GOP Tariff Scolds Are Rejecting Reagan’s Steel Protection Legacy

Breitbart ^ | March 2, 2018 | by JOHN CARNEY

[Jim Robinson]

Capitol Hill Republicans went into an emotional meltdown after President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. “Let’s be clear: The President is proposing a massive tax increase on American families. Protectionism is weak, not strong. You’d expect a policy this bad from a leftist administration, not a supposedly Republican one,” Sen. Ben Sasse said, according to NBC News.

But Sasse and other Republicans pouncing on the White House because of the tariffs are engaging in a bit of historic revisionism. Far from being a deviation from Republican orthodoxy, Trump’s tariffs have very clear precedents in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

President Reagan ordered measures in 1984 that the White House said would reduce steel imports and help the American steel industry. These were called “voluntary restraint agreements” with trading partners, but they were only voluntary in name. The administration said it would block access to the American market for any country that refused to agree to the voluntary restraint.

And the goal was exactly the same as Trump’s: reduce imports of steel.

[Dalberg-Acton]

And the tariff on Japanese motorcycles to keep Harley Davidson in business.

[Ceebass]

The increased cost of beer cans and auto chassis will be more than made up for by less unemployment, welfare, etc

[Kazan]

Any additional costs due to tariffs have already been more than offset by cutting corporate taxes and slashing billions of dollars of regulations.

[shelterguy]

More proof that the “republicans” sold out long ago. Look who they stand up for, not the USA.

[Robert DeLong]

Tariffs were the main source of revenue for the federal government from 1789 to 1914. During this period, there was vigorous debate between the various political parties over the setting of tariff rates. In general Democrats favored a tariff that would pay the cost of government, but no higher. Whigs and Republicans favored higher tariffs to protect and encourage American industry and industrial workers. Since the early 20th century, however, U.S. tariffs have been very low and have been much less a matter of partisan debate.

SOURCE

[Brilliant]

To be fair they also scolded Reagan.

[big'ol_freeper]

There’s no need for tariffs if there is fair trade. Trump is a fighter. Where he sees unfair trade he’ll impose tariffs. And we’ve been taking a screwing on trade without fighting back for a long time.

[SoFloFreeper]

the only time i see Ben Sasse’s name in the press is when he is attacking Trump.

seriously.

this guy wants to pretend to be a hero for the Constitution, but somehow he ends up being a modern day McInsane.

hey ben, you got a problem with the president and leader of your party? be a grown up and discuss it with him. don’t go to the media and publicly attack him.

what a baby.

[RedMonqey]

It’s NOT just a case of ECONOMICS!

It’s also a case for the societal HEALTH of our fellow Americans.

It’s no surprise that the drug crisis has hit hardest in the blue collar areas of American(the rust belt)

I’d rather pay a little more for my next truck and see that”big beautiful “Made In America” emblem stamped on it than spend millions, nay BILLIONS on welfare, workfare or drug rehabilitation programs when all is needed is give a man(or woman) the satisfaction of working hard and seeing the fruits of their labor.

We, as a nation used to understand this.

May President Trump relight this flame again and truly:

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

[amihow]

The globalists be damned. Tariffs are a tool! Can be used for good or bad. Trump smart on this one!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Chinese have soft slavery and ecological spoliation to be able to do it.

[HiTech RedNeck]

All things will adjust. But most of all, morale. There will be more work in the work, so to speak.

[JPJones]

George Washington put tariffs on British shipping, I guess the rino’s would have scolded him too.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Beg pardon? Be specific.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Oh sorry. Sasse and company.

Those whose oxen stand to be most immediately gored may be speaking up first. Understandable.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The whole point of band-aid politics seems to be to discourage America to act as a team. Nebraska sells less cattle to China now. Bad thing. But then workers in domestic steel industry start eating more steak. Good thing.

[Dalberg-Acton]

Back when we had limited, Constitutional government that didn’t require taxing the citizenry?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Yeah... With tariffs.

Now we can’t completely shut all doors to the world. Some marvelous things are possible through international collaboration. Modern technology needs Chinese mining. But depending on other countries for common staple items is stupid.

[RedMonqey]

Yeah, it's a real “economic mirage” when a nation can literally poison the sky and pay pennies on a dollar(yen?) to achieve “superpower economy”. And I'm not wild about helping a Commie enemy build their ships at the expense of our workers.

We were sold on the ideal that a thriving Chinese economy would ultimate doom the Communist hegemony over it's people.

Instead it has only “fatten” the bloodsucking ticks and it's leader-for-life Xi Jinping apparently.

Another “great ideal” sold to us by the Clinton-Bush” dynasty.

I say, Trump, “Tear down this (Chinese )wall”