The COVID-19 pandemic response in 2020 presented a stark challenge to American liberties and economic foundations. Driven by a desire for immediate action, policies often prioritized centralized control over individual decision-making, disregarding potential negative consequences.
A Pattern of Restriction
This period saw an alarming trend:
- Restrictions on personal freedoms were broadly implemented.
- Small businesses faced mandated closures, impacting their viability.
- The prevailing narrative emphasized action over thoughtful strategy and accurate information.
This behavior unfortunately opened avenues for exploitation in global trade and defense, a situation that is now thankfully changing.
Early warnings about these trends were often dismissed, but as the consequences became apparent, a shift began towards recognizing the errors of that approach.
Now, echoes of these same flawed approaches are resurfacing within discussions around trade policy. It’s concerning to see elements on the right seemingly embracing similar restrictions – a departure from core principles of freedom.
The U.S. faces significant fiscal challenges:
- A substantial national debt, exceeding 120% of GDP.
- A deficit-to-GDP ratio comparable to nations engaged in wartime (6-7%).
- Interest payments on the debt now surpass defense spending – a critical warning sign.
- Persistent inflation continues to pose a significant hurdle.
The incoming Trump administration inherits these difficulties, compounded by current interest rates and the necessity of extensive debt financing.
While some advocate for tariffs as a solution, they are unlikely to effectively address these underlying economic issues.
There is a dangerous resurgence of calls to sacrifice principles in the name of expediency. Some supporters of a “America First” approach seem willing to echo the same restrictive policies that harmed small businesses during the pandemic. These businesses, already struggling with the aftermath of COVID-19 mandates and inflation, are now facing renewed vulnerability under potential tariff burdens.
“It’s disheartening to hear calls for these businesses to fail – a sentiment reminiscent of the left’s earlier demands for closures deemed necessary ‘for the greater good.'”
The argument that supporting American businesses with international supply chains is not “America First” demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding. These small businesses often leverage global advantages within the supply chain, maintaining crucial operations – design, marketing, sales, and administration – within the U.S., thereby creating American jobs.
Furthermore:
- They contribute to the U.S. economy by selling products worldwide, supporting American jobs and bringing capital into the country.
- Profits are reinvested and spent, often in America.
“Advocating for the demise of these businesses under the guise of ‘the greater good’ is a form of economic thinking that echoes communist ideology.”
The collapse of millions of these small businesses would have dire consequences: not only would jobs, profits and capital leave America but foreign companies or large corporations would likely step in to fill the void – certainly not an outcome aligned with “America First” principles.
The root cause of many of our economic problems lies in a departure from free-market principles. Furthering this trend will only exacerbate these issues and erode our foundational values.
Hopefully, the next administration will prioritize policies that empower Main Street through incentives rather than erecting barriers to freedom and enterprise.
