Political Ignorance

Ilya Somin | 9.4.2024 3:57 PM

Today, The Hill published my article entitled "Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are Preying on Political Ignorance." Here's an excerpt:

There are many differences between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. But one crucial similarity is that both have proposed terrible economic policies that have political appeal because of widespread voter ignorance.

Trump has proposed both large-scale tariff increases and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Harris' plans include price controls and rent controls. All would cause great harm if enacted, but candidates advocate them because much of the public doesn't understand the damage such policies bring with them.

Such misunderstandings are part of a broader problem of widespread voter ignorance about government and public policy….

Trump has proposed a 10 percent tariff on virtually all imported goods. This would predictably increase prices on a wide range of products, costing the average American family roughly $1,700 per year. The economic damage will increase if foreign governments........

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