Finding Our Collective 'Ism': Turf Wars, Tariffs, & Tension

Intro

Memorial Day in the US is often seen as the unofficial start of Summer…it’s also a great time to reflect on what the fallen, veterans, and active duty are actually fighting for. (Actual quick definition below). I would argue that is becoming uncertain for many Americans, sadly enough. Perhaps the cultural designation of labeling “Nation” on everything, waters down what that really means…Gator Nation, Packers Nation, Pick Your Sports or Topic Nation. Are tribal and dare I say, political alliances becoming more important than our national identity itself?

When you slow down and think about that, it’s quite frightening, considering that’s how extremists and supremacists grow to power in the first place. When what’s in it for them becomes what’s in it for me? When us or we becomes I and me. Is this creating a chasm? When self-interests become groups empowered to drive a singular mission centered on hate and enemies of their agenda. Are political parties becoming faction splinter groups? Sounds like the makings of WWII when you think about it. 

Now, for the positive side. We’re better than that. We won’t let that happen. That next great leader uniting the country may not be around the corner, bringing us together, but we can develop without them. Relying on one majority leader may not be realistic any time soon, or maybe ever again? What does majority even mean anymore? This test taking place is just that, another test. Everything is a test and we’re going through it right now—will we craft our own story or let it happen to us? 

There is a singular choice as one nation. Continue working on our future collectively, bringing others alongside us for the journey. Great sustainable nations don’t rely on one elected person, or kings or queens forever. 

It’s what we build together as a collective nation that matters. Over the last 250 years, we’ve proven that’s who we are, and that we can. Greatness as a country is defined by collective forward momentum as a people, as a community, and building global partnerships for global prosperity and security. As one nation, not two parties, or five parties, one nation.

Now bring us to the realities of where we sit today—my primary concern is that we have stepped down as the leader on the global stage.

We were looking forward to 2025. There was pent-up optimism about a new party in office—it’s going to be pro-business, and going to really boost the economy through taking away some of the barriers. Today’s newsletter is not meant to be political at all—I have no interest in engaging in that mess. This is about our nation, it’s prosperity, and position as the global leader. My intention is to bring a different lens and help you find some clarity for your own perspective. Hopefully, by showing a different angle, and highlighting some of the ideas out there that are intended to make you think. It’s not that I’m not here to say who’s right or wrong, or what’s going to happen tomorrow, in a year, but this is all about sharing some perspective on things that make you wonder.

I am wondering if by stepping down as the political leader globally, the USA has dethroned itself financially as well. All the bureaucracy and spending—is that actually what props this US market up?

While most will agree, bureaucracy needs to evolve, must be looked at and adjusted, even in significant ways, brought under control and improved to deliver its intention, not what grows as a nature of the beast. And our position in the global economy must always be analyzed and adjusted in a thoughtful manner. Where we are now—we’ve effectively torn out generations of systems, ways of working, learning, and investment, for what? Spending and tax realignment? Are we dethroning ourselves from the leader box on the world stage?

Is this truly about a smaller more nimble government or is this about a broader exercise focused on power, control, influence, and geopolitical games for gains? It strikes me to see the business, political, and media world shouting at these concerns, yet nothing materially changes. When you see the look on some of the brightest minds across business completely baffled, you know things are going to change and it’s not all going to be positive. I’ve never wanted to be a doomsday type, but I do like to bring a little reality and pragmatism to what’s really going on. If you’d like to consider some different points, angles, or maybe starting your journey with taking a more active role in your own direction, for that of our nation, or globe, please keep reading. Patriotism? Nationalism and Isolationism?

A Bit of Optimism

An ‘Ism’ we need more of, and try so hard to find. Optimism can be hard to find, and seems to have less and less of a place across the vast world of the internet, national media, or local media. Optimism fosters hope, and it’s something we must retain. Hope is what allows our nation to understand and value each other and our great nation. Hope is what allows us to choose to what’s right, versus what is easy or self-absorbed in the short term. Hope is fundamental before all physical resources—it’s what allows us to build a great nation, develop great technology, and have the fortitude to want to do hard things. Hope fosters a collective power, a desire for better times, and a force for more collective good. Hope brings a positive approach to all things.

We don’t need to be ignorant in our optimism, but we must remain stubborn with optimism. In times like today, Optimism is all we have to know that there are better times ahead, with more collective understanding and positive debate, rather than hate, disgust, and an underlying divide through all things.

