1. The discussion was about the US becoming the world's largest economy behind high tariff walls. That occurred in a different century than the 1930s. It is not credible that you failed to understand that. Please do not play dumb. It is rude and dishonest.
1b Your bigotry is not a supporting argument. Try to be less of a bigoted dick.
Guy, we don't live in the 19th century. But if we did, let's look at that.
1) The United States was't the largest economy, the British Empire was. A British Empire that traded all over the world.
2) The fact was, when you had freight being moved by wooden ships that took months to cross an ocean instead of weeks, it wasn't like they were moving all that much stuff around
3) Let us not forget, those high tariffs you think were so nifty in the 19th century was one of the main reason 11 States tried to seceed from the union. (You know, that war you dumb-ass crackers lost and are soooooo sad about until this very day.)
2. Nope. I understand that 270 billion is not a big number, is not a significant number, when thought of as a cost to a 16 trillion dollar economy. That was obviously my point, and it is not credible that you did not understand that. Stop playing stupid. It is rude and dishonest.
Bear Sterns was only worth 66.7 Billion, but it's collapse caused the Great Recession. So if a "not significant number" can trigger the biggest economic crisis in 80 years, then it can also be a drag on an economy, can it not?
For want of a nail, and all that.
3. A trade block that opens it's market to dozens of less competitive nations, while protecting their markets FOR Germany. That's some good trade policy on their part. And in my opinion, likely the big cause of their vastly higher level of manufacturing employment.
What helps Germany is that they make really good products. Products people associate with QUALITY. For all the reasons I said.
But I'd be happy if you want to make America more like Germany is today. I don't think you'd be happy living in a liberal social democracy with gun control, liberal immigration policies and socialized medicine, but I'd be totally good with that.
Oh, yeah, in Germany Nazis like Trump would be THROWN IN PRISON.