[Thorin]

>>>>>>The only person you named who saw protectionism as a metaphysical necessity, as opposed to a useful policy tactic to employ vis a vis recalcitrant trading partners, is Taft.

No, all of them believed in the American system of protective tariffs. It was TR who declaimed, "Thank God I am not a free trader."

But if you want to think of Lincoln and Taft as "socialists," go right ahead.

[wideawake]

No, all of them believed in the American system of protective tariffs.

"Believed"? All of them, as politicians, realized how effective tariffs can be as a political strategy.

It was TR who declaimed, "Thank God I am not a free trader."

Often quoted, but never placed in its original context. I wonder why that is?

But if you want to think of Lincoln and Taft as "socialists," go right ahead.

Putting words in someone else's mouth is so much nicer than actually going through the difficult task of coming up with a coherent argument on one's own, isn't it?