severely limited in what they can export – while domestically having to contend with perpetual tidal waves of unlimited, unimpeded, government-subsidized imports.
All of which renders what we’ve pretended to be “free trade” – as un-free, unfair and fake as trade gets. And we’ve been engaged in this stupidity – for decades.
To continue reading, click here. Mr. Motley is founder and president of Less Government.
