Replies

"Having the government force people to buy your services at excessive rates is very profitable."

I don't think that's a fair description of conditions in 1860.
What Republicans wanted in 1860 -- just as in 2020 -- was to Make America Great by Putting Americans First.

Southern slavocrats had a different idea.

I don't think that's a fair description of conditions in 1860. What Republicans wanted in 1860 -- just as in 2020 -- was to Make America Great by Putting Americans First.

I find myself constantly wrestling with this idea.

Which Americans get put first? The ones buying or the ones selling? What makes one group of Americans more entitled to government favoritism than others?

I'm talking about now, in modern times. Policies that favor one group of Americans often disfavor the other group of Americans.

Protectionism made a sort of sense in the 19th century because the Nation was trying to grow it's industry and economy, but it still favored American sellers over American buyers.

And now that I suspect corruption in everything, I cannot help but wonder if it was something less altruistic that convinced past legislatures to enact the laws they did.

Hunter Biden got rich selling government favors to countries. I think this crap has been going on a long time.