[markedman]

List some of the real world items you would protect:

Agriculture
Weapons technology & hardware
Natural resources such as timber and ores
Steel manufacturing
Communications

When Americans must rely on the 'world markets' for food and protection, we will be in deep trouble.

[hedgetrimmer]

Too late.

We've become a net agricultural importer.

Weapons and technology outsourced years ago.

[Sabramerican]

Are you claiming the US needs to protect it's arms manufacturing? Which? From who?

Natural resources? Buchanan peeve is about manufacturing jobs.

Steel would fit. Protect steel. What do you want to pay for an air conditioner? A car? Being a patriot I guess you'll buy a Ford or GM. Remember the quality of Ford and GM cars before they had to compete with the foreigners.

Communication equipment? New innovations? Would work just as soon as you discover a way to prevent foreigner from coming out with better and better stuff. Communication is particularly appropriate when discussing Buchanan because some of the most innovative stuff comes from Israel.

If you believe the US relies on others for either food or protection, you haven't yet got the pre-requisite of basic knowledge to now be discussing economics.

[nopardons]

The president DID pull a "protectionist" thing for steel. It made things much worse and has been scrapped. The American steelworkers and their union, were displeased by the outcome.

Our agricultural produce IS heavily subsidized an d protected.

Blame Cltinton for what happened with our smokeless coal resources and giving/selling sensitive technology to the Chinese. President Bush can't put that toothpaste back in the tube and he tried to. The courts knocked down his attempt at undoing these Clinton EOs.

Do try to get up to speed.