This is a reasonably good argument (upvoted), but I don't agree with it. Tariffs are absolutely not to force up domestic savings; it is to prevent the looting o

This is a reasonably good argument (upvoted), but I don't agree with it. Tariffs are absolutely not to force up domestic savings; it is to prevent the looting of your industrial base. Saying otherwise is the sheerest ideological nonsense. If the US had 1000% tariffs on, say, greetings cards, it would do jack shit for savings: but all the greetings cards in the US would be made in the US. Rich and poor have nothing to do with why there is an excess of savings from China and Germany: the average Americano is richer than the average from either country. The trade deficits, of course, are the real reason. You have trade deficits in part because of low labor costs overseas, and you have lower labor costs overseas, in part, because both China and Germany engage in currency manipulations which keep the labor costs low. The correct response, again, is tariffs. I want the US to look more like Switzerland (in every way) and less like Argentina in 1900 (aka rich country on its way down the toilet from bad policy). Some people's opinions differ apparently! Great handle, BTW. One of my favorite planes.