The National Debt hits $37 trillion

[Winco]

Mac's mom: "Here's $3.25 for a jug of milk"
Mac: "But a jug is only three dollars. Why not give me three dollars?"
Mac's mom: "I'm giving you extra to cover the sales tax."
Mac: "Why do I have to pay sales tax"
Mac's mom: "I'm paying the sales tax."
Mac: "No, you're not. I'll be the one giving the cashier the money".
Mac's mom: "Sigh! Where's your brother?"

I don't pay sales tax on the purchase of milk.

 

[Papageorgio]

The tariff income will slow the growth of the debt, then ultimately stop and reverse it.

I don’t see that much being generated, the good about tariffs is it is coming from foreign sources, the bad side is it will increase inflation as businesses adjust to keep profit margins. It’s a two edged sword sword. Cutting government is the quickest way to curb debt.

 

[Mashmont]

I don’t see that much being generated, the good about tariffs is it is coming from foreign sources, the bad side is it will increase inflation as businesses adjust to keep profit margins. It’s a two edged sword sword. Cutting government is the quickest way to curb debt.

I agree. Trump did a great job cutting government. Let's cut some more.

 

[leftwinger]

I'm pretty sure I've seen other Trumpsters surprisingly get this right.

Let's see if they can pop in here.

Who pays the tariff on imports arriving in the United States?

Who writes the tariff check?

There is only one answer here.

And who pays the tariff on Caterpillar bulldozers into South Korea? huh? no wonder I only say Hyundai equipment over there. Even the elevators (all) are Korean made. Cars......forget about it. 99% Korean you dumb OX. Everything has too high a duty or regulated to death. So USA can't legitimately compete. multiply that by 100 countries. But you never said a thing until we tried to get it more fair. WidaBeast TDS much? 50 years of your boys killing the country needs a good belt whipping.

 

[Mac1958]

And who pays the tariff on Caterpillar bulldozers into South Korea? huh? no wonder I only say Hyundai equipment over there. Even the elevators (all) are Korean made. Cars......forget about it. 99% Korean you dumb OX. Everything has too high a duty or regulated to death. So USA can't legitimately compete. multiply that by 100 countries. But you never said a thing until we tried to get it more fair. WidaBeast TDS much? 50 years of your boys killing the country needs a good belt whipping.

Who writes the check for the tariffs on goods imported to America?

Just answer the question. One or two words will do.

 

[leftwinger]

So NOW you love extra taxes on your purchases?

Tariffs are a TAX on the American Consumer.

Not if the importer lowers the price to cover added costs to them. Do you want to sell it? Or they can simply stop making it and stop importing it? Or they can drop tariffs on USA and USA will drop tarriffs on them. Or the USA can manufacture critical stuff they were making at less of a cost. Nothing is one way only. Stain need to wake up. You don't need that plastic garden tool made in China, WildaBeast much?

 

[leftwinger]

Who writes the check for the tariffs on goods imported to America?

Just answer the question. One or two words will do.

the importer? That has been answered day 1. Why are you still asking? The importer? Is that not correct?

Maybe you are TDS fishing for me to say the purchaser in the USA? Yeah, they might if they want it bad enough to pay higher.

 

[Mac1958]

the importer? That has been answered day 1. Why are you still asking? The importer? Is that not correct?

That's correct. Please tell your fellow Trumpster Mashmont. All he can do is tell stories about milk.

 

[Papageorgio]

I agree. Trump did a great job cutting government. Let's cut some more.

His bill added over $3 trillion to the debt with his spending bill. He is not a fiscal conservative by any means.

 

[Papageorgio]

Not if the importer lowers the price to cover added costs to them. Do you want to sell it? Or they can simply stop making it and stop importing it? Or they can drop tariffs on USA and USA will drop tarriffs on them. Or the USA can manufacture critical stuff they were making at less of a cost. Nothing is one way only. Stain need to wake up. You don't need that plastic garden tool made in China WildaBeast much?

Why would a company lower costs if it is costing them more to produce?

 

[leftwinger]

If USA makes a $10K John Deere Tractor with a 10% tariff to sell into France? Then they have to sell it at $25K to get profit for example (shipping costs, marketing, floor space, salespersons etc.).

If France makes a $10K Tractor with a 0% tariff to sell into FRANCE? They can sell it cheaper and capture the market share? $1000 less right out of the gate.

 

[Winco]

Not if the importer lowers the price to cover added costs to them. Do you want to sell it? Or they can simply stop making it and stop importing it? Or they can drop tariffs on USA and USA will drop tarriffs on them. Or the USA can manufacture critical stuff they were making at less of a cost. Nothing is one way only. Stain need to wake up. You don't need that plastic garden tool made in China WildaBeast much?

