For decades Americans have enjoyed access to cheap goods, due in large part to the fact that we’ve outsourced our industrial and supply capacity to cheap, overseas markets like China and Vietnam. The free traders, roosting in their D.C. think tanks and on Wall Street, worry that the U.S.-China trade war is uprooting our supply chains and that Huawei (shown to have deep connections to the Chinese intelligence apparatus) is only a theoretical threat. They tell us that we must come to terms with China’s rise, that there is no other way. But what if there was?My critics will more than likely dismiss this idea either insane or reckless. But throughout the late 19th and 20th century, it was a policy that led to prosperity and self-sufficiency. I’m talking about autarky. In our over-globalized world, a policy of total autarky is infeasible. But a degree of autarky should be recognized as self-evidently in America’s national interest.
Amazing how a major medical calamity can get people to re-examine their preconceptions, isn’t it? And once again:
“Most people are willing to give up their preconceptions, once they’ve had them tattooed on their heads with a blunt instrument.” – Keith Laumer, in one of his “Retief” novels
If I had to guess, I don't think many U.S. citizens would allow strategic supplies to be supplied by foreign entities, unless the need was absolutely necessary, and the supply was protected. Unfortunately, so much goes on without the scrutiny of the media, legislation that benefits the pocketbooks of politicians, and a woeful ignorance created by educators. If there is only one good thing that comes from this illness, may it be an awakening of enough citizens to change the path of our country.
ReplyDeleteThe mantra is "good for the economy, good for the economy".
ReplyDeleteI remember my macroeconomics professor saying that offshoring created a pinprick of pain locally but a benefit to the economy overall because of reduced prices. Reaaaaally? What if that pinprick is a never-ending series of pinpricks across the country, ongoing?
And lookie here:
Countries Starting to Hoard Food, Threatening Global Trade
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/countries-are-starting-to-hoard-food-threatening-global-trade
Nations have interests, not friends. The greatest economic good is not the greatest national good.
Ha! I've been saying, "Don't buy the chinese crap!" since the 70's.
ReplyDelete