Tariffs -- where are the Libertarians in all this?

[Politruk]

The Libertarian Party has never been politically relevant, but I was under the impression that the GOP had a significant Libertarian faction going back to the Reagan years. Libertarians are free-traders -- they are against tariffs on principle, as a moral matter, a position they are prepared to defend quite independently of the economic effects of free trade or protectionism. Some extreme Libertarians are even hostile to immigration controls, and propose a constitutional amendment saying only, "There shall be open borders."

Why aren't we hearing anything from them?

 

[Politruk]

Aren't there any Libertarians in the Freedom Caucus?

As the name would imply.

 

[Politruk]

https://i0.wp.com/www.leftycartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/types_of_libertarian1.png

 

[Politruk]

https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/thumb/6/6f/tariffs_2x.png/681px-tariffs_2x.png

 

[Politruk]

We really ought to be hearing something about tariffs from Libertarian Republicans!

 

[rgraham666]

Libertarianism is a marketing ploy. A rebranding of an unpopular product.

What is that product? Anarchy.

Why do I say that? Because both have the same ethos at their centre: That no person or organization has power over the individual. Only the individual is allowed power over themselves.

Why the rebranding? Two reasons.

The first is to cut Libertarianism off from history. Anarchy has a bad rap. Libertarianism is 'New And Improved!'

The second reason is rhetorical. By using liberty as the root word for the new product it makes it appear as if any dissent is arguing against the very concept of liberty itself. A silly trick but far too often successful.

 

[Politruk]

The first is to cut Libertarianism off from history. Anarchy has a bad rap. Libertarianism is 'New And Improved!'

They have different roots. Anarchism is a European tradition closely associated with Marxism. Libertarianism is distinctly American and as far from any form of Communism as you can get. To simplify, Anarchists oppose the state because they see it as a guardian of private property, and Libertarians oppose the state because they see it as a threat to private property. (There are also the Anarcho-Capitalists or AnCaps, of whom the less said the better.)

 

[Bray123]

Don the Dumber is whining that other countries are now trading with countries around the world that haven't imposed tariffs, and that's unpatriotic of them.

Yes, he really is that dumb. This is someone who the Arsehole in Chief presented as a business expert on his fake-reality show and gave a tax-payer's salary to as 'Senior Advisor to the President'.

 

[Politruk]

Don the Dumber is whining that other countries are now trading with countries around the world that haven't imposed tariffs, and that's unpatriotic of them.

What, does he really think foreigners owe loyalty to the U.S.?

 

[rgraham666]

What, does he really think foreigners owe loyalty to the U.S.?

He thinks they owe loyalty to him.

 

[RoryN]

Real Libertarians, 1980s: Vote Libertarian!

Evangelical Republicans:: Anti-government, eh? Okay...so far, so good.

Real Libertarians, 1980s: Yup. And pro-choice!

Evangelical Republicans:: Ohhhh....ummm, fuck that. Love the branding otherwise, though. So, you're coming with us. *taser*

 

[Politruk]

There still are Libertarian Republicans, aren't there? They didn't all leave the GOP when the Tea Party/MAGA took it over?

 

[Baztrachian]

We really ought to be hearing something about tariffs from Libertarian Republicans!

I agree. But I guess there aren't that many of these rare creatures around here.

Myself, I am libertarian on some things and classical liberal on most others.

Overall I do not go with the left/right paradigm of political alignment and instead I weigh political issues as:

Free <----> Less Free <----> Not Free

I tend to prefer freedom regardless of who prefers the alternative.

With the Federal government receiving their revenues from tariffs instead of income taxes and a host of other domestic taxes and fees the net result is that Americans are more free.

There is no need for an IRS, deficit spending that devalues the dollar would no longer benefit the banking cartels, personal savings would be advantageous again, personal debt would not, and government presence in people's daily lives would correspondingly be reduced.

This was the way our government functioned prior to the 1900's.

It worked fine for 125 years. Roads were built, we had a military, we had schools, cities functioned, and etc.

 

[Politruk]

With the Federal government receiving their revenues from tariffs instead of income taxes and a host of other domestic taxes and fees the net result is that Americans are more free.

But tariffs are like sales tax -- regressive in effect. The burden falls heaviest on the poor and the working class. That does not make the people more free, quite the reverse -- even Libertarians should be able to see that.

This was the way our government functioned prior to the 1900's.

That makes no case for it at all. America was a shithole in the 19th C.

 

[MajorRewrite]

That makes no case for it at all. America was a shithole in the 19th C.

Maybe he romanticizes the antebellum South?

 

[Baztrachian]

Maybe he romanticizes the antebellum South?

You mean the Democrat seat of power in that period?

 

[Politruk]

You mean the Democrat seat of power in that period?

Never again speak of the Democrats as racist without carefully considering the exchange of party agendas and constituencies that happened after 1964.

 

[Baztrachian]

Never again speak of the Democrats as racist without carefully considering the exchange of party agendas and constituencies that happened after 1964.

I'll say whatever the fuck I want about whoever the fuck I want.

 

[Politruk]

I'll say whatever the fuck I want about whoever the fuck I want.

You can't do that and stay honest. Post #16 proves that.

 

[Baztrachian]

You can't do that and stay honest.

 

[Politruk]

View attachment 2534168

At least half of those are lies.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

View attachment 2534168

and there are 12 reasons to ignore everything else you write...thanks

 

[Politruk]

At least half of those are lies.

Rather more than half. Every statement but "Trump won the election" and "It came from China" is a lie. Even "Biden has dementia" is a lie when you compare his mental functioning to Trump's.

 

[Baztrachian]

and there are 12 reasons to ignore everything else you write...thanks

Add me to your ignore list.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

Add me to your ignore list.

But then I'd miss out on the laughs.