Italian Lessons
An Orgy of Corruption is Coming
Hello from Naples, Italy. On the road to see friends and research a new book on archaeology and memory, I can’t avoid what is happening in America. My fellow diners in a Roman restaurant turn out to be Canadian; I have to apologize for the idiotic insults they suffer from our president.
Italians in Rome and Naples are too dependent on tourism to be mean to Americans, and too familiar with corruption and demagogic leaders to doubt what is happening. They know Trump’s style. Berlusconi could only dream of dancing on such a big stage.
The international perspective gives powerful lessons. Here is Fareed Zakaria explaining how tariffs really work. It is a system that encourages corruption, favoritism, insider deals, and lobbying for carve-outs, and delivers stagnation.