Tariffs?

[gil]

Nancy and Berny had it right 20 years ago. Basically, now they are against them because President Trump made them happen! [PERIOD]

As for the 25% tariff..... it made Toyota assemble/build their trucks in the USA. Thus a tariff isn't on those trucks. It brought jobs and taxes to the USA.

I love how you call yourself a moderate, but always are against President Trump and for the wild-left.... not too moderate if you ask anyone.

I don't see why you think I'm against every thing President Trump does, much less for the far left. My basic views on tariffs haven't changed much since I learned that tariffs mostly made money for US companies (i.e., because they were protected from competition by the tariffs) and allowed these American companies to get fat and happy while foreign competitors invested in making things better, cheaper, and faster.

It's off topic but since you brought it up: look, I didn't vote for Trump, and I'm glad I didn't. But I support President Trump's moves to shut down illegal immigration. I support him standing up to Putin (if in fact, he does this, but his last statements were in the right direction). I don't think every damn agency in the federal government needs a DEI department, and I support getting rid of them. I support getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse (who doesn't?)

As to the far left, I don't support men playing women's sports, but if we believe in states rights, I think there is an argument that what is best in Maine is not what is best in Oklahoma, so maybe the federal government shouldn't be involved.

We need more police, not fewer. We have to get people through the criminal justice system more quickly.

The biggest argument I have with people I know who are on the left is this: I do not believe that "equality in outcomes" should drive policy. It should be equality of opportunity, and it seems to me that is a cornerstone conservative idea.

[Seattle or Bust]

Nancy and Berny had it right 20 years ago. Basically, now they are against them because President Trump made them happen! [PERIOD]

As for the 25% tariff..... it made Toyota assemble/build their trucks in the USA. Thus a tariff isn't on those trucks. It brought jobs and taxes to the USA.

I love how you call yourself a moderate, but always are against President Trump and for the wild-left.... not too moderate if you ask anyone.

I don't see why you think I'm against every thing President Trump does, much less for the far left. My basic views on tariffs haven't changed much since I learned that tariffs mostly made money for US companies (i.e., because they were protected from competition by the tariffs) and allowed these American companies to get fat and happy while foreign competitors invested in making things better, cheaper, and faster.

It's off topic but since you brought it up: look, I didn't vote for Trump, and I'm glad I didn't. But I support President Trump's moves to shut down illegal immigration. I support him standing up to Putin (if in fact, he does this, but his last statements were in the right direction). I don't think every damn agency in the federal government needs a DEI department, and I support getting rid of them. I support getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse (who doesn't?)

As to the far left, I don't support men playing women's sports, but if we believe in states rights, I think there is an argument that what is best in Maine is not what is best in Oklahoma, so maybe the federal government shouldn't be involved.

We need more police, not fewer. We have to get people through the criminal justice system more quickly.

The biggest argument I have with people I know who are on the left is this: I do not believe that "equality in outcomes" should drive policy. It should be equality of opportunity, and it seems to me that is a cornerstone conservative idea.

I'm not against everything Trump does either. I just don't think he does very much of anything correctly and he's a total ass clown to boot. These tariffs being the latest example... seemingly just doing impulsive shit w.o much thought.

As I've said, I agree 100% with getting rid of H1B visas and forcing major tech company to only hire American workers.

But ofc he caved like a gigantic pussy when Elon got upset about it.

Guy a few days ago goes on this rant about groceries where he called the term "groceries" a "beautiful" and "old-fashioned" over and over. He's just such a fkn wack job.

[bpj]

The difference I see if China were to be paying of the tariffs, that is a net gain for the US economy. When US consumers are paying for the tariffs, it's just a tax: it moves money around and distorts the economy.

Businesses aren't alway successful as passing on higher costs. Just ask the small businesses in Seattle about the effect of increasing minimum wages. It's all about the price elasticity of demand (I think that is the correct term).

How do we get there (closer to free trade)? The old fashioned boring way, by diplomacy and hammering out agreements, with long term goals of reducing tariffs and other barriers. While they ween't perfect, I think it can be argued that the WTO and NAFTA, and the bilateral agreement from Trump's first term that replaced NAFTA, were steps in the right direction. Unless the newly announced tariffs have the long term effect of reducing tariffs, I think it's a step in the wrong direction.

Doesn't make a difference where it comes from.

