Reply #25: Indeed trade works when there is a "socialist" backbone in a society.

[pampango]

The US used to have just such a "backbone" with strong unions, progressive taxation, etc. Europe still has such a "backbone" and the health of their society reflects that.

The progressives in Europe that successfully fought for that "backbone" also fought to eliminate tariffs and immigration controls to an extent Americans can only wonder about. Tariffs don't make for a healthy society; a "backbone" does. Pursuing tariffs because it is "easier" to go after foreigners (particularly poor ones) than to battle our own elites to recreate our own societal "backbone" doesn't make it right or even the right direction to head in given Europe's experience.