An articulate pro-MAGA argument for a tariff reset

[Mac1958]

Actually core inflation was worse than overall inflation but I agree its too early to tell.

It increased, but not quite as much. Looking for a silver lining. 2.9% from 2.8%.

 

[Mac1958]

Dodging an imaginary bullet. Is that what you guys are going to go with now? Funny stuff.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

I used to think that most Democrats were just misinformed and ignorant. I am beginning to believe that they are just plain stupid more often than not.

That's you in the spotlight....

 

[Cellblock2429]

I used to think that most Democrats were just misinformed and ignorant. I am beginning to believe that they are just plain stupid more often than not.

/—-/ Or they don’t care about the real numbers. They post what they wish was happening.

 

[SweetTea]

That's you in the spotlight....

Except that I am one of the "rich" people you self-proclaimed brainiacs love to hate. There is a reason that successful people are successful.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Except that I am one of the "rich" people you self-proclaimed brainiacs love to hate. There is a reason that successful people are successful.

Sure, you are, sweet cheeks, whereas I am actually one of those people.

 

[Missourian]

It is great news if it reciprocally reduces Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercury, Chevy and Ford tariffs into Europe.

 

[SweetTea]

Sure, you are, sweet cheeks, whereas I am actually one of those people.

Whatever you want to believe. I don't really care. All I know is that you support a party that often talks about "evil" rich people and taxing them to death. That would supposedly be you. Either you aren't actually "rich", don't know what your party supports or you only support them to be popular at dinner parties in the liberal NE or West. When the rubber meets the road, if you are a "rich" Democrat, you, like most of the others, vote against taxing "rich" people because you only like to talk a big game, not actually pony up when the times comes to pay for all the freebees you party supports.

 

[leftwinger]

Tariffs are a strategic tool, not a tax—they force adversaries to the table. China slashed tariffs from 125% to 10% under U.S. pressure, while America cut from 145% to 30%. That’s leverage in action.

The chaos? Part of the playbook.The result? Beijing blinked first, proving Trump’s aggressive posture works. The Big Beautiful Bill locks in these gains, redirecting $1.6T from globalist bloat to American priorities.
Short-term pain for long-term sovereignty isn’t a tax—it’s a recalibration.

**stolen from DOGE automated

 

[leftwinger]

If they can remove income tax on those below $150K..........that will help offset any tariff costs we could pay. WINNING. But rich bankers will pay both. Tax on $100million income and increased cost for cars and yachts.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Paying your or my fair share is not being taxed to death, sweet cheeks.

I am fine with it. That will not change my lifestyle.

 

[g5000]

Rethinking Trade Tariffs: Why a Global Trade Reset is Good for Growth

For those of us who are pro-tariff but very much against the way this whole thing has been handled, that's a link to an articulate, intelligent argument for what Trump is doing. Obviously it's one-sided, but it is thoughtful and reasonable.

This is precisely the kind of argument that could have been made to our trading parters and (former) friends behind closed doors from the beginning. We could even have put the hammer down and said something like "America is going to see to it that this reset happens. We very much want to work closely with you on it, but please understand it's time for a reset". But this insane clown show was not required.

That's how it's done in a respectful, intelligent, professional way, instead of resorting to insults, accusations, mockery, anger, intimidation and punishment. We've now seriously damaged our relationships with our (former) friends, they're creating new trade relationships that don't include us, and it never had to happen.

I have to bail in a minute, but I wanted to jot down a couple thoughts before I do.

First, being the world's reserve currency requires we have trade deficits. I am going to start a topic about this soon.

Note; I have several topics I want to start! Shipbuilding, the perils of a reserve currency, and something else I can't remember right now.

Second, budget deficits also cause trade deficits. And we have $36 trillion of debt! Give or take.

A budget deficit results in a short-term appreciation of the dollar, thus making imports cheaper for us, and exports more expensive for other countries.

We keep piling on more and bigger deficits with each passing year.

Okay. Gotta go.

 

[Mac1958]

I have to bail in a minute, but I wanted to jot down a couple thoughts before I do.

First, being the world's reserve currency requires we have trade deficits. I am going to start a topic about this soon.

Note; I have several topics I want to start! Shipbuilding, the perils of a reserve currency, and something else I can't remember right now.

Second, budget deficits also cause trade deficits. And we have $36 trillion of debt! Give or take.

