Tariffs
There's been a lot of talk about Tariffs recently. People are scared of what they might do, or not do to the United State's economy. People don't trust what they don't know. This fear leads to a lot of misdirection, lies, and elaborate media schemes designed to mislead the average Joe.
What the average Joe doesn't understand is that Americans are crucified by Tariffs by other countries every day, killing the country's ability to manufacture and export while importing cheap shit. The average Joe doesn't understand that Tariffs used to be a protection for the American worker, the American middle class, and those in need of healthcare.
Somewhere, sometime down the line, they sold the idea that taxation was better. That free trade was better. Of course it worked! Americans are full of a sense of "being fair." They don't like cheating. They don't like moving goal posts. The idea of "paying your fair share" and "playing by the rules" was easily sold to Americans. The idea of treating your trade partners fairly was too. Unfortunately, those partners didn't think the same way. While American virtue is a positive, a lot of people find it as a vulnerability.
The trick is to be virtuous, but vigilant. Tariffs are a tool to accomplish this.
Tariffs: The X essay
Some guy, perhaps a government/elite/deep state insider posted this on Twitter the other day. I have placed the text here to save it, re-read it, and showcase it for my own amusement.