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The always correct, universal view of trade as the antidote to war begs to be revived modernly as politicians from both sides of the aisle excuse their blatantly protectionist efforts to ban TikTok as having to do with national security. The excuse isn’t serious. Worse, it’s dangerous. Beyond the danger, what informs the taking of freedom is insulting. Supposedly Americans are so gullible, and their devotion to the U.S. so gossamer thin that they must be shielded from an app? Worst of all, the would-be American authoritarians think so little of us that they expect us to blithely give up our freedom to allegedly protect those freedoms. No thanks.