Tariffs are nothing new
To the editor:
Tariffs have been used by politicians for years. President Trump is doing it because of the unfair trade practices of other countries towards America.
America must not rely on foreign adversarial governments for our essential products. We should have learned difficult lessons from past experiences. Remember the time when Saudi Arabia and the oil cartels halted oil production, leading to not only long gas lines but also restrictions on purchasing fuel on specific days, which devastated many businesses? The United States is vulnerable when it comes to pharmaceuticals, automobiles, clothing, and a wide range of goods. If you believe that transitioning to a self-sufficient America is challenging, consider that failing to restore our manufacturing capabilities could have dire consequences. President Trump is the first leader with guts to challenge the established norms with courage. He is also the first President since World War II to grasp the interconnections of various economic factors. While President H.W. Bush was the most business-oriented leader in the White House since 1945, he lacked the backbone to implement significant changes. We currently have a President striving to navigate us away from economic decline without resorting to military conflict. His approach is rooted in business principles rather than political motivations. Without Trump’s intervention at this critical time, America is on a path to disaster, and it is uncertain who else could have redirected our course. President Trump has remained consistent in his approach since 1979, when he and tariffs were part of the Democratic platform. It is the Democrats who have shifted their stance, not Trump.
It is important to remember that the government does not produce anything, yet it spends substantial amounts of money. Allow a free economy to utilize and manage its resources; it is far more capable of handling finances effectively.
Lou Walker
Cape Coral