When Republicans sound like Bernie Sanders
Republicans who would have reacted harshly to identical rhetoric by President Obama are silent when it comes from President Trump.
In following politics and policy for 35 years, one consistent message from Republicans was that higher taxes, regulations and government mandates eventually get passed down to the consumer through higher prices or reduced services. Republicans warned that tax increases proposed by President Clinton and the regulatory burdens of President Obama's health care reform would raise prices. "Corporations do not have a money tree," warned one longtime mentor of mine.
But what Republicans used to understand instinctively is being undermined by President Trump, who demanded that Wal-Mart "EAT THE TARIFFS" instead of passing an increased cost caused by the federal government onto the consumers. Trump is not on the board of directors for Wal-Mart or any other major retailer, and is not responsible to shareholders for their profit margins. It is not the place of the President to be dictating prices to corporations.
Trump's tariff policy leans toward exactly the kind of centrally planned economy that Republicans have railed against for generations. But Republican elected officials who would have reacted harshly to identical rhetoric by Obama are silent when it comes from Trump. Can you imagine the outrage from Republicans if President Bernie Sanders said that little girls can settle for just two dolls or that school children can make do with five pencils?
There is a proper place for tariffs, such as pressuring other nations to open their markets and protecting national security by making sure we have access to critical materials. But the way Trump is using tariffs is to restrict consumer choice by favoring some products over others. Furthermore, the fact that we have a trade deficit in and of itself is not necessarily an indicator that other nations are operating "unfairly."
President Trump has done good things since taking office, such as reversing the transgender madness. One of Trump's best actions was standing for consumer choice in deregulating things like washing machines, dishwashers and shower heads. But Republicans are going to have to figure out whether they stand for the principles of economic liberty or if they are simply sycophants for President Trump. So far, they are failing that test.
