The Economic Nationalist

From the preceding article, below:

Until World War II, we Americans used to think strategically on trade. We knew of the free trader’s theory of comparative economic advantage but did not worry much about it, because our goal was not to achieve the lowest possible prices or even to maximize global output but rather to build the most powerful industrial capacity the world had ever seen, whose workers enjoyed the world’s highest standard of living, in a republic more self-sufficient, more secure, than any republic in history. As Pat Buchanan observes, it was not who ate the apples that mattered to us then; it was who owned the orchard. We wanted the orchard, and we got it, and the result was the American superpower of the twentieth century.

The American nation seems to begin to stir from her long paralysis regarding ethnicity, culture, race and immigration. If candid, American traditionalists will admit that the odds run against them—that the stirring comes late and remains weak—but much cause for hope with courage persists.

(more…)

It seems that I was wrong. I shall probably have to vote against Mitt Romney, after all. To see why, visit Mr. Romney’s campaign website and watch his recent TV spot, “Searched.”

(more…)

[The blog pretends to remain on hiatus.]

One forgets. The Republican party has not had such a chaotic approach to its presidential nomination, with no candidate the clear leader, since 1979-80. My goodness, but how many of the various candidates’ supporters are at one another’s throats.

Mike Huckabee is a socialist? Mitt Romney is a liar? Fred Thompson is lazy? Ron Paul is nuts? John McCain is unpatriotic? It all seems rather hyperbolic, to say the least.

(more…)

[Oliver Woods’ recent dissent here is such a model of civility and reason that it seems to me that it deserves to head its own article. Let me yield the floor to Oliver, whose words follow. One doubts that many of this blog’s readers would repay Oliver’s chivalry with abuse, for he does us the amicable courtesy of open disagreement, in the broad light of day, and on this blog’s very doorstep, no less. Let us remember how to treat a guest. —HJH]

Hi Howard,

You have a very intriguing and interesting blog. I’m a New Zealander myself (living in New Zealand), and I’d call myself an economic nationalist.

However what I don’t really understand is what I perceive to be your hostility toward other races, or at least immigration. I’m not saying this in a way of attacking you, as I may be misunderstanding your views after only reading several of your post (please correct me if I’m wrong I am!), but I am more saying it out of sadness as I think that there are many people like recent Muslim or Chinese migrants to the United States who would wholeheartedly agree with the thrust of your economic and social opinions, but would be isolated by views that seemingly endorse, or at least have a neutral stance, on racism.

(more…)

[The blog remains on hiatus, but here is at least one not particularly brilliant post to fill the meantime. For new visitors, more interesting articles are found below.]

Daniel Larison recently wrote, “If you aren’t a fan of democracy (and I’m definitely not) …,” in an aside within an article on another topic. Maybe Mr. Larison was thinking about Vladimir Putin’s recent strongarm election victory in Russia, about which Mr. Larison wrote another article shortly thereafter. Whatever Mr. Larison was thinking, however, the comment interests me. I find myself reluctantly, waveringly agreeing with Mr. Larison.

(more…)