This whole situation is just embarrassing and scary, as is the entire Trump presidency, but I'd like to point out that the US exports a fuckton of goods and services around the world. At least, the US used to export a fuckton of goods and services around the world.
protist
joined 2 years ago
So basically everything the US imports from China is going to suddenly cost 84% more. I'm really struggling to see Trump's end game here, because when domestic inflation inevitably gets out of control, the populace is going to get angry and he's going to become deeply unpopular.
The only two possibilities are 1.) He's purposefully wrecking the US economy, either to end US global hegemony and appease the Russians or to appease the tech billionaires and Heritage Foundation-types who want to destroy the federal government, or 2.) He's a moron who doesn't understand even basic economics
First, other countries can accept tariffs on their exports to the United States without retaliation, providing revenue to the U.S. Treasury to finance public goods provision. Critically, retaliation will exacerbate rather than improve the distribution of burdens and make it even more difficult for us to finance global public goods.
Second, they can stop unfair and harmful trading practices by opening their markets and buying more from America;
Third, they can boost defense spending and procurement from the U.S., buying more U.S.-made goods, and taking strain off our servicemembers and creating jobs here;
Fourth, they can invest in and install factories in America. They won’t face tariffs if they make their stuff in this country;
Fifth, they could simply write checks to Treasury that help us finance global public goods.
They genuinely still think other countries are the ones that will pay the tariffs...
Yes, and Trump has done it a lot. This is different though. This is going to undermine US trade relations permanently, even if he tries to walk back the tariffs or "cut deals" with some countries
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are invasive in all of North and South America
Has anyone tried engaging in discord or matrix, as requested?
It seems to have uncovered a serious weakness in the platform. What happens when Lemmy becomes more popular and more people try to take advantage of the DM system like this?;
Can you explain that?
I believe Obama didn't have the confidence to disrupt the military industrial complex as it was operating post-GWB. I also think he feared the political repercussions of seeming "weak" on defense, which I think he misperceived. This was perhaps the most serious flaw in his presidency, which was otherwise great in regards to domestic policy
There were some things he did I disagreed with, and a lot he did I agreed with. I'd take another Obama presidency any day given where we currently find ourselves
Remember you also have to catch the snitch to end the game. Otherwise it would just go forever
At a more basic level, this is likely another manifestation of Trump's narcissistic personality disorder. He genuinely cannot conceive of sacrifice, service, or giving of himself, he's only interested in what he can take from you, whether that's money, reputation, or adoration. Now it's playing out on the global stage