President Trump recently invoked the Defense Production Act, ordering General Motors to make ventilators for coronavirus patients. Enacted in 1950 in response to the Korean War, this law gives the federal government more control over industry and production of goods and services deemed necessary for national defense purposes.
This action by Trump, and the silence of many of his supporters, highlights the growing threat to true American conservatism represented by Trump’s brand of populism. Even during conflict, the Defense Production Act is an intentionally authoritarian idea. In basic terms, a government that forces its citizens to provide any product or service against their will is embracing and practicing tyranny. While Trump sees himself as a “wartime president,” the United States is not at war. The challenges we face are great, but they do not justify the destruction of fundamental American values.
Trump’s brand of conservatism rightly decries the increasingly radical American Left’s calls for nationalization of core industries. Indeed, Trump very recently stated, “We’re a country not based on nationalizing our business,” and “The concept of nationalizing our businesses is not a good concept.” How things change.
Some will scoff at the suggestion that Trump has chosen to wield the enormous power of the U.S. federal government to engage in nationalization. There’s a huge difference between nationalization and what Trump is doing, they will no doubt say. However, in practice, that’s simply not the case. “Nationalization” is when the government seizes control or ownership of entities such as property or companies. To argue that Trump hasn’t effectively nationalized GM by forcing it to provide products and services without its complete consent is an act of intentional denial.
Others will argue that GM deserves such treatment and will echo Trump’s various statements regarding the automobile company.
Whether or not GM was dragging its feet during contract negotiations is irrelevant. Trump supporters who worship at the altar of free markets must also agree to live by their rules. If a company is failing to provide you with the product or service you desire or to adhere to the terms you request, then take your business elsewhere. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the production of ventilators in our battle against coronavirus or party balloons to celebrate a birthday. If conservative principles are correct, then they are correct during good times and bad.
What about the assertion that such action is necessary to “save lives?” This logic makes those who apply it indistinguishable from the radical leftists whose ideology they claim to abhor. The most appalling policies imaginable could be enacted using this justification. The Second Amendment could be abolished overnight. Bad diets could be made illegal. All forms of travel could be banned. If we willingly and recklessly disregard fundamental principles based on our unalienable rights given to us by God, then they cease to be fundamental.
Finally, the populist element of Trump’s base will celebrate a “greedy” corporation such as GM being taken down a peg. It took “our” money when it was bailed out by the government. It “owes” us.
There is some logic to this argument. But scratch beneath the surface, and we uncover a pure desire for revenge. We all know the idiom “two wrongs do not make a right.” The fact that the “auto industry bailout” was wrong does not give the government retroactive ownership of the auto industry. Those calling for the financial blood of GM and others in “payment” of this debt should notice that their rhetoric is eerily similar to that of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
We face undoubtedly challenging times, and we are far from the end of this saga. But the U.S.’s founding principles will be its salvation. Like every challenge we have faced before, we will emerge victorious through innovation, grit, and, most importantly, an eternal respect for what makes the U.S. unique — an unerring respect for freedom and liberty, which today Trump is trading for ventilators. What will he trade it for tomorrow?
Ian G. Haworth hosts the podcast The Ian Haworth Show.
