Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[CGVT]

This is all part of Trump's plan to bring us $2.00 gas and cheap eggs.

3D chess, Baby!

[Jeff Buchanan]

Despite a growing number of likely progressive organizations that study global economics predicting higher consumer prices and inflation if Trump imposes the tariffs he has threatened, that outcome is not assured. My take is that Trump will use the threat of Tariffs as leverage to obtain policy changes in the countries that might be his targets for them. I'm all for the highest tariffs possible on the Chicoms - that's another issue al together.

Immigration and the flow of narcotics from both Mexico and Canada could be an example of what Trump is looking for - a sharp decrease in both from those two countries. We're going to hear a constant clamoring about this from the left and a search for any evidence that tariffs are bad. The search for emerging benefits won't match the search for bad outcomes. Count on it.

[Dr. Strangelove]

If you think the tariffs are just a threat to get whatever Trump is really after, well, that's one thing. I tend to disagree because there's plenty of evidence Trump sees tariffs as good by nature. But that's a defensible position.

If you think charging importers a 25% tax on all foreign oil will not cause prices to go up, well, now you're starting to talk nonsense. And you don't have to be a PINKO COMMIE to think so.

[Jeff Buchanan]

The link below was quite informative with regard to price increases. I link it because it tends to lend balance to the arguments that we are certainly going to hear in the coming months that Trump or his tariffs are responsible for the price increases of eggs, for example. You can expect those that want to blame inflation on Trump to cherry pick items that have gone up in prices ignoring those that have either stayed the same or decreased........

........Overall, supermarket prices are a complex amalgam of both the expenses and markups of manufacturers, wholesalers and the retailer as they respond to a myriad of factors, including harvests, seasons and shoppers' loyalties.......

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/14/nx-s1-5241014/walmart-prices-npr-shopping-cart-2024

[Jeff Buchanan]

........If you think charging importers a 25% tax on all foreign oil will not cause prices to go up, well, now you're starting to talk nonsense. And you don't have to be a PINKO COMMIE to think so.

Of course they will if Trump actually imposes them. I tend to agree with you that Trump's history on tariffs suggests he will do that. WRT tariffs on Chinese imports, it appears that both the Biden and Obama administrations slapped steep tariffs on them to force a decrease in China's trade surplus and Trump will likely continue them for good reasons (another separate discussion). Don't blame the downside of these on Trump.

[Dr. Strangelove]

All commodities are different. The tariffs will have a bigger impact on those where we have little domestic production. Like coffee or avocados, if it comes to that. Most fresh produce in the winter.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Of course they will if Trump actually imposes them. I tend to agree with you that Trump's history on tariffs suggests he will do that. WRT tariffs on Chinese imports, it appears that both the Biden and Obama administrations slapped steep tariffs on them to force a decrease in China's trade surplus and Trump will likely continue them for good reasons (another separate discussion). Don't blame the downside of these on Trump.

Everything is contingent on what Trump actually does but the tariff regime he's at least proposed would impact every country on earth, ally and foe alike, and it dwarfs the protectionist measures that Obama/Biden implemented. Trump's history suggests he views tariffs as a revenue-raising mechanism and thinks we should impose them against even our closest allies who are "being very unfair" and "taking advantage of us".

Trump's tariffs against China in 2018 did raise some revenue. And nearly every last penny of it was then used to bail out Midwest soybean farmers and save them from bankruptcy when China retaliated.

[THE_WIZARD_]

I'd like to charge a 1000% tariff on all of DSL's posts...

[Dr. Strangelove]

Oooo a new govt agency! Was this a recommendation by Elon & Vivek, the efficiency gurus?

Trump says will create 'external revenue service' to collect revenue from foreign sources | Reuters

[Jeff Buchanan]

So your saying Trump's tariffs (on China) will "dwarf" those applied by previous administration's?

Good.

Those fuckers have been purposely flooding western countries with cheap electric cars, tools, clothing and all manner of goods. The economic impact of that isnt trivial.....layoffs, lost jobs in the auto and appliace industries, shuttered small businesses for example.

Let them retaliate. The predictable impact in the west, especially the US, will be a shift to domestic sources. A net positive IMO.

[Dr. Strangelove]

So your saying Trump's tariffs (on China) will "dwarf" those applied by previous administration's?

Good.

Those fuckers have been purposely flooding western countries with cheap electric cars, tools, clothing and all manner of goods. The economic impact of that isnt trivial.....layoffs, lost jobs in the auto and appliace industries, shuttered small businesses for example.

Let them retaliate. The predictable impact in the west, especially the US, will be a shift to domestic sources. A net positive IMO.

We moved from a manufacturing to a services economy. We actually have a trade surplus with the rest of the world when you look at strictly services.

I'm fine with letting China make our jeans and Hanes tshirts. The people who proudly claim they would happily pay a significantly higher price for clothes are overwhelmingly lying. Look at how much you people bitch when eggs go up a $1.

Anyways Trump's proposed tariff regime isn't directed soley at China. It's directed at every country on earth. Targeted tariffs are sometimes necessary but his proposals are just stuffing rock salt in a shotgun.

What a far way American "conservatives" have come from the days of Reagan and free trade.

[Dr. Strangelove]

[THE_WIZARD_]

fuckin' Musk

[Mike]

Is the ERS accepting applications!?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Attach a receipt for a Trump Bible to your application and you'll be moved to the front of the line!!!!!