Say what you want about trade deficits, national debt, sovereignty, financial markets, the U.S. dollar, executive authority, etc. There are a variety of good-faith opinions about how to structure the trade practices that would put the United States in the best position to succeed in the near and long term.  

However, the future of America’s relationship with China must be based on reality before ideology. China is, in fact, “ripping us off” six ways from Sunday. For decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), despite how one may feel about its core political ideology, has not operated in good faith in its relationship with the United States, choosing to commit blatant fraud, outright cheating, and routine deception.

I’ve been one of those annoying people on social media this week insisting that, yes, the stock market is indeed a significant component of the U.S. economy, despite the claims of some over-reminiscent protectionist maximalists in government and the media. I’ve come to the defense of the free market advocates who rightly point out that shocking the markets too ferociously will result in negative consequences for Americans.