Ford’s U.S. Manufacturing Footprint​

• Production Volume & Workforce
  Ford assembled more than 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, making it the leading U.S.-based automaker by production volume Ford Corporate.
  It employs approximately 57,000 hourly manufacturing workers in the U.S.—more than any other automaker Ford Corporate.
• Domestic Sales & Exports
  Nearly 80% of vehicles Ford sells in the U.S. are assembled domestically Ford Corporate.
• Facilities & Assembly Plants
  Ford operates numerous U.S. manufacturing plants:
  • Flat Rock Assembly (Michigan) – produces the Mustang
  • Chicago Assembly (Illinois) – produces Explorer and Lincoln Aviator Wikipedia+1
  • Dearborn Truck (Michigan) – F-150 pickup Wikipedia
  • Kansas City Assembly (Missouri) – F-150 and Transit vans; ~9,000 hourly workers Wikipedia+1
  • Kentucky Truck Plant (Louisville, KY) – Super Duty, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator; ~8,500 workers Wikipedia
  • Louisville Assembly Plant (KY) – Escape and Lincoln Corsair (until 2026 when models transition) Wikipedia
  • Michigan Assembly Plant (Wayne, MI) – Bronco and Ranger; ~5,600 hourly employees Wikipedia
• Model-Level Localization
  Components of key models assembled in the U.S. include:
  • F-150: ~45% U.S./Canada content (both Dearborn and Kansas City)
  • Mustang: ~41% (Flat Rock)
  • Ranger & Bronco: ~46% (Michigan Assembly)
  • Explorer and Aviator: ~43% and ~40%, respectively (Chicago) Wikipedia

---

How Tariffs Affect Ford​

1. Direct Cost Impact​

• In Q2 2025, Ford incurred $800 million in tariff‐related costs Reason.comReuters.
• The company expects tariffs to reduce annual adjusted pre‐tax profit by approximately $3 billion, up from earlier estimates of $1.5–2 billion ReutersBusiness InsiderKiplingerAP News.

2. Structural Disadvantages​

• Despite domestic assembly strength, Ford is uniquely vulnerable to tariffs on raw materials and imported parts—such as steel, aluminum, EV battery cells, and chips—compared to foreign automakers benefiting from recent trade deals Wall Street JournalBusiness Insider.
• Trade agreements lowering tariffs for Japanese-made cars (to 15%) further tilt the playing field versus Ford’s U.S.–assembled vehicles Wall Street JournalBusiness Insider.

3. Strategic Responses and Outlook​

• Operational adjustments have reduced some costs (e.g., rerouting imports via Canada), but uncertainty remains high ReutersAP News.
• CEO Jim Farley frames tariffs as potentially leveling the competitive landscape and supports them as aligning with Ford’s domestic-first approach New York Post.
• Still, Ford continues to seek relief and negotiate with policymakers as it weathers margin pressure Reason.comBusiness InsiderNew York Post.

---

Summary Table​

Topic	Key Insights
U.S. Manufacturing	~1.8 million vehicles assembled; ~57,000 hourly workers; 80% of U.S. sales made domestically
Plants & Production	Several major U.S. assembly plants across MI, IL, MO, KY; key models (F-150, Mustang, Bronco, etc.)
Tariff Impact	$800M tariff costs in Q2; projected $3B hit for 2025; material and part tariffs hurt more than competitor vehicle tariffs
Strategic Reaction	Operational tweaks, executive negotiations; mixed messaging on tariff benefits vs. competitive disadvantages

 

[leftwinger]

Why would a company lower costs if it is costing them more to produce?

Their production costs do not change? They don't have to raise the sales price to add on the tariff cost.

But if that item becomes un-sellable at a ridiculously high price? Or they have to sell at a loss? They might want to eat some of the cost and lower profit to stay in business. Maybe US goods start to show up on shelves again to replace the stuff foreigners give up on'?

Again....if other countries to go zero tariff so will the USA according to the policy statements I read.

 

[leftwinger]

His bill added over $3 trillion to the debt with his spending bill. He is not a fiscal conservative by any means.

Allegedly. over 10 years. They can't predict rain next week better than 50-50. This is just TDS fear mongering perhaps. Maybe it ends up even more? Certainly less than any Obiden no matter what they do? Short of another Deep State self inflicted wound. But I would bet on Trump policy beating the estimates. Maybe the country will over-achieve and succeed? It can happen.

 

[leftwinger]

Ford’s U.S. Manufacturing Footprint​

• Production Volume & Workforce
  Ford assembled more than 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, making it the leading U.S.-based automaker by production volume Ford Corporate.
  It employs approximately 57,000 hourly manufacturing workers in the U.S.—more than any other automaker Ford Corporate.
• Domestic Sales & Exports
  Nearly 80% of vehicles Ford sells in the U.S. are assembled domestically Ford Corporate.
  • Flat Rock Assembly (Michigan) – produces the Mustang
  • Chicago Assembly (Illinois) – produces Explorer and Lincoln Aviator Wikipedia+1
  • Dearborn Truck (Michigan) – F-150 pickup Wikipedia
  • Kansas City Assembly (Missouri) – F-150 and Transit vans; ~9,000 hourly workers Wikipedia+1
  • Kentucky Truck Plant (Louisville, KY) – Super Duty, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator; ~8,500 workers Wikipedia
  • Louisville Assembly Plant (KY) – Escape and Lincoln Corsair (until 2026 when models transition) Wikipedia
  • Michigan Assembly Plant (Wayne, MI) – Bronco and Ranger; ~5,600 hourly employees Wikipedia

---

How Tariffs Affect Ford​

1. Direct Cost Impact​

• In Q2 2025, Ford incurred $800 million in tariff‐related costs Reason.comReuters.
• The company expects tariffs to reduce annual adjusted pre‐tax profit by approximately $3 billion, up from earlier estimates of $1.5–2 billion ReutersBusiness InsiderKiplingerAP News.

