They would likely have been correct. Don't get me wrong, I agree there is such a thing as "forget the comparative advantage of trade, this is national security

They would likely have been correct. Don't get me wrong, I agree there is such a thing as "forget the comparative advantage of trade, this is national security", and I even think steel and cement need to be in that category right after farm subsidies, but also you do have to be strategic, and you don't want private corporations "too important to fail" which turn subsidies into shareholder returns without adding real value.