I’m in agreement that Trump round 2 is very mixed. I agree with dismantling the Department of Education but Tariffs against our allies seems stupid. Against China is one thing, but Canada and European nations is another.
One more thing: I think we need to temporarily close the border until we sorted out all the illegal migrants here. What do you think?
Sorry for the slow reply, but I wanted to give you a high quality response. I'm not sure I agree with your perspective on tariffs, but maybe you can convince me that tariffs on China are better than tariffs on Canada and European nations. Do you want to explain your reasoning?
What do I think about Trump in general, or about the border issue? I'll admit, it's hard (for me) to be objective about Trump because I have a strong dislike of many progressive ideas, so I tend to be a bit lazier in criticizing his actions. The border is another tough one. I should commit deeper thought to this issue. I lived in Tucson, Arizona for a few years and didn't like living near the border, and moved away partly because of it's proximity to the border. Living in Idaho or North Carolina makes the border issue seem less important. So that's where I would start. Not my full answer.
My reasoning for Tariffs on China is that I firmly believe in decoupling ourselves from them and stop doing business with them and honestly I would consider any businessman that does business in China to be committing treason. Overall, we need to stop buying cheap Chinese crap and become more self-sufficient.
We'd be self-sufficient and we'd decouple ourselves from China, a geopolitical rival. I'm of the belief that if we can make it, we should and trade what we can't make.
P.S. One thing that should take place though if we are going to use Tariffs is the abolition of the Income Tax. Since Tariffs have been how the government got its income for most of American History.
I’m a free trade believer generally, but I think tariffs on China could be strategically appropriate. China has a history of government investment in targeted industries in order to deliberately put competitors out of business. If China has a monopoly in multiple industries it gives them leverage over the US financially. Once they have a monopoly, they can then jack up the prices and soak up profits, at least in industries where capacity cannot be built quickly. This also serves as military leverage - the ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers to prevent or retaliate against US military action. Tariffs could be a strategic defense against this sort of aggressive economic warfare from China.
"Once they have a monopoly, they can then jack up the prices and soak up profits, at least in industries where capacity cannot be built quickly. This also serves as military leverage - the ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers to prevent or retaliate against US military action." Can you explain how China's ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers gives them military leverage?
I don’t mean in a strictly military sense. Just that the more leverage they have against us - the more ways they have to cause pain, the more our leaders will need to think twice before taking any military action that will lead to retribution from China (like the US intervening in an attack on Taiwan). It’s less of a chance for victory and glory if leaders know it will hurt citizens economically and end up killing them in the polls.
I’m in agreement that Trump round 2 is very mixed. I agree with dismantling the Department of Education but Tariffs against our allies seems stupid. Against China is one thing, but Canada and European nations is another.
One more thing: I think we need to temporarily close the border until we sorted out all the illegal migrants here. What do you think?
Sorry for the slow reply, but I wanted to give you a high quality response. I'm not sure I agree with your perspective on tariffs, but maybe you can convince me that tariffs on China are better than tariffs on Canada and European nations. Do you want to explain your reasoning?
What do I think about Trump in general, or about the border issue? I'll admit, it's hard (for me) to be objective about Trump because I have a strong dislike of many progressive ideas, so I tend to be a bit lazier in criticizing his actions. The border is another tough one. I should commit deeper thought to this issue. I lived in Tucson, Arizona for a few years and didn't like living near the border, and moved away partly because of it's proximity to the border. Living in Idaho or North Carolina makes the border issue seem less important. So that's where I would start. Not my full answer.
My reasoning for Tariffs on China is that I firmly believe in decoupling ourselves from them and stop doing business with them and honestly I would consider any businessman that does business in China to be committing treason. Overall, we need to stop buying cheap Chinese crap and become more self-sufficient.
So no American should buy anything from China?
Ideally that’s the goal. But I admit that’s a tall order.
Let’s imagine that we reach that goal. How are we better off?
We'd be self-sufficient and we'd decouple ourselves from China, a geopolitical rival. I'm of the belief that if we can make it, we should and trade what we can't make.
P.S. One thing that should take place though if we are going to use Tariffs is the abolition of the Income Tax. Since Tariffs have been how the government got its income for most of American History.
I’m a free trade believer generally, but I think tariffs on China could be strategically appropriate. China has a history of government investment in targeted industries in order to deliberately put competitors out of business. If China has a monopoly in multiple industries it gives them leverage over the US financially. Once they have a monopoly, they can then jack up the prices and soak up profits, at least in industries where capacity cannot be built quickly. This also serves as military leverage - the ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers to prevent or retaliate against US military action. Tariffs could be a strategic defense against this sort of aggressive economic warfare from China.
"Once they have a monopoly, they can then jack up the prices and soak up profits, at least in industries where capacity cannot be built quickly. This also serves as military leverage - the ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers to prevent or retaliate against US military action." Can you explain how China's ability to threaten or cause pain to US consumers gives them military leverage?
I don’t mean in a strictly military sense. Just that the more leverage they have against us - the more ways they have to cause pain, the more our leaders will need to think twice before taking any military action that will lead to retribution from China (like the US intervening in an attack on Taiwan). It’s less of a chance for victory and glory if leaders know it will hurt citizens economically and end up killing them in the polls.
Can you give an example?