General Discussion

Mosby

(16,258 posts)

31. Trump and the republicans are never going to enact tariffs on anyone

Fri Jan 27, 2017, 08:05 PM

Jan 2017

But free trade is slowly destroying the American middle class. We are openly trading with countries that have no labor, environmental or building standards. A graduated use of tariffs is a way to encourage trading countries to make improvements in those areas, and those that choose to do nothing will pay the highest tariff.

Tariffs are not necessarily designed to move jobs back to the US, manufacturing for example involves a lot of sunk costs, so with or without a tariff tax the company still has to get it's money out of the investment, but with a tariff at least we can equalize trade somewhat and use the revenue for things America needs like infrastructure improvements and maybe a guaranteed minimum income for everyone.

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Can we say INFLATION? [View all] The_Voice_of_Reason Jan 2017 OP

I could not buy a thing during the era 1970-1985 CountAllVotes Jan 2017 #1

My first home loan was at 9 % Yupster Jan 2017 #2

BINGO The_Voice_of_Reason Jan 2017 #6

Only Sort of Voice ProfessorGAC Jan 2017 #8

wander thru the produce aisle and just see how much comes from mexico dembotoz Jan 2017 #3

So now it's the progressive view that the key to a solid middle class is low prices at Wal-Mart? DefenseLawyer Jan 2017 #21

Affordable goods are always a key to a solid middle-class. Hayabusa Jan 2017 #22

Welcome to the Democratic Underground The_Voice_of_Reason CountAllVotes Jan 2017 #4

Thank YOU! The_Voice_of_Reason Jan 2017 #5

I am glad to see you here CountAllVotes Jan 2017 #10

The price of practically everything we buy will be affected by tariffs. An auto plant in doc03 Jan 2017 #7

Which is why The_Voice_of_Reason Jan 2017 #9

china's ecomony depends on our purchases Mosby Jan 2017 #19

I guess Trump is your man then nt doc03 Jan 2017 #23

Trump and the republicans are never going to enact tariffs on anyone Mosby Jan 2017 #31

Economic theory suggests that tariffs taught_me_patience Jan 2017 #11

true, but with a 20% tariff the consumer's share will be plenty painful enough no matter what. unblock Jan 2017 #26

It is better to buy things made by slaves & children in hazardous conditions! Omaha Steve Jan 2017 #12

It may sound like a good thing but you think we can slap on a 20% tariff overnight it won't cause doc03 Jan 2017 #13

Maybe tainted baby food from China is ok with you? Omaha Steve Jan 2017 #15

I don't think poisoning the babies and a 20% tariff are the only two choices, LanternWaste Jan 2017 #16

Have you goggled tainted products imported to the US? Omaha Steve Jan 2017 #17

As far as China I don't think we should ever have bought one damn thing from a doc03 Jan 2017 #24

i agree with the goal, but tarriffs are a very, very crude weapon. unblock Jan 2017 #27

It's funny that because idiot Trump rants incoherently against "free trade" DefenseLawyer Jan 2017 #14

no kidding Mosby Jan 2017 #18

you don't have to be a chicago school economist to know that a 20% tariff on mexico is stupid. unblock Jan 2017 #28

Hyperinflation sarcasmo Jan 2017 #20

Unless people simply do without those products or we produce them here at home. Motown_Johnny Jan 2017 #25

usa-grown alternatives would jack up prices as well. unblock Jan 2017 #30

But not sending that money out of the country is beneficial to our economy. Motown_Johnny Jan 2017 #32

the international economy is a complex beast, and you can't tinker one thing without unblock Jan 2017 #33

The same argument can be made in reverse. Motown_Johnny Jan 2017 #34

i support certain things that would be considered "protectionist" unblock Jan 2017 #35

Currency war, trade war... roamer65 Jan 2017 #29