The Patriot Post Digest 3-9-2018

[nChrist]

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-9-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest
Mar. 9, 2018 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/54656-mid-day-digest

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Trump’s strategic tariffs come with important carveouts.
Those tariffs might have also prompted North Korea’s invite to talk.
Foreign aid often hurts more than it helps the poor.
The elimination of higher education draws nigh?
More on the failure of a Florida deputy, while responding SWAT members are punished.
South Africa descends into reverse Apartheid.
Some women are more equal than others.
A CNN reporter gets a hilarious lesson shooting an AR-15.
Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with powers so disposed; in order to give trade a stable course.” —George Washington (1796)

IN BRIEF

Man of Steel Tariffs1

By Nate Jackson

President Donald Trump announced his 25% steel and 10% aluminum tariffs Thursday, a week after floating the idea. They’ll take effect in two weeks. Perhaps most importantly on the actual policy, Trump carved out exemptions for Canada and Mexico while NAFTA negotiations continue — just as we speculated2 he would. Trump also indicated there would be possible exemptions for other nations if reciprocal trade concessions are made.

The economics of his tariffs, as we argued3 last week, are a mixed bag. While obviously the steel and aluminum industries will benefit — indeed, companies are already announcing expansion and jobs4 — industries dependent on steel and aluminum will suffer, jobs will be lost and many products will become more expensive.

But those aren’t Trump’s only considerations. During his televised signing ceremony, he declared, “Today I’m defending America’s national security by placing tariffs on foreign imports of steel and aluminum.” Aside from any real national security concerns, there are two reasons for his focus. First, in order to act without Congress, he must justify it on national security grounds. Were the tariffs only for economic reasons, he’d be stuck waiting. Second, the same justification avoids World Trade Organization sanctions.

From a strategic perspective, Trump’s tariffs are 90% “art of the deal” and 10% bluster — a shot over the bow of NAFTA nations as well as China (see North Korea5 for why that’s true). Trump is a dealmaker first and foremost, and he arguably knows more about business than any previous president in history — and most definitely more than many of the talkingheads churning the news-cycle rant loop about tariffs. He’s using that knowledge for the purposes of foreign policy.

As for all the Republican blowback, it’s largely about necessary political cover in an election year. The targeted tariffs play well with Trump’s America First blue-collar base across the nation (formerly the Democrats’ base), and particularly in a few hard-hit industrial states.

Unfortunately, as we noted Wednesday, EU officials have shrewdly targeted Harley Davidson, based in House Speaker Paul Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin, bourbon made in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, and orange juice from Florida, the perennial swing state. That punishes Trump’s allies and voters.

At the same time, the U.S. economy is an enormous chunk of the world economy and most of our trade partner beneficiaries will tread carefully in terms of retaliation. On balance, we’d say tariffs are a net drag on the economy, as the vehement opposition signifies, but Trump has an uncanny way of turning this kind of chaos to his advantage.

China Extends NoKo Nuke Olive Branch5

By Thomas Gallatin

President Donald Trump on Thursday accepted an invitation to meet with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, an invitation that was relayed to the U.S. by South Korean officials who had recently met with the North. It’s important to note here that thus far the North Korean regime has not publicly or officially requested a meeting with Trump. That said, there is no reason to doubt Kim’s desire to have a face-to-face meeting with the president, as it would serve to validate his leadership status on the world scene. On the possibility of a diplomatic solution, Trump struck a positive yet realistic note, tweeting, “Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization6 with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”

There has been quite a bit of Leftmedia consternation over the implications of Trump’s acceptance. Many have questioned if Trump fully appreciates the dangers. U.S. policy has long resisted offering any validation to the rogue regime — validation it could then leverage geopolitically. As has been repeatedly noted by the MSM, this face-to-face meeting would be a first for a sitting U.S. president.

However, what has been missed by much of the MSM coverage is the region’s biggest player, China. The Kim regime’s long-running control of North Korea could not have existed without significant support from the communists in Beijing. In fact, North Korea is a puppet of the Chinese7.

It is interesting to note that the day Trump announced his plan for tariffs on steel1, North Korean officials reached out to officials in the South requesting a meeting. Undoubtedly, Kim has felt the sting of Trump’s economic sanctions, but more than Kim, it is the Chinese who have the most to lose economically, especially if war were to break out on the Korean peninsula. Trump’s announcement of a tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum may have finally been the straw that broke the camel’s back. If China is willing to truly end the nuclear threat posed by its North Korean puppet, then maybe it can get concessions from Trump on tariffs.

The fact of the matter is that the U.S. is China’s largest single trade partner and second largest regional partner behind only the European Union, accounting for over $521 billion in trade annually. Meanwhile, the North Korean economy is almost entirely dependent on China, which accounts for over 90% of its imports and over 85% of its exports. Quite literally, China is North Korea’s lifeline. Thus, as we have noted previously, China is the key to effectively dealing with North Korea.

