On Donald Trump's Principles

Graham Dugas emails:

Several times during the debate it was said that Trump seems to lack a governing principle. I used to think this but I have discovered that he does indeed have a governing principle. He is cheap and doesn't like to waste money. Getting Japan, Germany, South Korea to pay for US military costs incurred or to get out is but one example. War is another. He wants to know that it won't be open ended costwise. Selling Federal assets to settle the debt is another example. During one debate they asked him about North Korea and he said "that is China's neighborhood, let them take care of it because they have more at stake". Agreeing that Putin should bomb ISIS is another. The common denominator in all this is that he is always looking at the cost.

And he is well traveled which cannot but have a positive effect. He sees first hand how the Emirates, the Pacific rim countries Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong etc all have great modern cities with modern infrastructure, great architecture and everything is in good working order. The Real Estate developer in him asks why can't we have that? Because we are wasting money of warfare AND welfare is clear to anyone with a brain and whatever else you may think of Trump, he is no dummy. It is also why he is anti-PC. The environmentalists only add red tape and don't make things any cleaner than an owner/developer who has skin in the game. They are unreasonable and just get in the way increasing costs. The same with his shifting views on insurance. His instinct tells him to create more competition, eliminate boundaries between the States etc. He knows this, again from a business perspective. He deals with the mandatory "Workman's Comp" cartel/scam every day. He knows that it is nothing but a waste of money.

Cost is also why he gravitates towards protectionism. He thinks we are getting a bad deal. He sees trade deficits as bad. But he does have a hedge on that position in that he said you only have to use it once or twice, sometimes you only have to threaten to use it, and you will bring your adversary to the negotiating table in a more agreeable frame of mind because he knows no one wins a trade war.

So, I humbly suggest that his governing principle is COST. (but he does appreciate excellence and quality so he isn't locked in to the "penny wise pound foolish" mindset of going with the lowest bidder)

Thoughts?

Walter Block responded:

Dear Graham:

You make a very good point. Would you like to join lft?

Block, Walter E. 2016.  “Libertarians for Trump.” March 15;https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/walter-e-block/libertarians-trump/

Roger Stone on LFT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXVBxddJZo

Miller, Donald W, Jr. 2016. “Trump: Our Only Hope for Escaping World War III.” March 9; https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/donald-w-miller-jr-md/hope-escaping-nuclear-war/

Block, Walter E. 2016.  “Libertarians for Trump, Revisited.” March 29;https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/03/walter-e-block/whats-libertarians-trump/

Best regards,

Walter

 RW response:

Trump subscribes to what Ludwig von Mises called the "Fuhrer principle."  That is that a great leader can direct an economy and country. His "cost" principle is a subset of his great leader view

Also see: Block-Wenzel Debate on "Libertarians for Trump" 

UPDATE:

Walter responds:

Dear Bob:

True, all too true. But, I’d rather have a non interventionist “fuhrer” than a war mongering imperialistic neo-con like you choice, Kasich.

Best regards,

Walter

  RW response:

Are you going to guarantee me that there would be a difference between the two and that Trump wouldn't be worse on domestic oppression?

UPDATE 2

Walter responds:

 There are no guarantees in life. Neither in econ or politics. We necessarily make choices in the face of uncertainty. We can only base decisions on what we know, have evidence for, apart from pure logic (e.g, we know that a min wage will create unemployment for unskilled workers.) We can only judge Kasich, your choice, and Trump, mine, on the basis of what they’ve said and done. The former is a war monger; the latter isn’t clearly one.

   RW response:

I don't deny that Kasich is a warmonger. But Trump is the one who has called for US troops on the ground in the Middle East to fight ISIS. He is the one that has suggested that it might be a good idea for South Korea and Japan to have nuclear weapons. He has also stated that there is a justifiable reason for US troops in Afghanistan. 

He is calling for a REFORMULATION of NATO. 

Although NATO is a horrific idea, to reformulate NATO into an organization that "fights terrorists" implies a massive multi-national surveillance state that includes the US and other NATO Members. It is a real life George Orwell Big Brother on global steroids.
Further, Kasich is so boring that, as I have pointed out before. he couldn't get a wave started at a baseball park. 

Trump has rabid followers, that is always dangerous when the one they are following subscribes to the Fuhrer principle.

Walter responds:

 Dear Bob:

I’ll let you have the last (substantive) word on this. We’ll have to agree to disagree.

Best regards,

Walter