“We can never be in a position where we depend on other countries for the steel and aluminum to make our ships, tanks, and aircraft.”
I agree in principle, but why not have a law that those “defense” industries be located in the US and use only American-produced steel and aluminum — and parts made therefrom, — while allowing both the contents and prices of consumer products to be determined by the international “free market”? The US could then subsidize such production without either punishing consumers (with tariff-caused higher prices) or violating international trade agreements (since the subsidies would not be used to undercut international consumer prices).
But while I agree in principle, I really don’t see that those ships, tanks, and (military) aircraft would be of much use if the US were to be the target of a serious attack. Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, Taleban, ISIS, or whoever… none of them would be foolish enough to attempt a “conventional” war of conquest against the US. Aside from the simple matter of size (how well has anyone — Britain, Russia, the US — done in subduing Afghanistan?), how would they transport across the ocean the necessary equipment and manpower, much less safely land it? No, if anyone wanted to launch a serious attack, it would be with missiles, missiles with nuclear warheads, which wouldn’t even notice the existence of ships, tanks, and aircraft.
Of course, if the real purpose of the “conventional” vehicles and weapons isn’t to physically defend against an attack on US soil, then a different analysis will be needed.
One final point, though: Why aluminum? The US is not a major producer of aluminum itself (9th worldwide in 2016), but mainly of products made from aluminum. Little Iceland produces almost as much aluminum as the US, Canada nearly four times as much, and China more than 35 times as much. When it comes to bauxite production, the US doesn’t even make the top 14, and Australia beats China for #1.
braindead Premium Member about 6 years ago
YOUR GUY, Ramirez!
You knew he was a snake.
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Sabotage of health care, tax cuts for the rich, destruction of national treasures for oil drilling, are perfectly ok, right?
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And we all still believe that Saddam had nucular weapons, right?
Zev about 6 years ago
I think of Trump as more Dionysius than Damocles.
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 6 years ago
Made in the US of A with imported steel and undocumented labor..
DrDon1 about 6 years ago
^ US taxpayers are still stuck with the bill!
Dtroutma about 6 years ago
Ides of March, but we’ve go a BS Senate, no guts on the right side of the room.
gammaguy about 6 years ago
“We can never be in a position where we depend on other countries for the steel and aluminum to make our ships, tanks, and aircraft.”
I agree in principle, but why not have a law that those “defense” industries be located in the US and use only American-produced steel and aluminum — and parts made therefrom, — while allowing both the contents and prices of consumer products to be determined by the international “free market”? The US could then subsidize such production without either punishing consumers (with tariff-caused higher prices) or violating international trade agreements (since the subsidies would not be used to undercut international consumer prices).
But while I agree in principle, I really don’t see that those ships, tanks, and (military) aircraft would be of much use if the US were to be the target of a serious attack. Russians, Chinese, North Koreans, Taleban, ISIS, or whoever… none of them would be foolish enough to attempt a “conventional” war of conquest against the US. Aside from the simple matter of size (how well has anyone — Britain, Russia, the US — done in subduing Afghanistan?), how would they transport across the ocean the necessary equipment and manpower, much less safely land it? No, if anyone wanted to launch a serious attack, it would be with missiles, missiles with nuclear warheads, which wouldn’t even notice the existence of ships, tanks, and aircraft.
Of course, if the real purpose of the “conventional” vehicles and weapons isn’t to physically defend against an attack on US soil, then a different analysis will be needed.
One final point, though: Why aluminum? The US is not a major producer of aluminum itself (9th worldwide in 2016), but mainly of products made from aluminum. Little Iceland produces almost as much aluminum as the US, Canada nearly four times as much, and China more than 35 times as much. When it comes to bauxite production, the US doesn’t even make the top 14, and Australia beats China for #1.