Trump vs Freedom
Trevor Watkins
Although I have been an enthusiastic Trump supporter, and believe his good policies outweigh the bad, nevertheless he is no individualist or libertarian.
Individualists believe in individual freedom, free markets, the rule of law, respect for others, property rights, and the right to self-defense. We reject the use of arbitrary coercive force by anyone, including presidents and governments.
Concerns
Tariffs
Tariffs are a cornerstone of Trumpian philosophy. Tariffs are a form of government tax, a restriction on freedom of choice, and bad economics. Some invisible government official will decide what you may buy, at what price, and from whom. They will justify this by claiming to protect some uncompetitive local industry from a more competitive and cheaper external supplier, at your cost. They are overriding your discretion and freedom of choice for some nebulous advantage to a powerful lobby of local interests.
If the local industries are too useless to compete successfully, they should go out of business, not beg favours from politicians.
Americans should be eternally grateful to the Chinese for supplying them with cheap useful goods, while charging the Chinese a fortune for the goods at which they excel, such as high tech software and electronics. If the Americans choose to give this technology away for free, more fool them.
In the short term overseas suppliers will probably pay the tariffs, raise their prices and lose market share. In the medium to longer term they will simply find simpler and more profitable markets, and cut off their supply to high tariff regimes.
Borders
Does a nation-state have a right to aggressively defend its borders from immigrants? Seems pretty obvious. But up to 2 weeks ago, and for the 4 years prior, the US did NOT actively defend its borders, allowing 10 million people to pass. For most of its history, the US has been very open to immigrants. It does not support the defence of other borders, notably Gaza/Israel, Tibet/China, Russia-past/Russia-now.
Ferocious border enforcement has a bad history, East Germany, North Korea, even South Africa. I fear Trump’s approach will be effective, but not successful in the long term.
Individualists believe in freedom for ALL people, not just citizens of particular states. Our freedom philosophy is consistent. It does not vary by geography, or skin colour, or gender. Most immigrants are just ordinary individuals desperately trying to improve their circumstances in what they perceive as a kinder country than the one they left.
Individualists believe in property rights. Every free individual is entitled to protect and defend the boundaries of their lawfully acquired property.
Deportations
Western civilised values recommend treating individuals with care and respect, independent of their circumstances. If someone is suspected of a crime there is a large body of jurisprudence and precedent which guides how to deal with them. Deportation is an uncommon punishment because it assumes a 3rd nation willing to take the criminal. It can easily become a nightmare of international negotiations. It is likely to become very expensive, possibly defeating the point of the exercise.
Deportations will require police raids, forced removals, detention centres, convoys. They are never good for the reputation of the enforcing country. Ask Germany, Russia, England (in India and during the Boer War).
Abortions
Most Republicans, whom Trump now represents, oppose abortion, mainly on religious grounds. They favour the rights of the child over the rights of the mother. This issue has been delegated to the individual states, but Trump appears to oppose late term abortions.
As an individualist/libertarian I favour the rights of the mother over those of the foetus while it is still a part of the mother’s body. For this reason I disagree with Trumps’ approach.
Death Penalty
An executive order directs the DOJ to pursue the death penalty in some specific cases.
As an individualist I do not believe in the death penalty. It is uncivilised, irreversible and inhumane. Even the ANC rejects the death penalty. This order will not enhance America's image in the civilised world.
Freedom of expression
An executive order directs that new federal buildings must follow traditional, classical architecture. The state has no business policing speech, style, thought or fashion. This is Orwellian, and much to be feared. Will US citizens have their attire, food choices, purchases, decided by government fiat. Shame on Donald.
Pricing
An executive order states: Agencies must deliver emergency price relief. Lenin, and just about every other socialist leader, has issued a similar declaration. In a free market, which individualists favour, prices are not set by government fiat, but by market forces. This is a slippery slope to socialism.
Conclusion
Biden and the Democrats presided over a hellscape of insane laws for the past 4 years. Anything else would be better. Most of the executive orders are common sensible, and will improve the life of US citizens. But there are some serious flaws and anomalies which I allude to above. Like the decor in many of his hotels, his Golden Age may end up being a veneer.
Dan Mitchell
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