From the Right
/Politics
Why We Shouldn't Expect a Return to the Trump Economy
While the gap may be closing, polls tend to show that more Americans trust former President Donald Trump than Vice President Kamala Harris on economic issues. This sentiment is understandable, given the strong pre-pandemic economy during Trump's first term and the challenges of inflation and declining real wages under the Biden-Harris ...Read more
The Real Relationship Between Trump-Style Tariffs and Economic Growth
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of the idea that protective tariffs can restore America's economic greatness, based on the interpretation that they fueled our growth in the 19th century and can do so again in the 21st century. This claim isn't just wrong; it's dangerous.
Take recent comments by the conservative pundit Oren Cass, ...Read more
Welcome Elon Musk's Efficiency Commission (Just Don't Expect Congress To)
During his campaign, former President Donald Trump has proposed his share of bad policy ideas, such as a 20% tariff across the board. But tasking Elon Musk with heading a commission to make the government more efficient is one worth considering. In a speech to the Economic Club of New York, Trump said this commission will conduct "a complete ...Read more
Welcome to the Permission-Slip Economy
Vice President Kamala Harris thinks U.S. Steel should not have the right to sell its business to Japan's Nippon Steel. Previously, some Republican senators thought they too should have the ability to kill the deal between private companies. And it doesn't stop there. During the pandemic, airlines had to get the government's permission to hand ...Read more
What to Make of Harris Campaign's Embrace of Freedom
Democrats are embracing freedom and love of country as their campaign message. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and announced that the difference between Republicans and Democrats is "freedom." Similarly, Vice President Kamala Harris insisted that Democrats "believe in freedom, opportunity...Read more
How Similar Are Harris and Trump's Economic Policies? Let's Take a Look.
As we approach another pivotal election, voters are once again being bombarded with messaging that paints the two main candidates as opposites. We're told Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump represent radically different visions for America's economic future. They don't. When it comes to economic policy, there's far ...Read more
The Tariff Paradox: Americans Love Free Trade More Than They Realize
In the ongoing debate over America's trade policy, politicians and pundits often claim that the public supports tariffs and other protectionist measures, such as those given to us by the Trump and Biden administrations. A new Cato Institute poll, however, reveals a more complex picture: Americans might like the idea of tariffs and "Buy ...Read more
Social Security Can't Afford Tax Cut to Benefits
Social Security is facing enormous shortfalls. It is insolvent. Within the next 10 years, no one will be able to avoid this reality -- despite decades of politically expedient denial. Yet as of today, both presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, have announced they won't touch the program. In ...Read more
J.D. Vance and the Bipartisan Itch to Tax Behavior
Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance has been in the news for an old clip of him talking about how the tax code should punish adults without kids. While Vance's proposal probably aims to address demographic concerns, it represents a misguided approach that contradicts fundamental principles of economic freedom and fairness.
And you...Read more
What a Real 'Pro-Worker' GOP Would Look Like
Members of the new right wing of the Republican Party have proclaimed themselves the champions of the working class. I am sure they mean it, despite many of them being among the elite of the elite. And because so many are lawyers -- including those like VP nominee J.D. Vance who come from elite Ivy League schools -- we can forgive them for ...Read more
How to Pay for Trump's Tax Cuts
While the GOP may not speak as loudly about our fiscal situation as it once did, this week's Republican convention offers a good chance to do so -- and to offer something positive. The situation is indeed dire. The national debt has reached staggering levels, and the next president will inherit a ticking time bomb of fiscal deadlines that ...Read more
Make America Affordable Again
The Republican National Committee just released its 2024 platform. While calling it a platform is a stretch, the list of bullet points gives an idea of what the potential next Trump administration's goals are. Here's one issue that should be front and center: End inflation and make America affordable again.
To be sure, "make America more ...Read more