Dr Michael John Schmidt: What if the tariff strategy fails? (Trump tariff strategy, part three)

The concept of realpolitik was introduced by Ludwig von Rochau in the mid-19th century which describes:

* a pragmatic approach to politics that prioritises power dynamics and national interests over ideological or moral considerations.1

There are practical examples, such as Ronald Reagan’s Cold War diplomacy. Reagan combined firm ideological positions, such as his “evil empire” rhetoric2 (referring to Russia; Trump ‘channels’ this when he talks about China), with practical negotiations like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, in which both sides reduced their nuclear arsenals, demonstrating a calculated balance between ideological goals and geopolitical realities.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Trump’s tariff strategy explained (part two: ‘Looming Disaster’).

Recently we have seen a wave of historical illiteracy wash through the ‘economics community’. Comments like ‘this tariff strategy is reckless and never been seen before’1, 2, 3, 4 have been blasted across media in all forms. It is simply untrue.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Trump’s tariff strategy explained.

Listening to various people talk about Trump’s “tariff strategy” (TTS) – including some who are supposedly very knowledgeable – it’s becoming clear that many, even some members of our coalition Government, don’t truly understand it.

Many people misunderstand TTS because they fail to grasp how it works in practice, beyond the theoretical, and they are misled on the issue by the anti-Trump media and by those with a vested interest in undermining the strategy.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: The ‘Michael Plan’.

Trump has mooted that Gaza should be redeveloped – a motion for which he has been mocked and many conspiracy theories have sprung up about his suggestion, such as ‘ethnic cleansing’. However, what is demonstrated here is a lack of imagination, or will, from the detractors. People would rather criticise than use their imagination. To prove the possibility of there being, as Trump claims, a redevelopment solution, I am providing one.

Background

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Martial application.

I began writing an article on Christopher Luxon’s failures: specifically, his inability to gauge the public sentiment that brought the coalition to power and to implement the urgent political and economic changes New Zealand needs. He has failed to address the independent, ‘woke’ and arrogant actions of NZ’s ‘managerial class’, which operates contrary to coalition policies and lacks accountability. Examples are everywhere: from the unchecked replacement of New Zealand with Aotearoa, despite no public vote, to the creation of worthless DEI departments in institutions like the Reserve Bank.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Chinese cooking.

The China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is by now notoriously associated with corruption. Here are a three notable examples:

1 Malaysia’s 1MDB Scandal: The BRI has been linked to corruption in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal, where Chinese officials allegedly agreed to bail out the state development fund by inflating the cost of infrastructure projects.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Good riddance to USAID.

A comment from my circle of TDS sufferers criticised Trump and Musk’s decision to defund USAID, claiming it ‘proves’ Trump is a heartless thug. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. The defunding has not occurred, though Trump has proposed significant changes to USAID, including a 90-day freeze on foreign aid and consolidating USAID under the State Department.1

Dr Michael John Schmidt: We’re Copping It – Climate Fraud

About a week ago, I wrote an article called Who’s Copping It, highlighting how New Zealand is allocating $235 million NZD to COP initiatives, supposedly to fight climate change. This amount is expected to triple after 2026 due to a COP29 agreement. I criticised the celebration of this agreement for several reasons:

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Who Is Copping It?

According to Stuff, the “NZ climate change minister celebrates COP29 carbon market deal”.(1) I don’t see why: it is a calamity and the coalition should be ashamed.

New Zealand already pays NZD 235 million annually to the COP (Conference of Parties) and will continue to do so until 2026. With COP29, contributions from ‘rich’ countries are set to triple, rising from USD 100 billion to USD 300 billion annually.(1) This means higher costs for countries like New Zealand while benefiting nations such as China and India.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Free speech under fire in the UK.

You may have noticed the lack of a Letter from the North recently, so I hope the following explains.

It is very difficult now to understand what I can and can’t write because of the plague of non-crime hate incidents (NCHI) being investigated by the police. If someone complains about something that has been said, written, broadcast or otherwise communicated, then the police can investigate.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Māori privilege and media paradox.

It’s ironic that TV1, RNZ, and similar media outlets so strongly support the current hīkoi process opposing David Seymour’s call for a discussion of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – so much for the impartial and investigative press. These mainstream media organisations face severe economic challenges: TV1 lost $85 million in 2023, and RNZ lost $1.4 million.(1, 2) Meanwhile, the Māori groups they champion are thriving, despite these groups portraying themselves as marginalised, disadvantaged and at risk of ‘losing rights’.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Ignoring government policies with impunity.

On 10 November, I went to the LinkedIn employment section and saw the following role advertised.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: The US is not a democracy.

Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda for Nazi Germany, is often attributed with the quote, “If you are going to tell a lie, it may as well be a big lie.” Nowhere is this more apparent than in the US, where the Democratic Party frequently discusses “democracy” and how it’s supposedly under threat.[1] Goebbels also stated, “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it and you will even come to believe it yourself.”[2] It’s crucial to recognise the scale of this statement in understanding the current political landscape in the US.[3]

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Stochastic terrorism.

The power of words and their unintended and intended consequences is fascinating. We have this quote:

Thomas Cromwell: “What then, do we do with this man? He stands between the King and his desire. Who will rid me of him?”

This reflects Cromwell’s frustration with Sir Thomas More and his difficulty in achieving the king’s wishes. In Robert Bolt’s play, A Man for All Seasons, this moment comes alive, showing the dangerous mix of power and intent.(1) The king’s intention to secede from the Catholic Church pressured his officials to remove More as an obstacle to his plans and whether he says it outright or just hints at it, has a huge impact. The result was the orchestration by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s senior minister, of Sir Thomas More’s arrest, trial for treason and execution.(2) The play reminds us of how the desires and words of those in power can translate into real-world actions with devastating effects.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Military unpreparedness

Western countries invest heavily in their military; as such, significant issues should be addressed both openly and seriously.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: From the River to the Sword

* To be “put to the sword” means killed or massacred: ‘ended’1.

* It can also be about how a religion can spread and dominate2.

Let us start, a long time ago and in a place called Libya.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: A critique of the NZ electricity administration

Why is the energy status of New Zealand so opaque to the point that we have businesses closing for lack of electricity? The reason is simple: the electricity market is convoluted and in dramatic need of an overhaul.

Dr Michael John Schmidt: Ideology and groupthink in our public service - certainly immoral and probably illegal.

The phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” is from one of Aesop's Fables: a wolf disguises itself in a sheep’s skin to blend in with, and ultimately prey on, a flock . The story serves as a moral lesson about deceit and the danger of those who pretend to be something they are not, often to cause harm. Nowhere does the phrase apply more aptly than with “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” policies in organisations.

Dr Michael John Schimdt: Institutions of Apartheid

The University of Auckland in New Zealand was founded in 1883 as Auckland University College, initially serving as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Its humble beginnings were in a disused courthouse and jail, where it started with 95 students and 4 teaching staff. Regretfully amongst these early educators, there was not a historian(1). Even today Auckland University does not have a “History Department” though it does have ‘study options’ for history(2) and the current (2023) situation of ‘segregated study areas’(3) provides ample opportunity for a history lesson, a whole thesis. We don’t have to go back too far in New Zealand history.

Dr Michael John Schimdt: King Charles III, Our Fifth Old

In my previous piece regarding the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) I outlined how the cultural changes overtaking the RBNZ were also overtaking its primary mission and probably did not, ironically, reflect a good return on investment (ROI). The recent release of commemorative coins by the RBNZ, coupled with a consumer complaint, prompted me to remember a lesser-recounted piece of history. This perspective allows us to view both issues in a broader context.