March 7, 2019: Back To Oz, Cowardly Lion, Paper Tiger

“Somehow, our Caesar Disgustus always takes us back to Oz”

                             ---from The Quotations of Chairman Joe”

It's unavoidably pertinent. However one construes it, from whatever avenue one approaches it, when one confronts tRUMPworld a collage of images evoking a return to Oz dance in one's head. The wizard with his false and overblown facade, a mere manipulation of a common carnival barker. The flying monkeys doing the bidding of evil. The dark tower walled off from civilization. And, of course, the Tin Man with no heart, the straw man with no brain, and the lion with no courage.

The lion has made his appearances in this drama, most recently in the meetings with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jung-Un, where obsequious behavior became manifest embarrassment to our allies and humiliation to our nation. But it doesn't end with his fawning over every tin-horn dictator on the planet. Take his trade negotiations.

“According to multiple news organizations,” observes economist Paul Krugman, “ the U.S. and China are close to a deal that would effectively end trade hostilities. Under the reported deal, America would remove most of the tariffs it imposed last year. China, for its part, would end its retaliatory tariffs, make some changes to its investment and competition policies and direct state enterprises to buy specified amounts of U.S. agricultural and energy products.

“The Trump administration will, of course, trumpet the deal as a triumph. In reality,” concludes Krugman,.. “its much to do about nothing.” (1)

The “deal,” Krugman points out, doesn't begin to address the systematic Chinese theft of intellectual property, nor does it do much to stop the hemorrhage of dollars flowing out of the U.S. due to the trade imbalance.

“If this is the story, it will repeat what we saw on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump announced was the 'worst trade deal ever made.' In the end, what Trump negotiated...was very similar to the previous status quo. Trade experts I Know,” writes Krugman, “when not referring to it as the Village People agreement, call it 'Nafta 0.8': fundamentally the same as Nafta, but a bit worse.”(2)

So as the new deal is concluded and we likely end up with a warmed over status quo, what is the impact? According to Krugman, our intrepid Caesar has made a hash of it. Disgustus' unfailing belligerence has done lasting damage. It is Krugman's judgment that:

“The whole world now knows two things about us. First, we're not reliable—an agreement with the U.S. is really just a suggestion, because you never know when the president will invent some excuse for breaking it.” This is a lesson driven home by the scuttling of the Iran nuclear accords, despite all parties—including tRUMP's own government—reporting that Iran is in full compliance. The same can be said with his unilateral announcement that the U.S. is pulling out of Syria, although he has once again, it was reported recently, changed his mind yet again. None of this waffling is lost on the world. “Second,” continues Krugman, “we're easily rolled: the president may talk tough on trade, but in classic bully fashion, he runs away if confronted”. (3) Just like the Cowardly Lion.

Citing the specious trade dispute tRUMP has had with Canada—our most reliable and stalwart ally—Krugman makes the point that America can't be trusted. What do you make of a nation that would do that it it's best friend?

“Meanwhile,” continues Krugman, “the sudden retreat in the confrontation with China shows that we talk loud but carry a small stick. It would be one thing if the U.S. had changed course on the merits. But backing down so easily, after all the posturing, tells the world that the way to deal with America is not to bargain in good faith, but simply to threaten the president's political base, and maybe offer some payoffs, political and otherwise.” (4)

Finally, Krugman notes that the administration, by blocking appointments to the appellate body enforcing WTO trade rulings, is undermining the World Trade Organization which enforces compliance. This threatens to render moot a recent ruling in our favor over Chinese agricultural subsidies.

Every day, in every way, our Cowardly Lion is about the business of transforming the United States into a paper tiger. You don't come to a knife fight carrying a little stick.

“An Br'er Putin, he jus' laugh and laugh”

Impeach and Imprison

_______________

1. Klugman, Paul. “America the Cowardly Bully” The New York Times. Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Page A26.
2. Ibid
3. Ibid
4. Ibid