The AGE argues that the sort of protectionist, punitive barriers proposed by Mr Trump and other neo-nationalists will merely harm workers at home and abroad, increasing inequality.
The best social justice is employment, and the best generator of jobs is a private sector in an open economy. The sort of protectionist, punitive barriers proposed by Mr Trump and other neo-nationalists will merely harm workers at home and abroad, increasing inequality.
Mr Trump is not the solution. His sense of entitlement is part of the problem that has caused such inequality, the extent of which was indicated in recent days by a report from humanitarian organisation Oxfam.
The study found the eight richest people in the world, all men, have the combined wealth of the poorest half of the global population, some 3.6 billion people. The 1810 billionaires on the Forbes list, nine in 10 of them men, have as much wealth as 70 per cent of humanity.
But the answer to such economic and social travesty is not to distort markets through heavy-handed government intervention and trade barriers.
Rather, progress lies in effectively regulating to protect competition and consumers, and to finally compel wealthy individuals and profitable businesses to contribute their fair share of taxes.
That is what the thinkers gathered in Davos in Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum meeting should be focusing on, rather than fretting about Mr Trump.
A global poll this week found Australians are also disillusioned with politics and policy, and want a strong leader to reverse wealth inequality.
Well, a truly strong leader would stand up for freedom and fairness, rather than exploit fear and loathing. We hope such a leader emerges.
