28 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Neil Kellen's avatar

The difficult part of this will be that tariffs will increase the cost of consumption. While, overall I think that's a good thing, it will impact lower income classes the most. They'll have to figure that out.

Expand full comment
GG's avatar

There will be pain, at first at least. But I think the tariffs will bring back American manufacturing, which would boost the economy further. Plus, it would give us purpose again. We used to make things. We can be that country again.

Expand full comment
Jen's avatar

oh I get too excited even thinking about that...

Expand full comment
Neil Kellen's avatar

Yep! Made in America!

After only 12,000 jobs added last month this should be music to the ears of the unions.

Expand full comment
daverkb's avatar

Very good posting today. Thank you.

Expand full comment
79SmithW60's avatar

Remember cheap Chinese made goods are being brought to this country by corporations that have sold out to the low cost and in the case of Nike and Levis, slave labor, and they happily put their name on the product and import into America, because of the "cost savings" they get in slave labor.

We tend to "blame China" or other countries, but it is actually "American" corporations that are the ones to blame. Stanley Tools for example closed the majority of their plants in CT and other states and now are just primarily an import company of cheaply made tools with their name on it. Yes, they supposedly "make" it in the other countries in "their" plant, but you don't think the CCP sees that as the CCP's plant. You better believe it. They are just running the plant; it is not really "theirs". THEY (Wall Street and the Bain Capitals of the world (Mitt Romney) and the useless CEOs sold out America, not the countries making things and shipping them over here.

I welcome Trump's tariff plan no matter how much we have to endure if it will make the USA independent and free once again.

Expand full comment
rolandttg's avatar

And guess where most of the cost savings go? It isn't passed on to us.

Expand full comment
79SmithW60's avatar

Exactly. We get junk goods, and "they" get the profits for selling out their country.

Expand full comment
Jay Horton's avatar

100% !

Later Jay

Expand full comment
My Favorite Things's avatar

Gary,

You’re right. Also, anyone that is against slavery should embrace tariffs.

Expand full comment
CStone's avatar

And ‘Apple’ products.

Expand full comment
sempervirens's avatar

It isn’t just Apple that uses slave labor in China…

Expand full comment
79SmithW60's avatar

True, we are just listing some examples. Ones we know for sure are Nike, Levis, Apple, but there are others.

Expand full comment
Johnny-O's avatar

Yes, and on top of it, the massive gains made on their products are pocketed. We don't actually get cheap products from them - well, the quality is cheap, but they still cost a lot.

Expand full comment
dan herrick's avatar

Tariffs will bring manufacturing back into the US. People who choose to buy something made overseas will indeed be choosing to pay the tariff. Half a century ago a Mercedes was worth paying the tariff for some people. Others were excited about their new Chevy, or Ford, or even Chrysler. Neither group of buyers considered the tariff as part of their decision.

Expand full comment
rolandttg's avatar

Maybe then we will go back to buying things we need. instead of things we want, or think we want.

Expand full comment
banjocat's avatar

^^like... maybe, just maybe, people will again return their focus to what a life is worth and why we are here in the first place... to learn not to earn until we bury ourselves in debt and things we never needed in the first place.

Expand full comment
ILoveherbs's avatar

Or just shopping for entertainment!

Expand full comment
CH's avatar

I am not an expert by any means, but Trump is going to fund the federal government the way it was funded before the 16th amendment was created. It will be something like the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. Coincidentally, McKinley was assassinated after becoming president.

Expand full comment
CStone's avatar

Then we need to pray a hedge of protection around him and his family.

Expand full comment
CStone's avatar

Actually we need to pray that protection around the entire team. We know that RFKJR, Elon Musk are in their crosshairs.

Expand full comment
dan herrick's avatar

Not So! Lower Income Classes will migrate to domestic products and not pay the tariffs.

Expand full comment
Neil Kellen's avatar

Eventually, and maybe quickly, yes. But it won't happen immediately. It will also take a while for production in the US to be rebuilt.

Expand full comment
dan herrick's avatar

Esau wanted instant gratification, Jacob planned for the future (fourteen years labor for a wife...). Proverbs has a little thing about grasshoppers and ants, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard."

Expand full comment
79SmithW60's avatar

Also, the old adage: Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.

Also, if someone finds themselves a hundred pounds overweight for their height. They didn't get that way overnight. It likely took many years. So, for them to get back into down to a healthy weight/shape, it will take longer than it did to get to be overweight. I forget the timeframe, but I think it is twice or 3x longer. Anyway, you get the point.

Expand full comment
ILoveherbs's avatar

Gary, my other half lives by that expression!

Expand full comment
79SmithW60's avatar

LOL! Excellent!! One of my favorite expressions!

Expand full comment
Bryan Dair's avatar

Hopefully it will discourage overconsumption of cheap plastic Chinese products.

Expand full comment