Say the importer pays $1.

Makes no difference whether he pays 90 cents to the exporter and 10 cents to the government or whether he sends $1 to the exporter and the exporter sends 10 cents to the government.

Still came from the same pocket.

Are you saying that to the consumer it's the same? I'd agree with that.

The difference I see is whether the tariff revenue (i.e., money that goes to the US Treasury) comes from a foreign entity (i.e., the exporter) or a domestic entity (i.e., the importer). If China paid a tariff on goods coming into the US (as Trump has claimed) it would be a net gain for the US economy. But tariffs paid by US firms is just like any other tax: it moves money around and at best is zero gain.

That all makes zero sense.

You're talking about accounting differences.

You think it makes a difference that the money is transferred to China before its sent back here instead of just pulling it out before the money ever gets sent to China?

*after re-reading I don't think we're really talking about the same thing.

[Walla Walla Dawg II]

Another interesting post on LinkedIn:


Khushi Thakur
Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Innovator, Private Equity Maverick, Angel investor, IPO & PRE IPOChief Executive Officer, Asset Management Innovator, Private Equity Maverick, Angel investor, IPO & PRE IPO

Think Trump’s tariffs are about trade? Think bigger:

they’re about debt.

→ The US is drowning in debt.
→ Refinancing is getting painful with interest rates this high.

But the Fed won’t cut rates without a solid reason.

So what happens?

→ Trump comes out swinging with aggressive new tariffs
enough to spook markets, trigger uncertainty, and shake investor confidence.

→ Markets wobble. Wall Street panics.
And suddenly… the Fed has its reason.

→ They can now justify rate cuts — not because of politics, but because of “market conditions.”

And guess what?
• Bonds rally
• Yields drop
• Investors flee from equities to safety
• The US government gets to refinance cheaper

This isn’t just economics.
This is game theory at a global scale.

Sometimes, the quickest way to cut rates…
Is to let the market do the dirty work.

[gil]

Tank the economy to lower interest rates? Sure. Higher prices, job loses, and hits to retirement accounts are just collateral damage.

[Mel Bradford]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xX7AgyRXiKI

[Mel Bradford]

Tariffs 101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfo93jLskTo

[XpertDBA]

Tank the economy to lower interest rates? Sure. Higher prices, job loses, and hits to retirement accounts are just collateral damage.

Hits to retirement accounts are only damage if you freak out and sell because of panic.

[gil]

Tank the economy to lower interest rates? Sure. Higher prices, job loses, and hits to retirement accounts are just collateral damage.

Hits to retirement accounts are only damage if you freak out and sell because of panic.

Agreed. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I'm not retiring anytime soon, so I'm not relying on that money. It might be different for others.

[auroraave]

I find it amusing that the same folks who are 'outraged" by Trump levelling tariffs on trade partners, are not 'outraged' that those exact same trade partners have been levelling totally unfair tariffs on the US. SO, so so so so amusing to me how it's ALWAYS the same thing. Trump (does anything) and the usual suspects are immediately "outraged". This reminds me of of how a single celled organism works: stimulus, response. No thought, no analysis, no book reading, no policy education, just "Trump did...." followed by the cliche` theatrical outrage. Canada tariffs our farmers 300% to sell good in Canada. Cool! Trump does the same thing and it's ooooooooooooooooooooomygawwwwwwwwwwwwwwd!

Biden literally destroys the economy by printing money and creating mass inflation. The usual suspects: "That's fine!"
Trump does to our trading partners - literally - what they are (unfairly) doing to us - causing a TEMPORARY market reset: OOOOOMMMMMGAWD!!! Racism!

wash, rinse repeat.

My favorite part of watching this in real time - is seeing how few people, usually with the biggest opinions, have no actual understanding of trade and economics, no big picture thinking, no concept of bigger strategy could be at play. One that could reap huge dividends to the US TAXPAYER.

Nope, it's just the usual Trump (did anything) followed by the sad, predictable, absolutely worn out 'outraged" response. Funny how non one was mad at him until EXACTLY 2016 when he took on the democrats who proceeded to unfurl their nine-year smear campaign of hate, false accusations and censorship. Funny how the 'perpetually outraged haven't figured out it's all been staged - and they are the suckers who keep falling for it - over and over and over and over and over again... and never learn the lesson.

Stimulus, response.