A budget deficit results in a short-term appreciation of the dollar, thus making imports cheaper for us, and exports more expensive for other countries.

We keep piling on more and bigger deficits with each passing year.

Okay. Gotta go.

Being the most dynamic economy in the world, we're automatically going to have trade deficits with most countries as well.

Aside from the absolutely absurd tariff percentages Trump has been spraying around like water, he has demonstrated what we already knew: He doesn't know SHIT about global macroeconomics. Why in the world would you put or threaten tariffs on tiny countries with tiny economies? That helps NO ONE.

This whole tariff circus is about Trump playing the victim (and he's been doing this for decades on tariffs) and making all of America do the same. He's got his mindless rubes thinking that everyone else is the evil meanie and we're the ******* victim.

And by the way: He STILL thinks the other countries are paying these ******* tariffs.

This could have been done completely differently. It could have been done NORMALLY. But Trump is a ******* mental patient and his hapless flock can't bring themselves to see it.

 

[candycorn]

Rethinking Trade Tariffs: Why a Global Trade Reset is Good for Growth

For those of us who are pro-tariff but very much against the way this whole thing has been handled, that's a link to an articulate, intelligent argument for what Trump is doing. Obviously it's one-sided, but it is thoughtful and reasonable.

This is precisely the kind of argument that could have been made to our trading parters and (former) friends behind closed doors from the beginning. We could even have put the hammer down and said something like "America is going to see to it that this reset happens. We very much want to work closely with you on it, but please understand it's time for a reset". But this insane clown show was not required.

That's how it's done in a respectful, intelligent, professional way, instead of resorting to insults, accusations, mockery, anger, intimidation and punishment. We've now seriously damaged our relationships with our (former) friends, they're creating new trade relationships that don't include us, and it never had to happen.

The only reason we’re seeing these reckless tariffs is because of the trade deficit. Trump loves stupid people. Those are the only ones who will vote for him; he’s one of them. Seeing the word “deficit” creates a visceral negative reaction in dumb people (aka Trump supporters). A trade deficit such as ours is a sign of a good economy. It means that we’re not only supporting domestic business but have the income to import a lot more than we are producing.

Why they want to change that is straight up bizarre.

 

[SweetTea]

Paying your or my fair share is not being taxed to death, sweet cheeks.

I am fine with it. That will not change my lifestyle.

Capital gains taxes aside, how exactly are the working wealthy not paying their fair share? They pay a progressive tax rate all the way up to 37% of their AGI on every bit of money they make above 626k(single) or 751k(married filing jointly). If a single filer makes 1 million, he pays 138k in taxes just from the 374k he makes above 626k. That doesn’t include the taxes on the money below 626k. He also likely pays more in property taxes. Does his car wear the rodes more than others? Does the other property he own burden society in some way or does he just pay more because the property is worth more? How is he not paying his fair share?

 

[SweetTea]

Trump loves stupid people. Those are the only ones who will vote for him; he’s one of them.

What a complete load of crap. As I have mentioned many times before, my wife the MD, her partners who are also MD’s, my neighbor, the Phd, my son’s friends parents who are engineers and CPAs, my dad, a retired VP, my wife's’ dad a retired engineer and Valedictorian, etc. These aren’t stupid people, in fact, these are the ones likely paying for the majority of the freebees and programs the nutty Democratic Party supports. You need to take a look in the mirror.

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Capital gains taxes aside, how exactly are the working wealthy not paying their fair share? They pay a progressive tax rate all the way up to 37% of their AGI on every bit of money they make above 626k(single) or 751k(married filing jointly). If a single filer makes 1 million, he pays 138k in taxes just from the 374k he makes above 626k. That doesn’t include the taxes on the money below 626k. He also likely pays more in property taxes. Does his car wear the rodes more than others? Does the other property he own burden society in some way or does he just pay more because the property is worth more? How is he not paying his fair share?

Then they don't need a tax break. Right?

 

[SweetTea]

Then they don't need a tax break. Right?

Yeah, actually they kind of do. Did you even read what I wrote?

 

[John Edgar Slow Horses]

Yeah, actually they kind of do. Did you even read what I wrote?

Sure. You don't want to pay your share at all.

 

[SweetTea]

Sure. You don't want to pay your share at all.

I pay more taxes than most make. That is a fair share.