Tariffs with China, now tariffs against Mexico?

CNBC recaps the big tariff story. "The U.S. will impose a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports from June 10 — and duties of up to 25% will be added in the coming months if Mexico does not take action to “reduce or eliminate the number of illegal aliens” crossing into the U.S., the White House said Thursday."

This can't be what the founding fathers had in mind, can it?

Well, maybe.

Here's a quote from 222 years ago -  “War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice.” —Thomas Jefferson (1797)

I guess it starts with how you define "Justice".  Having fair and open markets, honoring intellectual property rights, do those kind of things seem "Just" to you?

How about not allowing for neighbors to take advantage of us by promoting mass illegal immigration?  How about holding responsible parties accountable?  Do those ideas seem "Just"?

Jefferson said our "properly managed" use of commerce can be used to "oblige the interested nations ...(of Europe)... to treat us with justice.”

Commercial war not military war seems a better option, that is if you believe justice is a good and necessary pursuit.  However, If you are prepared to operate a nation without justice, then I guess you are comfortable with massive trade imbalances, mass illegal migration and becoming an international patsy and punching bag.  Not all Americans are OK with that.

We need to do some nonpartisan math and calculate which costs us more - Tariffs or illegal immigration?

Once again we find ourselves in the swamp and out of the norm in Presidential behavior, but If congress won't act, Donald Trump is more than willing to take actions outside the swamp box to make America great -and treated Justly- again.

More From News Talk KIT