Posted on 09/30/2004 4:35:23 PM PDT by rmlew
I would submit that our being a superpower is the result of our free market (which, IMO, is analagous to free trade) rather than the result of necessity.
However, now that the US is the world's wealthiest nation, super power is probably a necessity, if only for self defense.
Perhaps. Since the term "superpower" has not been defined, it's hard to say.
The auto industry vigorously opposed the steel tarriffs, and suffered from them, and laid off workers because of them. The fact that people kept buying cars is beside the point.
And technological advancements in most fields are still coming from America, even if code-writing is being sent overseas.
Much of America's wealth today comes from overseas investment by Americans. It comes back here, and it is used in turn to promote construction, and efficiency in the domestic manufacturing and mining and agriculture sectors, and to improve general quality of life in other fields such as health care and all the other lines of work you mention. We still do have a manufacturing base, because for some things we need it here. And we have enough of one to fight a major war if necessary.
As an aside, you must be happy about the recird high oil prices, because they are helping domestic drillers a lot. I don't think, though, that it means the nation is better off.
Freedom is not something that can stand alone as the Founders knew when they wrote the constitution with its second amendment. Jefferson's hypocritic pronouncements could not have done it. Hamilton's creation of a strong government was crucial in protecting the freedom the nation had won from England. But for his program Britain might well have re-conquered us during the War of 1812 after a decade of Jeffersonianists undemining the American military.
Of course independence from that Empire was the FIRST crucial step to freedom. Your inability to understand that does not change its truth.
Nor is there any such thing as a modern economy without freedom. Hamilton's program was to create a FREE enterprise economy. Hence his lifelong opposition to slavery and his plan to create Black regiments in the Revolutionary army.
Insulting our Founders is something I would expect from you and attacking them does indeed make things very personal. There is nothing wrong with appropriate criticism but worn-out and easily refuted falsehoods have no place here.
It is false that we are "sliding towards third worldism" that is just RATmedia propaganda.
There is virtually no way of controlling 6000 miles of border when desparate people are attempting to live. You could spend tens of billions and still not be able to do it.
It is true that the Saudi royals are divided but it is false that the Saudi government funds terrorism. I mean, come on, not terribly long ago the King was assassinated by a Royal.
once you lose an industry - you no longer make advancements in it. Advancements come from places where engineers work, and investments are made. This mythical idea that we can lose these tech industries, but that somehow "advancements" are simply going to spring forth here anyway because we are "the Americans" is chest thumping nonsense. who is going to make these future tech advancements, all the kids who are now piling into law school?
That is simply not true. Hamilton supported Tariffs both for revenue and as a method of encouraging the development of industries.
I don't know what you are saying "perhaps" to, but by *super power,* I mean a country with armed forces that are nearly irrestible by those of most other nations. Such as the US for the last 60 or so years, the UK in the 19th century, France under Napoleon, etc.
My point was that the great power of the US is due to her great wealth, which is due to the free market, as opposed to a top down managed economy, which many on this thread seem to advocate.
I also think that a wealthy nation in a poor world had better be ready to defend itself, so being a super power comes in handy.
Since you repeat two things I specifically mentioned in an earlier post I have no idea what you believe to be "not true."
Although I am under the impression that our founders were admirers of Adam Smith, I am seeing by Googling around that Hamilton was something of a protectionist.
Your comments are increasing personal, please post to someone else.
I agree. Many freepers do not truly believe in freedom.
I doubt you will find sufficiently deep works on Google regarding Hamilton to get a good idea of what he really was. There are many biographies which do show this however.
Forrest MacDonald's is the best for an understanding of his economic program and beliefs. A two page essay is less than ideal particularly wrt to this issue which is about all you will find on Google. Most are little more than Cliff Notes type stuff suitable for a bried overview but no real understanding of this, the most complex of men.
His reliance on the tariff was primarily for revenue but was mildly protectionist since there was no possibility for Free trade when our products were excluded by law from the markets of the European empires. A tariff rate of 10-15% is not particularly protectionist in any case.
You will find people who believe him to be a standard mercantilist but further research into his beliefs shows that to be a misunderstanding of his policies.
There are other biographies of him which are excellent if you are interested in this great man.
Any critique of your comments is apparently too personal. There was NO insult in my initial comment.
Yea, no kidding, tell the steel industry they are immune to offshoring
OK, thanks.
Also have the Federalist in the bedroom, which I've been meaning to read for awhile.
Insulting our Founders is something I would expect from you and attacking them does indeed make things very personal.
Personal attacks have no place on the forum. Desist please. Post to someone else. You have been suspended in the past for such things, please do not post to me.
Our trade and budgetary deficits are not hurting us because foreign money is being invested here. Where is that money going and how long will people keep investing money here?
Hamilton wrote two thirds of them. About one a week. Can you imagine turning out the greatest political philosophy since Plato and Aristotle and that being only ONE of your achievements? He was also the greatest lawyer in the nation. Marshall said that when compared to Hamilton he was like a taper to the sun. His judicial ruling started after examining the Federalist for a clue as to the Founders thought.
This is the man that nitwits whine did not care about freedom.
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