Critics are ‘missing the point’ of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum

The problem with the opinion expressed in the article “Look out! Canadians are coming and threat is serious, just ask Trump” (June 16) is that the author – and virtually all of the media – ignore the underlying rationale for the steel and aluminum tariffs.

The author makes light of the national security concern posed by Canada, as if we are afraid the Canadian army is a threat to march across the border. Ridiculous, for sure. But that is not the point of the tariffs.

Surely, no one would dispute that a healthy and vibrant steel and aluminum industry is vital to our national defense. Perhaps when wars are fought entirely with cyber weapons rather than airplanes, tanks and guns, steel and aluminum may not be vital to the country’s national defense. But clearly, that scenario is not just around the corner.

In the event of war, the U.S. needs to be able to look to its indigenous steel and aluminum industries to manufacture the necessary armaments to defend the country. I would think it irresponsible in the extreme to allow our steel and aluminum industries to wither - “not to worry, we can rely on the Canadians to make steel and aluminum vital for our defense.”

I am not suggesting that imposing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum is the best means of protecting our own industries, but to denigrate Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum is to miss the point entirely. This is not the only article taking this approach. That worries me more than the tariffs themselves.

‘True motive’

The letter to the editor “‘One too many’” (June 17) says that “even one fraudulent vote is one too many.” I ask: How many disenfranchised legitimate voters is too many? One? Ten?

We’ve all seen stories where an elderly lady is denied an ID because she doesn’t have her marriage license, or a DMV employee incorrectly denies a request. Usually these stories end well – the DMV quickly scrambles to quell the bad publicity, apologizes and promises it won’t happen again.

But we only hear about it when the person denied has a knowledgeable person standing up for them to publicly shame the authorities into correcting the problem. What about people who don’t have such a person and can’t do it themselves? Where’s the data on how many people are turned away from the DMV? Unsurprisingly, the Republicans don’t look for that data.

When the NCGA passes a voter ID law that includes not only “free” IDs, but free transportation to the DMV and any other agencies that are necessary to get the appropriate paperwork, and pays the fees for that paperwork, only then I will believe that they truly care about voter integrity and not about blowing a dog whistle to cover their true motive.

‘Heartsick’

Regarding “Conway: ‘Nobody likes’ migrant family separation policy” (June 18): President Trump is lying when he says it is the Democrats who wrote the laws separating children from parents. There is no such law. It’s his administration’s policy. He can just say stop. Meanwhile Attorney General Sessions is touting this policy.

This makes no sense when the president is blaming the Democrats for something they never wrote to begin with. What is wrong with this country that even this is ignored? We are assaulted with lies but now it is affecting innocent children and families who are just trying to stay safe.

What ever happened to “Bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free?” This is on our Statue of Liberty. I am heartsick from this turn of events.

Social Security Solutions

Reading “Congress must face cuts in Medicare, Social Security” (June 16) on the expected shortfalls in the Social Security system, I was struck by a simple idea to extend its viability.

While the majority of recipient benefits are taxed after a relatively minor amount of personal income, my guess is that these taxes, which are likely significant in total, are not retained within the Social Security system.

Create a one liner on the 1040 that identifies the amount, and apportions it appropriately within the Social Security System. In this manner, the legislators whom are too scared to tackle the issue, can buy some more time.

This story was originally published June 23, 2018 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Critics are ‘missing the point’ of tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum."