Tariffs can only make America poorer

One reason Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other Democrats were subjected to so much ridicule when they rolled out their $93 trillion Green New Deal is that they promised too much. By healing the environment, they claimed they could also create full employment (at least for those wanting to work) and find the money to provide universal healthcare and fix infrastructure as well.

But it’s 2019, not 1890. Americans have by now been trained to recognize a scam: The telltale sign is always that it’s too good to be true.