Wolfers: Stupid Trade Wars and Gangster Government

Political norms and institutional integrity are rapidly deteriorating as the current administration prioritizes raw power over established moral and legal standards. The ongoing trade war with Canada, characterized by arbitrary tariffs and the performative renaming of Lake Ontario, functions as an existential threat to sovereignty rather than a standard economic dispute. Similarly, the seizure of Venezuelan oil reflects a shift toward "gangster economics," where the United States abandons its role as a global force for good to pursue naked resource theft. Furthermore, the Census Bureau’s release of an indefensible report regarding non-citizen voting signals the co-opting of neutral statistical agencies for partisan propaganda. This erosion of truth-seeking institutions undermines the credibility of essential democratic functions, including congressional seat apportionment, and aligns the nation with the practices of authoritarian regimes.