To be clear, absenteeism is not unique to Republicans. It is a bipartisan failing, symptomatic of a broader cultural shift in Congress toward performative politics over substantive governance.
The temptation to seek protectionist policies is perennial, especially during economic uncertainty or perceived imbalances in trade. However, one must remember that while tariffs may seek to punish foreign competitors, the reverberations are felt at home.
Republicans would do well to remember that American governance, at its best, is an exercise in the art of restraint.