Americans want handouts. Why not give them some?

Lessons of the Trump goodies

President Trump extends hand to Americans especially farmers after failed tariff war
(Image credit: Illustrated | Martin H. Simon - Pool/Getty Images, iStock/DarcyMaulsby)

President Trump's trade program — if we can even call his semi-random set of tariffs that — is causing serious problems around the country. Farmers in particular are being hit hard, and so the administration has announced a $12 billion farmer bailout package. Essentially, he's trying to buy their votes.

Trump's trade war is absolutely moronic. Yet his political response is worth examining, especially for Democrats. Starting a fight, losing that fight, and then lamely attempting to patch up the damage is stupid. But buying votes with more intelligent handouts and goodies is a perfectly legitimate model of governance, and one well worth emulating.

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Ryan Cooper

Ryan Cooper is a national correspondent at TheWeek.com. His work has appeared in the Washington Monthly, The New Republic, and the Washington Post.