Every trade deal is not, contrary to Donald Trump, a function of stupid American negotiators, it is the result of politics, interest group pressures, and a conscious decision by the administration which controls the negotiators to favor one sector in the American economy over a different sector. This decision is cold-blooded, it is not stupid.
If our negotiators make a deal that favors protecting Hollywood's output but sacrifices Detroit's output, that does not make the problem "globalism" it makes the problem political. But before we conclude that all American economic woes come from stupid trade negotiators, let us look at wrongheaded domestic policies like the highest income tax rates on the globe (to be a globalist about this discussion), intrusive government regulations (like EPA) and other regulations without end.
To get away from Trump bumper sticker con games we ought to ask ourselves some serious questions:
1. Is the problem really are trade deals, or is the problem internal domestic policy?
2. Do are trade deals overall benefit or hurt the American economy?
3. As bad as granting TPA authority to the Obama administration undoubtedly is, what was the alternative for the next six years?
4. What would Donald Trump actually do in the trade negotiations, which sector with the harm and which sector would he benefit, keeping in mind that he not only would preserve biofuels subsidies in Iowa to get elected there, but would increase them?
5. Considering his pandering to special interests in Iowa, are you not terrified at the prospect of Donald Trump making these decisions?
