Pardon the Interruption
I admit, I’m feeling uneasy about President Trump’s recent announcement on sweeping tariffs, especially those aimed at long-standing trade partners. As someone who grew up on the Thomas L. Friedman school of thought, I was taught that globalization fuels prosperity—by encouraging trade, accelerating technology, and connecting economies. For the past 30 to 40 years, that seemed to hold true.
Take the computer chip, for example. I started out on DOS back in the '80s, all text and no flair. Then came Windows 95, and suddenly, I could play video games with actual graphics -- remember DOOM. Now? We carry more computing power in our pockets than NASA had for the moon landing. That kind of innovation wasn’t born in a vacuum—it was built through decades of global collaboration.
So when tariffs are introduced with little warning, I can’t help but feel concerned. We’ve seen what happens when prices spike. Groceries became a major campaign issue during the last election. One could argue that those high prices helped Trump secure a strong showing.
Now, his supporters are calling this “short-term pain” for “long-term gain.” But I can’t help but wonder—gain for whom? As someone solidly in the middle class, I’m skeptical this will end with me having more in my wallet. The markets aren’t exactly inspired either, reacting sharply to talk of “Liberation Day.”
What’s the long game here? Will innovation slow? Will small businesses get priced out? These are the kinds of questions that keep me—and many others—up at night. And while I’m not panicking, I am paying close attention.
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