Tenhigh

Ha, I haven't had one in my seats for 10 years!

Sorry, will pick it back up tomorrow.

I appreciate the reasoned response. I know a bit about economics, and many academic economists will say tarriffs dont work. I agree in principle, but there is more in play than basic academic factors. Regardless, it's surely not as bleak and terrifying as you think, at least from my perspective. And to be clear, this is just my personal interpretation of things. Ultimately, we have been getting taken advantage of by our trading partners (friends and enemies) on a sizable scale both with tarriffs and with environmental aspects, causing essentially a defacto subsidizing of their economies. Its been ok because the US was so wealthy that we could afford it, and being this generous bought us a lot of goodwill internationally (at the expense of our working class and production base ,if you want proof, spend some time in downtown Jamestown NY). At some point it needed to be addressed (as do many arguably more urgent issues like SS and our insane national debt). As is often the case, Trump handled it poorly, but he was right in identifying the issue. I think he believes it will result in a massive renegotiation of tarriffs (think everyone lowering tarriffs equally), and probably in short order. If he is right, this move has the power to reset global trade and possibly make the US an actual manufacturing center again (as opposed to just a country of consumer economy), ultimately increasing our tax base, which can be used to address some of the other urgent fiscal issues facing our country. As for the goodwill aspect, this days are pretty much gone anyway, imo. If he is right in all of this, I'd say it's the opposite of short sighted. If he is wrong and nobody blinks, he will just quietly lower the tarriffs and declare a HUGE victory anyway, in true Trump form. In the short term it'll mean turmoil, posturing and higher prices on some goods. What is the long term outcome going to be? Who knows. But again, this is just my personal take on it. See my above post. I generally did the same.

This is such an interesting subject from an economic perspective, too bad all we can do is flame away at each other. Honestly it's ballsy gambit. This is how I see it: Historically our exports are generally tarriffed/taxed at a higher rate than we are charging on imports. Combined with generally lower environmental regulatory standards by some of our biggest trade partners (well, motlstly one giant smoggy one), it creates a really unequal playing field for American producers. But what are the potential outcomes of this trade war beyond increased short term prices? It's a hell of a question. Some bad, some neutral, some great.

Are you Billstime?

I agree. It felt like a focus group told him this was a way to increase his chances for 2028. He at least should have waited for a Republican bill to filibuster. This was just politics theater, and most people dgaf about that as a topic outside of the beltway or hyperpartisans.

Who told him that it was ok to wear out of the house? I totally get it if he is in his room in front of the mirror, trying the hat on with his lime green Connor McGregor t-shirt and cutoff jean shorts, cranking his Jump Around cassette on the tape deck. But not out in public, Sean!

Hey that's MY wife's name?!?!?!

They are only hard if you try them in the first place....

On that I think Trump is full of it, but I have yet to see a politician who's math works on SS. There is no viable path to fiscally sound footing that doesn't involve belt tightening somewhere, and all of these delta bravos need to stop pretending otherwise. My bet is that long term it gets addressed by raising the cap and implementing means testing.

You do understand that SS needs attention though, right? It's not sustainable in its current form. We as a country need to look at real solutions instead of just scaring seniors to vote one way or the other.

I think you'll find that most Trump supporters anywhere wish he would be less of an a**hole and operate in a less chaotic fashion. I feel that way, anyway.

Did you used to post here under another name?

I liked that Biden rolled the vaccines out pretty darn smoothly. I liked that he got the Chips Act passed. Now you go.