Sheldon Richman on Trump's "America First" agenda

America is an abstraction, which means different things to different people. In one sense, it's a country but not a single organism.  It's an association of individuals who have different interests built on their fundamental interest in peace and freedom.  Government tampering with freedom always favors some over others.  One person's subsidy is another person's burden.  Which one represents the real America?  Steel tariffs help steel producers (in the short term) but harm steel users, who far outnumber the producers.  This is an old story.  Does it have to be pointed out?

So, what is America First?  It's putty in the hands of a demagogue.

"American interests" are interests as seen by the people who run the government, that is, America's rulers.  They are a filter, an interpretation by interested parties.  This affords abundant opportunities to pursue narrow and even personal agendas. Rulers need not have any common interest with regular people.  They need votes, however, so rulers will strike the required poses, especially in election season. 

America First is about power and devotion to the ruler, without whom we cannot prosper.  You know the song and dance.

~ Sheldon Richman, "TGIF: Individuals, Not America First," Free Association, May 16, 2025