In a world where politics has become the number one issue in most households, it is difficult to ignore the effect that unethical management has created globally. Families have separated over political ideologies and suffered immensely over those in power; it is time to become aware of moral reasoning. With this comes my responsibility to contribute to the discussion, which has led to the creation of this blog and its accompanying themes. I will apply my moral reasoning to political discourse.
Politics is a pressing issue in our modern world. It has become common for households to engage in conversations surrounding politics. These conversations have brought incredible pain in families, causing many to lose touch with members of their own family over disagreements in political views. Understanding politics and its effect on our lives is vital for a thriving democracy and institutions that uphold ethical standards. This is why politics and ethical discussions go side-by-side.
In our global economy, we face the existential threat of being affected by a minority — the fascists. They have recently become emboldened, giving hints of their plans and chosen trajectory. Yet, they are still the minority—a minority now in power of the strongest economy on the planet.
I want to begin by reflecting on what each executive order means to me as an independent individual in a democratic nation. As I anticipated in my analysis of these documents, executive orders issued by President Trump will reflect ‘Project 2025’, which the extremists in America have proposed.
I used the following sources when researching: Federal Register: Executive Orders, Federal Register : Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles, and Proclamation 10908—Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States | The American Presidency Project
Executive Order 14289: Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles
When I begin reading legal documents, such as an executive order, it is good to remember what you are looking for, and in the case of legal documents, the wording matters. So, as I read the purpose of EO 14289, I can not help but scratch my head. The purpose of these tariffs, which have affected many lives, is that they pose a threat to national security, allegedly, an unusual and extraordinary threat. This wording is a red flag for an unethical purpose, reflecting malicious intent. Wording that suggests something unrealistic has threatened national security.
‘The United States has imposed tariffs under various statutory authorities and through a number of Executive Orders and proclamations to protect national security and address unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.’ [Section 1, EO 14289]
It is undoubtedly only an unusual or extraordinary threat that would allow such reasoning behind the implementation of this executive order. I found the wording for this reason offensive to my individuality and disrespectful to my dignity.
Further down, I began to search for these unusual and extraordinary threats. These threats had been provided in Proclamation 10908 and are as follows:
- Supply chain vulnerabilities [section 5]
- Foreign industrial policies [section 6]
- Material and labor shortages [section 5]
Supply chain vulnerabilities: In section 5, the national security threats to the U.S.A. are those that every sovereign state currently faces. The global pandemic has certainly stalled lives and revealed vulnerabilities in traditional institutions. During this time, workers encountered significant unemployment and endured isolation. Marginalized communities were severely impacted, leading to increased poverty rates worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed flaws in global supply chains, but Mr. Trump’s solution does not reflect solution’s associated with democratic values. We know from experience that isolation is a recipe for disaster in times of crisis. By imposing tariffs, the government has chosen to isolate itself from the global economy, resulting in more supply chain disruption. Making his course of action seem counterintuitive.
Foreign industrial policies: In section 6, the Proclamation states that economic allies in the automobile industry have become a threat to national security. Stating that Korea, Mexico, and Canada have aggressively expanded their automobile industries by benefiting from subsidies for these countries as part of trade agreements. Trade agreements that benefited the economies of each sovereign state involved.
Material and labor shortages: Section 5 of the proclamation states that American-owned automotive manufacturers have experienced numerous supply chain challenges, including material and parts input shortages, labor shortages and strikes, and electrical-component shortages. I do not doubt that these shortages are actual, due to the pandemic, but as previously mentioned, the course of action the Trump administration has chosen will create more shortages. As for labor strikes and shortages, these domestic policy issues could have been addressed instead of using hostile tactics against sovereign states.
‘Based on the facts considered in that investigation, the Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.” [Section 1, Proclamation 10908]
The purpose of Executive Order 14289 is to reflect the findings of the Secretary of Commerce’s investigation into the automobile industry. He had found that there are such quantities and under such circumstances that threaten national security.
Under such circumstances, I will assume that these are the previously mentioned unusual circumstances. But the quantities of the industry cannot be unusual or extraordinary. As these quantities can and should be quantified, we can find them and analyze them with previous years to see how those quantities were, in actuality, good for the American economy. Wording in legal documents, such as ‘Such quantities’, suggests malicious intent and disregard for principles of ethics, where an autonomous individual can determine whether the information provided is of beneficence and is non-maleficent.
The Trade Representative’s negotiations did not lead to any agreements of the type contemplated by section 232. [Section 3, Proclamation 10908]
Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 [Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress] grants the President of the United States the authority to adjust imports if they threaten national security. But as section 3 states, the trade representative’s negotiations did not see the findings of the investigation of the Secretary of Commerce as fit for implementing section 232, leading me to question the legitimacy of the tariffs.
In my opinion, these tariffs are maliciously intended against a sovereign neighbouring state such as Canada.
These actions can only be viewed as a fascist government influencing geopolitical stability by proceeding with further isolation and vicious attacks on marginalized communities. Before they move forward, we must see that a fascist state begins by disrespecting all principles of ethics, and when the judicial system begins to be affected, this is when they have gained power. History repeats itself, and neo-fascists have taken the time to learn from their forefathers. Creating a more vicious campaign against humanity.
I now consider the U.S.A. a fascist state and wish it were seen as such. Their domestic policies suggest such, and the wording in these legal documents indicates a degradation of their judicial system. The fascists have begun demolishing the sanctity of the judicial system. The fight to keep it intact is not against the institution itself, but against the men and women who undermine the foundations of democracy and liberty. These individuals are neo-fascists.
President Donald Trump may either be a neo-Nazi or be influenced by psychopaths and sociopaths who lack remorse, empathy, and any sense of human decency. These individuals are the descendants of the men and women who executed millions of people worldwide. In every nation, they have had their version of the genocide caused by fascism. In contemporary America, Latinos and Black Americans have now been targeted.
Ethical Modernity 