Hope is not a strategy, but it provides fuel for a better and more fulfilling time beyond the hate and agendas. Hope allows for broader rational thinking, versus placing blame. For people to believe all this is worth it, and continue marching forward, hope is fundamental.

I do have a sense of optimism that we will figure this divide and battle out, and understand what our direction is as a nation. It may come after AI eats the world, but it’ll come. It must, as our current path is unsustainable as a nation. With all that is going on with tech, politics, government, and in the market, none of this is new, but it is different, it’s a different scale and complexity and seems to be raging towards a tipping point. But as we continue to see over and over, we have been here before, and as much as everything feels new, what we’re going through as a country right now, is right where we have been. It may have a different look and feel, may have a different tone, but it’s a variation of what we see over time. We have been here before, and we can prevail again. Optimism is out there—we must be willing to find, hear, see, and believe it.

I do hope we are ready to find a bit of optimism to bring forth a force of positive outlook for our nation. As much as it becomes a punch line and ironically gets a bad rap, and is seen as boring—hope, positivity, and optimism is needed now more than ever. When you really think about it, why do we have the energy, passion, and outlook to move forward—optimism. The ‘Ism’ that can make it through the noise if we allow it as a nation.

The Story

Education needs change, an institutional evolution—revitalization

We all know it needs to change and I am sure there are some bright spots where it is changing. Higher Ed on down. But I do wonder how we go about it. Are all the current and recent attacks and judgment for better education, or is it purely politics? 

What autonomy should institutions have when taking federal dollars, or not. 

At what point are we willing to speak up, step up, or be an example?

One of my former Economics professors from Purdue University, Dr. David Hummels, was the best that I was fortunate to learn from at Purdue University, Daniels School of Business. Hummels’ knowledge on Global Trade was astounding, which is quite a central focus with all the talk on tariffs. In an article written in part by Hummels, he steps through the recent Harvard hustle. Regardless of your view on this specific situation with Harvard University, this article really makes you consider where the line on government control lies. And at what point is our attack on these institutions, an attack on free speech. I am not condoning what any of these centers of education have allowed on their campus, nor am I here to dissect their programs and views, but I am calling out the state that we are building. A state that doesn’t align with our nation’s values. And for that matter, the means and practices used to cross that line? Where do we stop allowing intimidation, persecution, bullying, and by our own entity, meant to protect against those exact practices? Sounds a lot like the tariff two-step?

As a country, we were once better, but I am not sure where we are headed, and to be clear, this isn’t an administration callout, this is a question far bigger than any one President or Administration, this is about our American values. What are they?

The alarming part to me is that a lot of this activity was shouted out as a major concern towards the last administration with heavy government pressure, reportedly illegal activity against citizens and companies, forcing its will to advance its agenda…

In an era of peel back with layers of bureaucracy, why is there so much attention and movement towards the other direction of more government control over specific areas? So many resources focused to going after heavily politicized groups and topics? We can’t have both—destroying our government systems, and increasing our government control. Which is it?

I intentionally won’t answer that question, I’ll let you ponder as you consider rhetoric from the last four years, and compare to the last four months. 

As a country, we need to ask more questions, and point less fingers.

Some may not get it, some may not see it, some may pull up a chair and get the popcorn ready, some may not care…I am wondering when we decide enough is enough and want to change the direction with our nation. A nation we can continue to be proud of for not just what we do, but how we do it, and who we are. Without those three things, we’re no better than those countries we judge, and sometimes even attack or sanction. 

Let’s expect more of our great country. 

Bipartisan Alignment Through Common Enemies or Hyper polarization

I find my self searching for better questions to find the lines of good, evil, what’s best for our country, and what is against our values. Are the lines blurring, changing or turning into irony. There is a NWO (New World Order) and it’s not related to wrestling, and no, no Avengers are coming to save us. It’s a war on life as we know it, and it’s quite overwhelming to consider if it will continue, or is this a blip in our history. 

This is a turf war on seemingly everything we know as Americans and global citizens, but here are a few that come to mind:

• Currency

• Health

• Trade

• Immigration 

• Monetary policy

• Globalization 

• Government

• Higher Education

• Global leadership with our role in geopolitics

Rages on, and we’re not stabilizing it, we’re fueling it. Some are saying it’s for the long-term, some don’t see anything but turmoil and a broadening divide amongst our nation, and across the globe it’s looking to the US for leadership. And the world isn’t going to find that here, right now. When Ray Dalio talks civil war, does anyone even care?

