What is clear about Trump, evident even in his book Art of the Deal, is that he doesn't understand (or doesn't want to) that a trade can and should be win-win. He does not consider any trade a win unless the other party *loses*.
Also, "trade deficits" are not simply irrelevant, they are an anti-concept (at least with a free-market as the context). Since trade, by its nature is win-win, there can be no deficits. The notion of a deficit (or surplus) is counting up the dollar bills paid out to other nations and comparing that to the dollar value of other nations' currencies coming in as they pay for stuff. What is conveniently forgotten is that *goods* are going the other way in both cases, and all parties involved are winning as a result.
The fact that country A might be able to sell more goods to country B than B buys from A has exactly nothing to do with "deficits or surpluses" any more than with your example of buying from Costco while Costco buys nothing from you. It is a voluntary trade, full stop.
I believe Trump - and whoever has Trump's ear on the issue - is orders of magnitude "smarter" than Biden, or whoever has Biden's ear. That's not saying much, however I see none of the talk about tariffs as about actually tariffing, so much as it is about signaling intents and consequences for bad behavior. Tariffing Canada or Mexico would brutalize those economies while being a minor inconvenience to us - while their enabling of millions of illegal immigrants into our sovereign territory is a MAJOR inconvenience (even an existential threat) to us. That shit has to stop and this is ONE way a president can accomplish that without congressional authorization. He just has to SAY it, and he does, and the problem is vastly improved.
As for the Canal, that's a different problem. The Chinese are dumping billions into strategic locations throughout the world, including South and Central America. When those nations can't make good on their debts - and they NEVER can - the Chinese "collect" in the form of "control" over those assets. This is what concerns Trump about the Canal. We built it, we gave it to Panama, and now they're playing footsie with the Chinese. Shut that shit down.
As for Greenland, I don't see the strategic angle, but someone with Trump's ear does. Perhaps with global warming it will soon be known as Grainland. I don't know. But he does and I trust we'll understand more about that as it unfolds. Or folds. It may just be another verbal gambit we're not expected to understand - as you say.
I recall his first round of tariffs. They banged the stock market pretty hard for a bit.
If tariffs are a policy lever, that's one thing. But, I'm not going to give him credit for that until I see it occur that way. He's given us plenty of talk that supports a conclusion that he likes tariffs for their own sake, or as a "repatriating jobs" mechanism, which no freedom lover should support.
As to the rest, I tend to agree, but again, I abide.
It’s been a peeve of mine for years that one seemingly has to consult an oracle to figure out what the [redacted] Trump is talking about. Coupled with the wry observation that women are supposedly impossible to understand, because we talk in circles and don’t say what we really mean.
I'm taking the same plan as you, wait and see. I've learned, especially throughout 2024, that the media of both sides likes to get people riled up, "Trump said X so let's walk through what that could mean", and I grew tired of it quickly. I'm trying to limit what I read now because of that and will take a wait and see approach
Well, within the free trade thing, Adam Smith arguing better to import French wine than try to produce as good in England, he also felt you needed to do what you do well. That’s where the US has been failing. Our education system is terrible on all practical levels. We have outsourced all the things we once did well.
When our only skill is ability to consume the future is not bright.
I'm a bit more optimistic. Americans rejected woke ideology this past election, and top-tier universities are starting to suffer from rejection of their current product.
The fundamentals that built America are still wired into many of us.
What is clear about Trump, evident even in his book Art of the Deal, is that he doesn't understand (or doesn't want to) that a trade can and should be win-win. He does not consider any trade a win unless the other party *loses*.
Also, "trade deficits" are not simply irrelevant, they are an anti-concept (at least with a free-market as the context). Since trade, by its nature is win-win, there can be no deficits. The notion of a deficit (or surplus) is counting up the dollar bills paid out to other nations and comparing that to the dollar value of other nations' currencies coming in as they pay for stuff. What is conveniently forgotten is that *goods* are going the other way in both cases, and all parties involved are winning as a result.
The fact that country A might be able to sell more goods to country B than B buys from A has exactly nothing to do with "deficits or surpluses" any more than with your example of buying from Costco while Costco buys nothing from you. It is a voluntary trade, full stop.
He has so much rolling around in his head and it just flows forth from his mouth unredacted. I believe it’s part a weird thought process.
I believe Trump - and whoever has Trump's ear on the issue - is orders of magnitude "smarter" than Biden, or whoever has Biden's ear. That's not saying much, however I see none of the talk about tariffs as about actually tariffing, so much as it is about signaling intents and consequences for bad behavior. Tariffing Canada or Mexico would brutalize those economies while being a minor inconvenience to us - while their enabling of millions of illegal immigrants into our sovereign territory is a MAJOR inconvenience (even an existential threat) to us. That shit has to stop and this is ONE way a president can accomplish that without congressional authorization. He just has to SAY it, and he does, and the problem is vastly improved.
As for the Canal, that's a different problem. The Chinese are dumping billions into strategic locations throughout the world, including South and Central America. When those nations can't make good on their debts - and they NEVER can - the Chinese "collect" in the form of "control" over those assets. This is what concerns Trump about the Canal. We built it, we gave it to Panama, and now they're playing footsie with the Chinese. Shut that shit down.
As for Greenland, I don't see the strategic angle, but someone with Trump's ear does. Perhaps with global warming it will soon be known as Grainland. I don't know. But he does and I trust we'll understand more about that as it unfolds. Or folds. It may just be another verbal gambit we're not expected to understand - as you say.
I recall his first round of tariffs. They banged the stock market pretty hard for a bit.
If tariffs are a policy lever, that's one thing. But, I'm not going to give him credit for that until I see it occur that way. He's given us plenty of talk that supports a conclusion that he likes tariffs for their own sake, or as a "repatriating jobs" mechanism, which no freedom lover should support.
As to the rest, I tend to agree, but again, I abide.
I agree. He is a confusing man. I didn't vote for him because I understood him. I voted for him because I understood the other guy.
Yes, this.
It’s been a peeve of mine for years that one seemingly has to consult an oracle to figure out what the [redacted] Trump is talking about. Coupled with the wry observation that women are supposedly impossible to understand, because we talk in circles and don’t say what we really mean.
Yeah, right. 🙄
I'm taking the same plan as you, wait and see. I've learned, especially throughout 2024, that the media of both sides likes to get people riled up, "Trump said X so let's walk through what that could mean", and I grew tired of it quickly. I'm trying to limit what I read now because of that and will take a wait and see approach
You are right, unfortunately. Hype sells, in both directions, and everyone wants to put their two cents in right away.
Well, within the free trade thing, Adam Smith arguing better to import French wine than try to produce as good in England, he also felt you needed to do what you do well. That’s where the US has been failing. Our education system is terrible on all practical levels. We have outsourced all the things we once did well.
When our only skill is ability to consume the future is not bright.
I'm a bit more optimistic. Americans rejected woke ideology this past election, and top-tier universities are starting to suffer from rejection of their current product.
The fundamentals that built America are still wired into many of us.