2. Structural Disadvantages​

• Despite domestic assembly strength, Ford is uniquely vulnerable to tariffs on raw materials and imported parts—such as steel, aluminum, EV battery cells, and chips—compared to foreign automakers benefiting from recent trade deals Wall Street JournalBusiness Insider.
• Trade agreements lowering tariffs for Japanese-made cars (to 15%) further tilt the playing field versus Ford’s U.S.–assembled vehicles Wall Street JournalBusiness Insider.

3. Strategic Responses and Outlook​

• Operational adjustments have reduced some costs (e.g., rerouting imports via Canada), but uncertainty remains high ReutersAP News.
• CEO Jim Farley frames tariffs as potentially leveling the competitive landscape and supports them as aligning with Ford’s domestic-first approach New York Post.
• Still, Ford continues to seek relief and negotiate with policymakers as it weathers margin pressure Reason.comBusiness InsiderNew York Post.

---

Summary Table​

Topic	Key Insights
U.S. Manufacturing	~1.8 million vehicles assembled; ~57,000 hourly workers; 80% of U.S. sales made domestically
Plants & Production	Several major U.S. assembly plants across MI, IL, MO, KY; key models (F-150, Mustang, Bronco, etc.)
Tariff Impact	$800M tariff costs in Q2; projected $3B hit for 2025; material and part tariffs hurt more than competitor vehicle tariffs
Strategic Reaction	Operational tweaks, executive negotiations; mixed messaging on tariff benefits vs. competitive disadvantages

Car assembly. The only reason Japanese do it here it to avoid shipping it over. The good jobs in design all stay overseas. They make the critical costly stuff in their control and ship it in. We are the slave labor. same as USA does to dirty Mexico or cleaner Canada. I don't know what point you are making?

 

[Mashmont]

His bill added over $3 trillion to the debt with his spending bill. He is not a fiscal conservative by any means.

3T over ten years is admirable, considering opposition even from his own party. A big slowdown in spending. Overall revenue should surpass that. Trump is indeed a conservative. He cut things no other president had even tried.

Trump's DJIA poised to close at an all time high today. Leftwingers said recession by summer. What happened?

 

[Papageorgio]

Their production costs do not change? They don't have to raise the sales price to add on the tariff cost.

But if that item becomes un-sellable at a ridiculously high price? Or they have to sell at a loss? They might want to eat some of the cost and lower profit to stay in business. Maybe US goods start to show up on shelves again to replace the stuff foreigners give up on'?

Again....if other countries to go zero tariff so will the USA according to the policy statements I read.

Or they just don’t sell it anymore because it isn’t profitable. Also, tariffs effect the price of raw materials, so thing manufactured in the USA has to import raw materials, which is tariffed, which causes a price increase.

Tariffs aren’t all bad, they help bring foreign money to help our country to grow, however inflation is a consequence of tariffs. Now, if the tariffs of our exports are lower, than our goods are at a lower cost to countries, which then could bring demand, more jobs, higher demand for workers which includes higher pay to offset inflation.

The reality is we are the number importer for most countries which allows us better bargaining positions. We are by far China, Canada and Europes largest trading partners, we have great leverage with all these countries, so using it is to our advantage.

 

[leftwinger]

3T over ten years is admirable, considering opposition even from his own party. A big slowdown in spending. Overall revenue should surpass that.

I never did understand if that was "new additional debt" on top the $1T expected or what? If it drops to $300B per year that is 1/7 of Obiden debt. That would be a huge win. But accurate predictions out of TDS Obiden holdovers? They can get that big of savings if too-late Powell had dropped interest rates 1% (interest costs on the debt)?

What if they launch another virus? How many riots are they going to start? The SEPT 17 shutdown day is coming? one day the Stain stay home? lol! they don't work anyways.

 

[Papageorgio]

Allegedly. over 10 years. They can't predict rain next week better than 50-50. This is just TDS fear mongering perhaps. Maybe it ends up even more? Certainly less than any Obiden no matter what they do? Short of another Deep State self inflicted wound. But I would bet on Trump policy beating the estimates. Maybe the country will over-achieve and succeed? It can happen.

You maybe right, however 100 plus years of history says you are wrong. We need to cut spending across the board and raise taxes across the board to lower debt.

 

[Mashmont]

Hey guys, I'm dancing a jig today. Trump's stock market poised to close at an all time high. I call on every leftwinger to celebrate AND to apologize to the great man for doubting him.