Any CEO surrounds themselves with trusted advisors. While Trump seems like he is close to needing a seat on the sidelines he has someone or a group of people who are getting things right.
Its those people that are important. Trunp is a messenger and his track record shows hes an effective one.
I do not claim that he has diagnosed any specific problem correctly. But understand that I am not and have never been a free market Republican. I have always fallen in with the Democrats, at least until the last decade or two, in supporting protectionist trade policies and private sector unions.
I have seen interviews from the 90s where Trump railed against the unfairness of our trade with China. I'm also aware that until shortly before he decided to run for President he identified as a Democrat. Putting those long term facts into the equation, I suspect that he has a sense of China eating our lunch without a clear understanding of all the intricacies. I can relate to that.
If lashing out with tough rhetoric and wild tariffs is his reflex, well, that's a lot better way of addressing it than literally any other President has used. I think someone on this board posted a nice twitter thread about the problem of dealing with China's policies. We can't respond in kind to their theft of IP, or manipulation of currency, or manufacturing subsidies. Tariffs are the club that is being used because there really isn't a scalpel.
But to be clear, I would love the protectionism even without the China problem. I see free trade as a boon to the top tenth of a percent at the expense of the lower and middle classes. College economic theory disagrees with me (and our nation's recent history), and I'm okay with that. They'll get tired of being wrong eventually.
Go get him!
Founding member of the Whiny Little Bitches and Pricks Club
You hear that? Thats proplr who shut the **** up about the amazon bring in fire.
Embarassing
acesfull86 (08-27-2019)
Short term attitude. What are the ramifications of these jobs not being in the US for manufacturing? I guess its great that someone is saving 5 dollars on a cheap shirt though.
No country is like the US. We could produce a larger percentage of the goods needed to sustain a country than any other place in the world.
Natural Immunity Croc
People all across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the rest of the Rust Belt turned out to vote for Trump because of free trade's track record and impact on the blue collar class.
And we haven't touched on the fact that our "free trade" partners are often using subsidized manufacturing. That hardly fits the ideals of free trade theory. Does it make sense for our country to practice free trade with those who do not reciprocate? Our commercial shipbuilding industry, and when it began its precipitous decline, would say no.
Go get him!
Founding member of the Whiny Little Bitches and Pricks Club
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
if you're admitting that antifa doesn't and wouldn't have guns
then i think you're admitting they really aren't that scary and are from the terrorist group boogey man you are terrified of and make them out to be
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"
I'm not arguing against the fact that many people in those states have a similar view to yours. I'm actually arguing two different matters:
1) The wisdom of those views. There is an issue about the lack of upward mobility of certain demographic groups. It is an important issue. And I would like to see it properly diagnosed. The patient is not always the best person to look to for a diagnosis.
2) I also think that the "protectionism" that you are longing for is not in fact what the Chosen One is pursuing. He is replacing one trade deal with Canada and Mexico with another. When you compare the two deals there are some things better in one and some things better in the other. But the new deal (assuming it passes Congress) does not represent any sort of break with existing trade policy. It tinkers at the edges. Similarly, what is going to come out of this tariff war with China will very much resemble the current arrangement, at least in terms of its impact on ordinary American consumers and workers. So we will have gone through a tax increase for consumers (tariffs), disruptions to supply chains, an economic slowdown, pain and anxiety to our farmers for very little. What's the point.
As for subsidies, I say bring em on. If someone offers to subsidize anything I'm buying, I'm quite happy to accept.
Last edited by nsacpi; 08-27-2019 at 08:07 AM.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
acesfull86 (08-27-2019)
Last edited by nsacpi; 08-27-2019 at 08:09 AM.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
I'm not assuming cheap is better. The point is based upon choices millions of consumers make. Some prefer more expensive and higher quality. Others prefer cheap. That's their choice. I wouldn't presume to tell people what choices to make when they go shopping.
Just checked the label on my shirt. Madagascar. Hey. Don't take away my Malgache shirt.
And I'll add something that to me is an important part of this discussion. Malgache are children of God. As are Chinese. And Guatamalans. And Indians. And Nigerians. My concern for the well being of my fellow human beings is all encompassing. It is not restricted by geography or nationality. I don't expect other people to share this view. But it is mine. Thanks to trade, an enormous number of my fellow human beings have been lifted from poverty in the past 30 years. And millions more will experience the same in coming decades. It is not something I want to see thrown away due to a misdiagnosis about what ails blue collar workers in this country.
Last edited by nsacpi; 08-27-2019 at 08:38 AM.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
acesfull86 (08-27-2019), Carp (08-27-2019)
Great country
"For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman
"When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross"