The buffoon pretending to lead our Nation adopted “America First” as a slogan for his foreign policy.

A focus on nationalism and economic protectionism?

“America First” emphasizes the current focus on nationalism and economic protectionism. It also draws on a long history, including that of the nativist American Party, Woodrow Wilson’s attempt during WWI to define the loyalty of immigrant communities, Warren G. Harding’s focus on isolationism and protectionism, and the isolationism promoted by “America First Committee” during WWII. The Ku Klux Klan also adopted the slogan.

DJT has managed to retain all of the negative aspects of “America First.” He has destroyed foreign alliances and instigated wars in ways that hurt, not help, the US. He’s taken away health care and labor rights; he’s attacked immigrants who keep the country going; he’s damaged democracy, our courts and legislatures; he’s celebrated corruption at all levels; and he’s destroyed our natural environment.

In an alternate history, one could imagine America First calling on us to address problems at home. It might suggest acting so as to benefit the US over other countries, in a selfish, but at least understandable way. That is not what’s happening.

Mining in the BWCA

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) wilderness in northern Minnesota is an international treasure whose value cannot be measured in conventional economic terms. It’s part of a huge wilderness area spanning Canada and the US. There are thousands of lakes and streams, Indian pictographs, diverse species of plants and animals, dark skies with views of the Milky Way and the Aurora Borealis. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that it supports 17,000 jobs and over $1Bin economic activity each year.

Nevertheless, the US Senate, with DJT’s support, passed House Joint Resolution 140 this week. The vote ends a ban on mining near and upstream of the BWCA. The end of the ban opens the door for Twin Metals Minnesota, a Chilean mining operator, to move forward with a long-planned copper-nickel sulfide project near Birch Lake, within the watershed of the Boundary Waters. The copper mined there will most likely be sold to China. Wikipedia has a good summary of the issues around the plans to build the mine.

America Last

Less than a year ago, I posted (Permanent destruction of a precious wilderness) about this possibility. If there were any positive meaning to “America First” it would be that we should seek to preserve precious wilderness rather than sell it off to DJT’s billionaire buddy, Jean-Paul Luksic Fontbona, chairman of Antofagasta PLC.

The values, needs, and opinions of ordinary Americans no longer seem to matter. While maintaining all of the noxious aspects of America First, DJT has managed to turn it on its head, effectively implementing America Last.