If you’re graying like me, you may remember the word “triangulation” to describe Bill Clinton’s strategy for getting into the White House. Conceived by Dick Morris, it was a way to take Republican ground by championing deregulation, small government and other conservative positions, often at the expense of the progressive wing of the party. It worked, but is that all that matters? No, of course not-and we are still paying for Clinton’s neoliberal blunders now.
Looks like triangulation is back in style. Biden has decided to steal some of Trump’s thunder regarding economic toughness on China. King Baby will be his usual punchable self and accuse Biden of being a copycat, so it probably won’t score many political points with the majority of Republicans. The only other explanation for the sanctions is that we are earnestly protecting American business against the hyperproducing economic juggernaut and want the chance to compete.
So what sectors are we protecting? Glad you asked:
Under the new plans, Biden is directing Tai to increase Section 301 tariffs across a range of Chinese goods, including semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries and their components, critical minerals, solar cells, and ship-to-shore cranes. Chinese electric vehicles would see the steepest increase in penalties, moving from 25% tariffs to 100% this year, according to a White House fact sheet.
Absent in any of these trade restrictions is a regard for the planet, who is sick with a climbing fever. Seems we’d much rather engage in nationalist-based capital wars than just decide who better to bring us a more promising future. Humanity seems to be caught in a bind today where who makes the money and where is far more important than who brings us said future. The Chinese have a HUGE natural advantage in green tech-they’re living upon most of the minerals needed to make electric vehicle components and solar panels. They’re not afraid to heavily subsidize major projects. Their labor protection is legendarily awful, of course, but we don’t have a whole lot of room to talk. Through innovations like improving the Siemens process they are placing the electric-driven future within grasp.
And it simply cannot wait. But it would appear that America is going to dawdle, giving succor to our homegrown crybaby capitalists instead. The transformation of human life from the fossil fuel era to the mineral-based era (the feasibility of this long term is a another conversation because those resources are quite finite and extraction pollutes like a motherfucker) will have to wait while US companies wet their beaks and try to make maximum dollars off you and I to bring about a greener future. Ultimately, trade wars only screw the consumer. And screwing the consumer at this pivotal moment in our evolution should be a nonstarter. More than our pocketbook is on the line.
I say fuck it. Now is not the time for mistrust and typical games of monkeys-with-pens dominance. If the Chinese can do this better, just let them. Let’s import the cheap high tech. In bulk. That’ll spur some real competition if we actually believe that truly essential. Or locate some Chinese product manufacturing and assembling here. Ownership of the automotive industry is international in nature anyway. People around the world who still need heavy industrial machines, or want gas guzzling trucks, SUVs and luxury vehicles will keep the existing US auto industry humming. But there’s no way an American EV maker will or could shave 30,000 smackeroos off the usual sticker price. And solar panels are way out of range for most American consumers. Our government should just have a running contract with the Chinese until every US home has panels on it and every American car consumer has within their reach the ability to drive a clean one. I am certain we have many things to offer them in return for those great, revolutionary, and increasingly essential gifts.
The Illogical Seminary 