Challenging the status quo in a positive way is something I hold as critically important, across everything in life, but how you go about it, with clarity with intention, considering players on the field, and desired outcomes, goes a long way. The recognition of presence, goodwill, class, integrity, and understanding the current landscape, does matter. Isolationism is not possible in today’s economy—this has been tried throughout history, and in much less connected times. Damaging one integrated aspect of the global economy does impact everyone, whether that is today, or in 1-2 years. Anything you say to counter that, does not make it not exist. I would think we can all agree on the global connections in todays’s supply chains and business process flows, but then again, maybe not. 

The part that seems to be missed right now, is that our desire for immediacy as humans, especially as Americans, works against us in these arguments on sacrifice for the long run of the country. People will never buy into that without a significant cause to rally around like 9/11 or Peal Harbor. The President or Fed Chair can make one comment that depletes a trillion in wealth in one afternoon, but one policy can take years to show improvements, because those policies aren’t based on sentiment, but changes in the market behaviors and trends. Intentional short term pain for long term benefit is a tough sell, and we’re seeing it. Easier to break than to build. And in the words of Morgan Housel, this is “The Same As Ever”. 

Our Future is Built Now 

On this Memorial Day, a day of remembrance, with national pride at the forefront for many in our community of USA. But there is an underlying pinch that is expanding quickly. The American divide is driven by hate and extreme views, however when extreme and loud wins the attention game, how will this change? Will it change? And now we’re taking our internal divide, externally, across the globe. 

To that point, how do we even know what our truth is anymore? Truth, justice, freedom, opportunity, and cause are now often jaded by hype, trends, likes, and fakes. 

For the last 250 years there was a force on the globe. One that stood for something that words could not describe. The most loved, copied, envied, and feared, or what others dreamed of. 

The US has stepped aside looking internally and placing impact externally…Looking for a new world order. 

We’re still the greatest country in the world, in our own hearts and minds, but are we seen like that globally? Do we care anymore?

Global Leadership

Sure on paper the US leads in many areas although a certain country is perceived to be leading in critical categories right now. But leadership now as a category is just a stat on paper. It means nothing. What matters is rallying the globe around fundamentally good, focused on meaningful change and global stewardship. Should the US be the world’s police, no, should the US make all the decisions and pay for everything, no. But the difference is what we are doing to lead because leadership is not about doing it all yourself, it’s not having all the answers, certainly not paying for everything, not doing everything, making all the decisions, nor taking all the responsibility, but it’s about being just that, it’s about being a leader. Being a leader involves more than building some temporary coalition or some organization, even as great as NATO, but it’s about building real community around the world. 

Leadership is about presence and I don’t mean just aircraft carriers in the gulf. I mean, real presence—leadership presence physically, in person, digitally, and sure military has a lot to do with that too. That’s not everything. Those one-to-one conversations between leaders where what is said in the room is also what said publicly (that’s allowed to be shared). That’s a game changer in any forum, as that’s what creates global trust amongst nations. If what we say in the room is different than we said publicly, all credibility is lost, regardless of sides, regardless of what is seen as truth, or what is seen as a lie, creates inconsistency amongst the message, and impacts our truth. Yes, details can be debatable and yes, what is perceived as the best way forward can change, but in history, there’s truth. In many cases, humans are not judged on today, but will be judged by our ancestors tomorrow. Tomorrow is built by the leaders of today, and that’s how leaders will be judged.

A Force for Good

No person, no company, no country lasts forever, but there is a recipe for sustained existence, growth, prosperity, and global partnership. A global seat at the table. In times like today when you defer your seat, you’re denying your presence as a leader, effectively giving the stiff-arm to other countries. And it means the allies that once respected us, once differed to us, sitting at the sides of the table, but with equal partnership, not take the reins. The might, the will, the determination, the leadership, the innovation, the thought partner, the friend, the goodwill. The US has never been perfect and never will be, but the US has always had standards. And yes, you could throw a lot of examples out where we did things we weren’t proud of. We were responsible for some terrible things through history just like any other country at various scales. We have our flaws and we always will, but one thing that will never change. Is your judgment on the global scale. How we are seen. Yes, when the President of the United States talks, the world listens. When the US acts, the world takes note, the world is always watching. In today’s day and age, more so than ever, the world sees us on the global stage taking a step up or a step out because that’s what you do as a leader you either continue to step up or you step out which means stepping down. When I was born in the Reagan era it would’ve been laughable for countries like Canada and France to be taking a global leadership presence and directing forward what is perceived as the right thing to do in this current day and age. 

