A number of different ideas seem to be converging on to one theme, autarky, and I am not too thrilled with that.
First, autarky is "the idea that a country should be self-sufficient and not take part in international trade." It might sound as if nobody is advocating for autarky. But, when you aggregate the following ideas that I have listed here as examples--not necessarily from the same interest groups--then the collage is nothing but a variation of an autarky:
The recent clamor for "energy independence" leading to "drill now"
Locavores insisting on consuming "locally"
Worries that outsourcing is a problem
Paranoia over illegal immigration
Propaganda to buy only "Made in America"
All these different concerns will be very happy with closing access to America. So, hey, we can make everyone equally happy or equally unhappy by adopting an autarkic policy, right? I tell you, American political discussions are far from reflective of the world's most powerful country.
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