For all intents and purposes, the extremists who have hijacked the Democratic Party have all but abandoneded representation of the interests of the blue collar workforce. Instead, they have infiltrated the government and education sectors, wielding the abusive rhetoric of environomental and health-care regulation to demonize our industrial infrastructure and undermine our national security. This shift in political demographics was first noticeable during the Reagan Administration when blue collar support helped elect Reagan to two terms.
Unfortunately, the neocon pandering Bush Administration eschews this support. Rather, it chooses to "go with the flow" and not jeopardize transnational corporate profits with political confrontation.
Dubya's steel tariffs are a prime example of his preference for pandering over principles. While attempting to deflect criticism by implementing targetted tariffs, he simultaneously castrated any potential benefit with the issuance of hundreds of loopholes and exemptions for special interests. It was, in fact, the absolute worst policy imaginable.
Our nation would be much better served by an Administration that put such partisan policy making aside. In lieue of ineffective and harmful targetted tariffs that are perverted by special interests, we should be levying a relatively low (10-15%), flat-rate "revenue tariff" on ALL imported goods -- with NO loopholes or exemptions. The proceeds from such a tariff could then be utilized to finance further reductions in other forms of domestic taxation without bankrupting the Treasury. Such a shift in tax policy would both stimulate domestic production and our economy, while enhancing our National Security and self-sufficiency.