The Deane’s List, September 22nd through 27th
I'm considering starting some kind of newsletter. What follows would be a list of major events, mainly concerning foreign policy, accompanied by brief commentary. This is still in the formative, development stage so please let me know if you would like to receive something like this in your mailbox every week, what you would like to see, and if you would consider paying one dollar for a subscription.
More problems than
Hong Kong…
One of the arguments about tariffs is that China has the
advantage. They are a dictatorship that doesn’t respond to an electorate like
Trump and American congressmen must. But there is growing evidence that Chinese
people are suffering. Since they don’t have to answer the electorate, they
often disregard safeguards that correct damaging policies.
For example, they have increased government spending so that
the Chinese housing bubble is much larger than the one that popped in America,
and the consequences will be dire. In regards to tariffs, the Chinese have
instituted rationing and price controls that harm small businesses. Pork
suppliers say that they lose as much as 28 dollars per pig sold, which will end
up hurting these businesses in the long run. Government policy and strong
authoritarian policies can cover up the damage their polices are doing, and
they seem like a difficult nut to crack in the tariff battle. But those
policies are masking serious discontent.
Climate Change and
Hunger Games
I once mentioned as a joke on social media that my favorite
character in the Hunger Games was Haymitch. He was a previous winner of the
Hunger Games for district 12. As a result, he was often drunk and forced to be
in close contact with the district 12 tributes like Katniss Everdeen, the
teenage hero of the series.
My joke was that if I had to listen to a whiny, screeching 15-year-old
girl who was so self-important she thought she could save the world, I would
probably drink my self into a stupor as well. So……we’re gonna need more booze.
When You Need the
Hawk
John Bolton disagreed with much of Trump’s approach to
foreign policy. Given Iran has bombed or facilitated a bombing it seems like
Bolton’s tough guy deterrence strategy should have been heeded. Given that we are
in a state of near constant crisis with Iran, it seems that somebody who knows how
to use the threat of war as leverage might be useful in the White House.
Saudi Arabia Missile
Defenses
American missile defenses have been criticized during the
recent attack. But blaming a single system like the Patriot Missiles ignores
the need for robust, inter layered defenses and a trained force that can
properly use those weapon systems. In fact, the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff came out
later to say that multi layered defenses were necessary.
Uncaring Trump
America?
CNN posted a new article that the US
has set a new historic low limit for refugees. The subtext made it seem like
the US can only be loving and compassionate if they accept the amount of
refugees that you deem necessary and of course that Trump is horrible and
anti-immigrant. But that doesn't consider the example America sets in helping
nations become free and prosperous, nor the many aid programs America has and
it’s a facile, down river complaint that doesn’t address the root causes of
refugees.
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