Discussion»Questions»Current Events and News» Does the stupid, unscrupulous, honor-less buffoon in the WH really understand his tariffs are actually paid by Americans buying goods?
I think his logic was that the tariffs would cause more companies to purchase American materials and would ultimately put more Americans to work, improving the economy overall.
It's not going to happen that way- economists are pretty much in agreement with that, but I don't think it was ever really about who pays them. If anything it was probably a mixture of the above and him intentionally starting a pissing contest to see which countries would bow.
That may be a possibility in the very long term, but that is assuming other issues don’t arise before that. These tariffs hit (and are paid by) American consumers in the short term, and throughout their duration, but Trump has somehow convinced himself this isn’t so. Think about it, Walmart gets a huge portion of its merch from places like China and Mexico, they will have to raise prices; these tariffs hit the largest and most vulnerable classes of American consumers. Trump is either clueless, in denial, or straight doesn’t care.
I think he knows it and doesn't care. I think he wants to help American manufacturers make more profits at home. It may backfire. If people choose to live within their means they will simply learn to make do with less.
I would assert other steps should be integral in that process, instead of just dropping the hammer and forcing constituents to bite the bullet.
The problem I see is that Trump looks at tariffs as the magic bullet, his convenient go-to, because he can do it at his whim, and it looks like action. Now, to spin it.
People will either buy American or pay more. Or the other countries will cave. We will see how it plays out. If it hurts the Amercan people and/or sours the economy Trump will pay in 2020.
Problem is, buying American often IS paying more. Imported goods are so pervasive because they are either more competitively priced, or we don’t make them here anymore,... or make them as well.
Between you and me, I figure Trump has already done enough to “pay in 2020”, but we agree that if the economy suffers, it’s a done deal.
This post was edited by Don Barzini at June 9, 2019 7:14 PM MDT
They have agreed to: Deploy troops to the border Allow asylum seekers to be sent go Mex until the process is complete Provide Job opportunities to migrants Work to stop human trafficking and smuggling And agree to do further actions if these do not work.
Just Asking 