[nChrist]

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-9-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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Trump has indicated that he has no plans to withdraw any sanctions until there are actual results, and talks don’t equate to results. Rep. Edward Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee argued for a cautious approach, saying, “We can pursue more diplomacy as we keep applying pressure ounce by ounce.” He added, “Remember, North Korean regimes have repeatedly used talks and empty promises to extract concessions and buy time. North Korea uses this to advance its nuclear and missile programs. We’ve got to break this cycle.”

Kevin Martin, president of Peace Action, said, “North Korea is putting virtually all topics of concerns on the table. Trump now has the opportunity to achieve what no president has been able to achieve in seven decades of U.S.-North Korea relations: make real strides towards lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Is it North Korea or is it China that is putting denuclearization on the table? Either way, it is sincerely hoped that a nuclear North Korea comes to an end.

Top Headlines8

February jobs report: 313,000 created vs. 200,000 expected (CNBC9)

Trump orders stiff trade tariffs, but will exempt Canada and Mexico during NAFTA talks (Associated Press10)

Trump accepts invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (The Washington Post11)

Why no investigation into FBI, Justice Department collusion with Democrats to spy on Trump? Turns out, there is one (Investor’s Business Daily12)

TV vs. Trump in 2018: Lots of Russia, and 91% negative coverage (again!) (NewsBusters13)

Twitter refuses to revoke Louis Farrakhan’s14 blue checkmark despite numerous anti-Semitic tweets (National Review15)

Industry leaders defend violent video games in meeting with Trump (The Daily Signal16)

Disgraced Parkland deputy heard shots inside school building, told cops to stay away (The Miami Herald17)

In this American town, guns are required by law — one murder and violent crime under 2% (CNN18.)

Humor: VA Secretary forgets to fire himself after promising to rid agency of corruption (Duffel Blog19)

Policy: More bailouts will only paper over ObamaCare’s many failures (The Daily Signal20)

Policy: Congress should reassert its constitutional authority on trade (The Daily Signal21)

For more of today’s news, visit Patriot Headline Report22.

FEATURED ANALYSIS
Foreign Aid Often Hurts More Than Helps23

By Brian Mark Weber

There’s an old saying that charity begins at home. While the spirit of the phrase is controversial in our hyper-political climate, the fact is that sending federal aid overseas is more of a feel-good solution than a long-term way of reducing poverty or increasing the ability of people to become more self-reliant and prosperous.

For decades, the United States has sent aid to countries around the world with the noble intention of helping those unable to access the basic necessities of life such as medicine, running water and shelter. But some Third World countries never break the cycle of poverty, and this often has more to do with their corrupt political leaders than a lack of work ethic, resources or a desire to improve. When these corrupt regimes are flush with American cash, it’s no wonder that so many poor nations fail to prosper.

The best way for people to escape poverty is to implement a free-market economy, support individual freedom and business expansion and fight political corruption. The reason tyrannical and corrupt regimes don’t follow this advice is self-evident.

The data show that free nations are more prosperous than those whose political systems aim for equality at all costs. The Heritage Foundation’s 2018 Index of Economic Freedom24 ranks 180 nations based on their level of economic freedom and the corresponding level of poverty. Some economic studies send mixed messages, but not this one. The numbers are irrefutable: As economic freedom increases, poverty decreases.

As Patrick Tyrrell writes25 at The Daily Signal, “This finding should not be overlooked when organizations like the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank plan aid for developing countries. Such aid too often ignores economic freedom violations by despots, dictators, and autocrats.”

There seems to be little thought given to where the aid goes when it leaves places like the IMF or World Bank, or how the money is spent if it actually makes it past an entrenched autocracy. But should we expect anything different from organizations that habitually overlook corruption in countries receiving aid?

Tyrrell adds, “Strongmen who disregard property rights or the rule of law to remain in power have been rewarded with billions of dollars in foreign aid from rich countries for decades. Despots and dictators have often used this aid to solidify their grips on power, such as by withholding food aid from groups that do not support them.”

So that’s why decades of American and international aid hasn’t even made a dent in the problem.

Not surprisingly, the political Left is often the driving force behind these global relief programs, and government aid isn’t the only problem. More often than not, so-called progressive aid organizations are plagued by malfeasance while the people in need to continue to suffer. We only need to look at what the Clinton Global Initiative did with contributions from wealthy, progressive donors. Remember the millions that were sent the Clintons’ way in order to help the Haitian people recover from the 2010 earthquake? Haiti still hasn’t recovered, yet the Clintons have rolled in cash.

Another segment of our society pushing for more global assistance is progressive Christians, who use their faith as justification for pouring billions of dollars of government aid into poverty-stricken countries. Once a donation drops into the collection basket, the assumption is that a hungry mouth will be fed and medicines will be delivered.

Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

This sounds reasonable considering that Americans are the most generous people in the world26. “Americans out-donate Britain and Canada two-to-one and nations like Italy and Germany 20-to-one,” The Almanac of American Philanthropy reported in 2016. “What’s more, more than half of every single income class except those earning less than $25,000, give to charity. The much maligned top 1% in the U.S. economy fork over one-third of all donations made.”

