Why Tariffs Aren’t the Free‑Market Solution They’re Made Out Of
Think of tariffs like the old school “import tax” that turns every foreign product into a pricey souvenir. You’re forced to either buy from a non‑tariff country or produce it at home. But in practice they hit the corporate big‑winners first, then the countries on the blacklist.
The Austrian Stance—And Why It’s Flawed
- Adam Smith & Ludwig Von Mises believed free markets die a quiet death when government meddles. They backed global trade because, in their view, less state interference meant more economic freedom.
- They didn’t remember that today’s “globals” aren’t just companies – they’re shadow governments that sit behind banks, the IMF, the World Bank, and the BIS.
- Those shapers of policy, a.k.a. global conglomerates, aren’t the market saints they thought—they’re the new monopoly, schooled by governments.
Corporate Shadow Governments: A Reality Check
Corporations that run global chains often have a degree of immunity from any legal or constitutional constraints. They’re protected by the very same governments that write the rules they ride on. It’s the opposite of what a free market would look like: market entries are blocked by corporate muscle rather than the market’s own needs.
Quick Take: Bitcoin‑Drops vs. COVID‑Touchdowns
“Covid” and the “woke” wave that came after were fluffy launches that perfectly illustrate how governments and companies colluded to stop everyday people from fully participating in the economy. They engineered new rules that used equal‑rights rhetoric to erode individual profit‑making.
Global Corporations—Siphoning Wealth Across Borders
- These firms pocket cash in one country and ship it elsewhere, never looping that money back into the local economy.
- Think of it like a revolving door: cash leaves, no that local spin back to create jobs. It creates a wealth siphon—not a prospering local market.
Is Mexico Feeling the Pain Too?
Sure, Mexico gets some trade volume from the US—but it’s the big companies, not the people, who gain. That’s why it feels like a “naïve” benefit that’s actually just a trickle of power pulling whole economies apart.
The Funny (and Facetious) Reason We’re Worse Off
Our GDP numbers essentially look great, but the bulk of that prosperity is going straight into the pockets of the top 0.0001% of elites, leaving the everyday citizen more unimpressed.
Left vs. Right: Which Side Holds the Real Answer?
Leftists keep dreaming of larger government that can jump in and regulate. The conservative side pushes for a smaller, less–interfering state. Both sides miss the sweet spot: the root of the problem lies in the collusion of governments with corporations.
Tariffs: This Isn’t a One‑Size‑Fits‑All Silver Bullet
Tariffs have been around for centuries, but they’ve become counter‑productive after a nightmare combo of corporate monopolies, federal central‑banking, and the tax system. Austrian thinkers might think “tax cuts = liberty”, but the real perk is stolen in a great economic massage by a few big guys. So, the gist: Tariffs don’t work as a “free‑market tester” as many theorists believe.
Our Dependence on Every Other Nation? Needed or Not?
If everyone can produce enough of what they need locally before trading surplus, the whole world economy makes sense. Yet today, countries are forced into an uneasy reliance on each other for things they should be able to produce themselves. That put a red flag on the grand vehicle we call globalism.
So raise your eyebrows, reject corporate gimmicks, and consider a new ecological perspective, because the world is not banking on a broad-based economy yet.
What the World Is Really Saying About Global Trade
Ever feel like the global economy is just a giant puppet show? Think again. When big corporations and NGOs pull the strings through international reliance, it can feel a lot like a modern‑day bondage. The only real way to break back on free markets and personal freedom? Keep everything close to home—cut out the extra bandwidth and let local stuff run wild.
Tariffs: The DIY Version of Freedom
- Local production gets a boost, and the trade circuit stays tighter.
- Economic independence grows—though the price of things will rise, it’s a price many are willing to take for the chance to keep control.
Funny thing is, folks have been spinning yarns about Donald Trump & Herbert Hoover since 2016. I warned during Trump’s first term that the ‘dial up’ of fiscal collapse and early signs of stag‑flation would get blamed on feisty conservatism—while, in reality, it was those globalists pulling the trigger. My gut says that machinery still runs.
Hoover vs. Trump: The Great ‘Its Your Fault’ Game
In 1930, the Smoot‑Hawley tariffs gave the Great Depression a finger‑pointing reflex; the President was the convenient target. But the real storm hit because big banks and a federal rate hike decided to throw a wrench into the economy—Ben Bernanke, in 2002, even admitted that. Think of the same script playing out for Trump if he whips his hands in the wrong direction. Conservatives will get the blame packet, too. The U.S. economy has been emptied by endless years of global highways—government support for globalism and the unchecked might of corporate giants.
Playing Tactics: Tariffs Aren’t Enough
It’s not just about putting a price tag on imports. The plan needs to reverse decades of state interference, bring back fast‑moving manufacturing— especially staples. Tariffs alone? They’re just the opening act. We’re talking about a massive national push to rebuild supply chains fast enough to dodge the inevitable price hike. Think of it as creating a revival parade for essential goods, energy, and homes— now, not in a few years’ time, or the tariffs will just backfire.
Libertarian Eye Ball Rule
Libertarians are right to warn that consumers’ll feel the squeeze, but the faulty plan is to let corporations drive for a mile and a half while globalism keeps running unchecked. The solution is simple: break the global giant and re‑assert home‑grown independence.
Dollar’s Lazy King Status and the Future
After B retton Woods, the silent deal was that the U.S. would be the invincible north star of the West—and the biggest swoop bank of global spending. In return, the U.S. enjoyed the perks of the world reserve currency. How? Because the dollar could be printed in plain old abundance without any immediate bubble—most of those dollars stayed abroad.
Now, with the potential wrecking of NATO and a trade war, that cushion could fatally unravel. Imagine billions of dollars swimming back into the U.S. and causing some hard‑hit inflation. The dollar’s special status is a ticking snare that will eventually shatter. Globalists have been doing their prep since 2008 with the SDR basket and Central Bank Digital Currencies. The EU already plans to push out retail CBDCs by year‑end— they’re getting ready for the next chapter.
What We Need to Build While the Global Shuffle Happens
- Push for local goods and supply chains.
- Encourage local retailers to find domestic suppliers.
- Spark barter networks— trading goods and services among neighbours.
- Consider commodity‑backed scrip to cushion any currency shocks.
- Reopen natural resource fields to boost industry.
There’s a ton on the list and only so much time. The quick line to remember: as globalism starts unraveling, the U.S. and neighboring communities need to stack up their own production houses, give farmers a happy seat at the table, and start weaving a local fabric that doesn’t rely on foreign staples. Let’s keep it real—homegrown, local, and just a little bit cheeky, because nothing says freedom like turning your backyard into a launchpad for tomorrow’s economy.