Big business should be selling globalism if it knows what’s good for it

In the context of Donald Trump’s vicious attacks on four Democratic Congresswomen for looking different, here’s an interesting idea promoted not too long ago by Michael R Strain (Twitter handle: @MichaelRStrain), director of economic policy studies and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

If big business wants to adopt a social cause, why not take up globalism?

Why not indeed?

Mr Strain’s suggestion, in a Bloomberg View column, goes to the heart of some of the issues facing corporate America. While it’s all very well for Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of America’s largest sports chains, and Walmart, America’s biggest retailer (and gun seller) to make changes to their own sales policies, what about the big picture?

How will some of America’s biggest brand names sell themselves overseas if it’s ‘America First’, ‘America Introverted’, ‘America Divisive’, ‘America Islamophobic’?

Mr Strain suggested that US corporate leaders “shouldn’t let their agenda be determined by the day’s headlines. Instead, they should focus on the values, policies and institutions that create long-term security and well-being.”

These include, in his words, the following: “Strong American leadership, an embrace of free trade and globalism, openness to immigration, a commitment to democracy, and strengthening international institutions have helped create seven decades of prosperity in the developed world.”

Promotion of the postwar system is necessary to ensure prosperity in the future”, he asserted and “its promotion is in the interest of the business community. Because over the long run, what’s good for business is good for us all.”

Good point.

Originally published at https://www.rashmee.com on July 15, 2019.