New Era, New Leadership 

My how the world has changed with Canada and France used to be punchlines to many in the US, and they put up with it. The UK, Australia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the EU, India, Saudi Arabia, and so on. They all welcomed their role. Did we ever agree with all of them at the same time on the same things, no, not even close. At times, some may have even caused some of our challenges, may even have been working with our enemies. But it has become clear, we’re forging a new path and when you look at the words of CEOs of major companies, sure they’re not as big as the US government, or not yet, but you can see it in the CEO‘s eyes and comments. Individuals running some of the biggest and brightest companies in the world, many sitting in the United States, are wondering what’s going on. When CEOs of the Fortune 500 are seeking consistency, moderation, global partnership, it makes you pause.

In one nation under God, you sure as hell hope that there is a plan on how we can continue to grow and evolve, maybe even retain and grasp, but hold on to the leadership seat we once had. When you spit in the face of who you formerly called allies and partners, coalition member countries, organizations, the UN, NATO, or agreements like NAFTA, you’re telling those countries we don’t care anymore. We don’t care about the impacts we make on your situation. It’s all about us. And for those that say this is all in negotiation tactic, that’s originally what I thought too.  

But what I think we’re missing something. Globalization is not going anywhere. The world will become more and more connected whether we like it or not. There are far deeper reasons for manufacturing, leaving the United States outside of pure politics—that’s fundamental in studying surface-level history and economics, that’s what you see in free markets.

We’re getting exactly what we asked for. We built this and now we’re trying to change it. Now, I am certainly no foremost global expert on what’s right or what’s wrong when it comes to international trade or global economics. But what I can tell you, is at the global scale, as fast as information changes hands, and is shared, as innovation happens, the changes we’re making today, some will change things immediately, or close to near time, like pricing, stock prices, gas prices, the CPI. But if we are really changing the global order on trade, this takes decades in some cases, certainly at least months and years. But if we’re making decisions, based on stock and bond prices today, it’s laughable. Anyone with any business sense knows that those are excuses, not reasons. This isn’t about politics.  

The miss here is thinking the actions by politicians is only about politics, as we are players, or pawns, in a game. This is about a global standing, a force for good, searching for what’s right and what’s best for people, for humans, for all of us. This is about great business practices which many of the CEOs are far better-suited than any politician to lead. There’s a reason why most of them don’t want to. They don’t want to put up with the shit that we built. 

Digging ourselves out of a grave that we dug takes time, so when moves are made that make an immediate impact, but bring slow solutions and positive outcomes. 

• Do we have the patience for that? 

• Do we really? 

Do we have the patience for waiting for the positive outcomes of one administration’s decisions and actions to take hold under a new administration?

If you’ve gotten this far, what I would ask is for you to take a moment and consider the following. 

• Is this about making a better America or driving value for a select few? 

• Or is this about driving a more profitable America for those actually pulling the strings? 

• What’s the real game going on here?

• Do we like the nation we are becoming?

There is a reason why the following were brought up, highlighted, emphasized, or weaponized:

• Global trade

• Re-shoring of manufacturing jobs

• Reversing action on years of political precedence and commitments

• Mentioning pulling out of a war and then wavering in between and then being hurt when the EU and others step up

• Even the mention of Fort Knox when gold hasn’t been the standard for so long (~50 years?)

• Comments made publicly changing markets in real time

• Some have indicated this is why Elon bought X—to control the monetary future of the United States and globe, validating his desire for crafting the payment system, which started even before Paypal. Watch what happens with X over the next five years, it will become very obvious.

• Panama Canal

• Denial of, or reducing responsibility across the globe, but then bombing forces in Yemen out of security and US interests

• Israel

• Deportation to show control and cater to the base, not solve problems—irony, are we deporting the vary talent needed to work re-shored manufacturing jobs most Americans don’t even want?

If these weren’t intentional, with any other politician, they would be considered insane, but this intentionality, does it make it crazy or something beyond that?

This is the moment where leaders step up and others shrink. This is where countries lead and others turn inward selfishly, and ignore lessons from the years of isolationism. Taking care of our home-front is paramount, but not at the expense or global relationships and our position as the global leader. 

Some things transcend politics, or should. 

Who will step up to lead moving forward?

Closing

From a Reagan speech snippet, to Warren Buffett at the Berkshire annual meeting, across the business, economics, and political landscape, you will gather what tariffs will actually do, and they may be a bargaining chip after all. The real shame is stepping down from the global stage—that may never be the same.

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About the Author, Graham Peelle