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I'm happy to hold my hand up as one of those people; it was never about growth through protectionism. It was about not letting capital ride roughshod over everything and using regulation to maintain standards as opposed to growth at any cost- and if a global system would not facilitate that, or was too beholden to regulatory capture then other methods would have to be utilised.
I would (I mean, obviously I would) argue that this current crisis is exactly the chickens coming home to roost that people were worried about in the 00s
branwen-
this current crisis is exactly the chickens coming home to roost that people were worried about in the 00s
Yup, that places you in the target demographic of my rant. I am aware that I am placing words in your mouth here, but it seems you are saying the current crisis is proof that the system was rotten anyway? And possibly; that is sucks that we've got a demented racist spearheading its demise, but this just proves that had the very real concerns of the anti-WTO crowd should have been listened to earlier, i.e. if one had then one could have created a smooth transition without/before things turning acrimonious?
starfish&coffee
Actually, no I don't think Trump is their fault. My point was rather that promising economic growth trough trade protectionism is a shitty idea regardless of who suggests it. Moreover, it is one of those concepts that can never be easily placed on a left - right axis. (I think that is also what Oliver suggests in his post above?)
And now that an absolute shit stain won the US presidency promising protectionism, it seems clearer (at least to me) that was always just a way to channel frustration, whether it is on the right or the left, and not a workable and coherent long term strategy.