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I am very sympathetic to increasing the autarky of the US, especially now that the COVID madness has illustrated the fragility of our supply chains and the fragility that comes from allowing or promoting too much consolidation of industry (baby formula). But it needs to be done gradually through tariffs, US-made content legislation and vigorous anti-trust prosecutions. The banks in particular need to be broken up and speculative investment functions need to be separated from banks as they once were.

Similarly with foreign policy, even my European relatives are embarrassed every time some problem comes up and their politicians ask why the Americans aren't doing something. Many here seem to think we should just pack up and leave, but I think that's even more expensive and definitely more risky. What we should do is offer a deal: meet your NATO obligations or we will bill you for the extra capability we provide, and if you don't pay, we'll tariff the crap out of your imports.

Any wars we engage in should be carefully chosen, brief, and annihilating for our adversaries. Even during our brief dalliance with imperialism in the 19th century, Americans were very leery of liberal imperialism.

We used to be better at playing this game, but our elites are delusional and corrupt.