I have no problem with punitive tariffs for countries that trade unfairly. I think you are correct in that free trade is not necessarily the answer in all cases especially in the case of those nations that trade unfairly,i.e,China. But corporate and business activity is governed by competitive survival.Corporations and business are not the problem. Trade policy, fiscal policy, tax policy and regulatory policy are.
If you do not think that business is about running a profit, why not invest your retirement funds in the domestic widget manufacturer who is “loyal” but cannot compete because their product cannot be competitively priced in the global marketplace. You can write off your investment as a charitable contribution after they go broke.
Actually, although I may have come off as being confrontational, I agree with you. A major reason why a corporation is in business today is profit. However, not all corporations are for profit, and the object of all business is not monetary gain. Still, in the context of for profit corporations, there’s some considerations.
First, in the history of corporations, there were once a specific group of people who had to petition the people (government) at a specific level, with a specific object in mind (usually profit/business), and were given a specific time frame in which to attempt such. Next, it’s important to understand that in the modern day embodiment of corporations, there is zero accountability to the public (who allows the corporation it’s powers), but only to the share holders.
So, you see, the perverted definition of corporation that is now being used is a far cry from what it once was. It’s no longer accountable to the populace in which it operates, and if it was (by it’s charter and approval to operate), corporations would have some loyalty is that wanted to stay incorporated.
“I have no problem with punitive tariffs for countries that trade unfairly.”
Just out of curiosity, which one trades fairly? I wanted to find out where not to put my money. 8^)
“I think you are correct in that free trade is not necessarily the answer in all cases especially in the case of those nations that trade unfairly,i.e,China.”
The Kenyan Pirate takes public stances against world leaders who alledgedly persecute “labor organizers”, then acts as though doing business with the Red Chinese slave colony is the most natural thing (I know that relationship is not his doing, and was helped along by many Republicans as well). If we only traded with companies that met our ideal for work and environmental conditions, those countries would be as costly as the US to deal with.
I am reminded of an old saying - “Every problem has a very simple answer ..... and it’s usually wrong”. Before we all leap onto the tariff bandwagon, it might be worth weighing the possible repercussions and unintended consequences.
Has anyone pondered the potential consequences of retaliation (which I guarantee will come as surely as night follows day)?
And, at the end of the day, why should we expect investment to be committed to domestic manufacturing when the major discouragement to such investment are the totally unpredictable and capricious effects of federal regulatory and political interventions into the economy. Who is crazy enough to invest in such an atmosphere?