The problem with sending money overseas is that it doesn’t get to the needy, and it therefore has a minimal impact on people’s long-term living conditions. Princeton University economist Angus Deaton, who worked for decades at the World Bank, asserts27 that rich do-gooders may be exacerbating the problem of corruption in the Third World, given that there’s been so little to show for $135 billion in global aid.

[nChrist]

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-9-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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What Deaton and other economists discovered was that countries receiving aid actually found their economic situation growing worse because the relationship between the governments and their people changed. This makes sense. A country is less likely to be accountable to its people if the government can rely on a steady stream of international aid.

The U.S. should lead the way toward reform. This includes ensuring that nations receiving aid are working toward implementing policies that expand the economic and political rights of their people, and working directly with aid organizations rather than funneling money through politicians and despots.

We can also apply these standards to our own cities, by promoting entrepreneurship and supporting business-friendly policies that help the downtrodden build independence and wealth. Like Third World despots, Democrat mayors across the country have largely squandered hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars since the “Great Society28.”

Only when we battle poverty at its root cause will we break the cycle of political corruption and poverty.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

The Elimination of Higher Education31 — “You’re going to see, over the next five years, a real increase in the number of schools in serious trouble.”
A Florida Deputy Failed; Responding SWAT Members Punished32 — While the on-campus deputy waited and waved off help, two officers were suspended for acting without permission.
South Africa Descends Into Reverse Apartheid33 — Parliament votes to confiscate land from white farmers without compensation all in the name of “social justice.”
When Will Nicolle Stand Up for Dana?34 — Nicolle Wallace makes a good living defending women from misogyny. Except when the woman is conservative.
Video: CNN’s Scoop on ‘Full Semiautomatic’ Guns35 — CNN’s Gary Tuchman goes to a shooting range to take an up-close look at an AR-15-style rifle.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Rich Lowry: China Trade Has Been a Bust36
David Harsanyi: If You’re Trying to Ban Guns, the Least You Could Do Is Learn the Basics37
James Shott: We Need Some of the Things From ‘The Good Old Days’ Back Again38
Gary Bauer: America’s Leading Anti-Semite39
Marc A. Thiessen: Babies With Down Syndrome Have a Right to Life40
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion41.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Rich Lowry: “President Donald Trump’s prospective tariffs on steel and aluminum have put renewed focus on China trade, although the tariffs are a comically inept misfire if their true target is China. … A better approach begins with acknowledging that China is a unique problem. For all of Trump’s complaints, Mexico isn’t pursuing a well-honed strategic agenda of exploiting the global trade system at the same time it undertakes an aggressive neoimperialist foreign policy. Only China is doing that. China isn’t the first developing country to adopt a policy of maximizing exports. What makes it different is its sheer ambition and its size, which gives it leverage over foreign companies and considerable international influence. … By no means should we emulate China. We should continue to pursue free trade as a policy, not as a theology that prevents us from acknowledging that there is such a thing as unfair trade. … Trump can have emotionally satisfying tariffs to scratch his protectionist itch, or he can have a strategy to muster an alliance of truly free-trade partners to pressure China. He can’t have both — and you can be sure China knows which option it prefers.”

SHORT CUTS

Warning signs: “[Trump’s] tariff proposals spooked the stock market. This surprised no one who knows history. In 1930, the stock market was recovering nicely from the 1929 crash until President Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The stock market plunged, a trade war erupted, and the country slid into the Great Depression. At a minimum, implementing Trump’s tariffs could slow our economy; at worst, with retaliation from abroad, the tariffs could negate all the economic gains that Trump’s other policies have generated.” —Mark W. Hendrickson

Good question: “Tariffs may be good politics, but they are bad economics. Obama majored in political science. But Trump has a BS degree in economics from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. What’s his excuse?” —Larry Elder

For the record: “If North Korea were applying for a loan, no bank would lend it a dime because of its deplorable credit rating, yet the West, which often appears to bank more on hope than reality, continues to dole out food and other aid hoping good intentions change Pyongyang’s behavior.” —Cal Thomas

Alpha Jackass: “The FBI has been the worst enemy of Black advancement. The Jews have control over those agencies of government.” —Louis Farrakhan, Democrat mascot14 (“It’s really not difficult at all to condemn this anti-Semitic, nonsensical bilge. Unless of course you (a) agree with it or (b) don’t want to alienate those who do.” —Jake Tapper)

Braying Jenny: “Certainly, we love when people get a bonus, and if they get a raise, but if it is so small in comparison — if the choice was made for corporate America and the top 1% in our society, at the expense of working families, something is wrong with this picture.” —Nancy Pelosi

So the future is lawlessness? “This administration and Jeff Sessions in particular have clearly put a target on the back42 of California and California’s going to fight. And I think that these folks are really mired in rolling back the clock in time and that’s not going to happen. California represents the future.” –Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)

And last… “Ambiguity is difficult for politicians to regulate, alas, so guns have proven the easier target.” —J.J. McCullough

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher