No more slave labor making our products while charging us a ridiculous tariff

RealEstateBear said:

---

No more slave labor making our products while charging us a ridiculous tariff

---

But who will pick the cotton without the slaves?

Oh sorry.... I mean who will make the sneakers and toasters?

Assassin said:

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boognish_bear said:

---

JUST IN: 🇨🇦🇺🇸 Canadian Prime Minister Carney says the era of integration with the US economy is over.

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 3, 2025

---

About time they stopped screwing us

---

Serious question: How has Canada been screwing us? Their tariffs are low, and about the same as ours.

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

There's little evidence that the tariffs are going to pay down national debt, and the miniscule amounts it collects is going to be from the American consumer.

So, in reality, he's using the American consumer to pay down the national debt.

---

The amounts collected by tariffs are not miniscule but still tariffs alone wont pay down the debt... it needs to be paired with massive cuts to government spending - specifically expensive foreign wars.

I take it you are in the "massive tax hikes on income and capital gains" camp.

---

They're miniscule when compared to the debt, which was my point. They will barely make a dent.

I am not sure what the "massive tax hikes on income and capital gains" camp is. Care to explain?

I am generally free market, low taxes, limited govt. and not putting artificial procedures on the market which will only feed the pocketbooks of the unions - you know, the kind of conservative fiscal principles that Republicans have been known for the last 100 years or so. In that regard, I do admittedly have a problem with what is essentially a massive tax hike on the American consumer being used to pay down the national debt. I see you take no issue with it.

---

I'd rather see tariffs used to increase government revenues than an increase in the capital gains tax that would tank the markets far more severely than tariffs do.

---

I would rather see neither. It's not an either/or.

Allowing Israel to charge us a 17 percent tariff is the most ridiculous thing ever. Holy cow I would tariff them 50 percent. What a joke to treat us that way

Mothra said:

---

Assassin said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

JUST IN: 🇨🇦🇺🇸 Canadian Prime Minister Carney says the era of integration with the US economy is over.

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 3, 2025

---

About time they stopped screwing us

---

Serious question: How has Canada been screwing us? Their tariffs are low, and about the same as ours.

---

They dont show enough gratitude for America shielding them from having to share a border with Mexico.

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

There's little evidence that the tariffs are going to pay down national debt, and the miniscule amounts it collects is going to be from the American consumer.

So, in reality, he's using the American consumer to pay down the national debt.

---

The amounts collected by tariffs are not miniscule but still tariffs alone wont pay down the debt... it needs to be paired with massive cuts to government spending - specifically expensive foreign wars.

I take it you are in the "massive tax hikes on income and capital gains" camp.

---

They're miniscule when compared to the debt, which was my point. They will barely make a dent.

I am not sure what the "massive tax hikes on income and capital gains" camp is. Care to explain?

I am generally free market, low taxes, limited govt. and not putting artificial procedures on the market which will only feed the pocketbooks of the unions - you know, the kind of conservative fiscal principles that Republicans have been known for the last 100 years or so. In that regard, I do admittedly have a problem with what is essentially a massive tax hike on the American consumer being used to pay down the national debt. I see you take no issue with it.

---

I'd rather see tariffs used to increase government revenues than an increase in the capital gains tax that would tank the markets far more severely than tariffs do.

---

I would rather see neither. It's not an either/or.

---

It very much is an either/or situation at nearly $40 trillion in debt and interest on debt becoming the biggest driver of the debt.

If they hadnt wasted hundreds of billions in the Middle East and Ukraine... maybe things would be different.

Mexico and Canada Violated the USMCA

Mothra said:

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Redbrickbear said:

---

Mothra said:

---

BearFan33 said:

---

Mothra said:

---

BearFan33 said:

---

Mothra said:

---

BearFan33 said:

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Trump was not playing chicken.

---

Agreed. Just playing stupid.

---

Certainly a lot of pain right now. Will it be short term? Will there be long term gain?

---

It might get some of these countries to get rid of or reduce their tariffs altogether (a number of them are miniscule), but it won't come close to fixing the trade imbalance - which is his goal, apparently.

---

There may be more to it than that. I agree he wont fix the trade imbalance but he is getting companies to invest in the USA which should translate to more jobs. And there are national security issues to worry about if things like semiconductors and/or chips are all made in foreign countries. We don't have to worry about supply chains if most everything is made here.

I do believe its good to debate these things. Is it all worth the pain and butt hurt allies?

I don't think Trump is crazy just completely unafraid to make big decisions....perhaps reckless.

I still do prefer that to the other party that seems hell bent on destroying the country (on purpose).

---

Problem is, they won't come close to fixing the trade imbalance, or to allowing everything to be made here. That's a fantasy that is never gonna happen.

---

1. Technically is not a fantasy.....the USA is one of the few countries on earth (maybe only country) that could be a functional Autarky if it wanted.

2. No one really wants to have "everything be made here". That is not the goal. The goal is to become more manufacturing independent....or at least to drive supply chains away from Asia to move them to Latin America (New Monroe doctrine you might call it). That will not only drive jobs to the USA but also to the poor of Latin America. Lessing mass immigration from those areas....and making America more geo-strategically secure.

---

1) It would require Americans to go along with the idea, and we both know that's not going to happen. Americans aren't going to put up with $70k Dodge Caravans, $2k iPhones and a tanked economy. That is the fantasy. Trump has 2 years at best to make all this happen, which means, it ain't happening.

2) I don't have a problem with this, but it will require heavy American investment in Latin America, most of which are run by crappy govts.

---

Trump wont let this go on for 2 years. They will do this for maybe 2 months so they can get inflation down a bit more in order to turn on the money printers. Trump has to pump the cheap money into the economy in 26 so things start rolling before the midterms.

The_barBEARian said:

---

sombear said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

sombear said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

Trade deficits are not just some obscure, unimportant numbers.

Rather they represent a hemorrhaging of US cash out of the country.

Historically most US presidents never blindly allowed trade deficits. As they understood the negative implications.

---

You have a massive trade deficit with your grocery store.

---

In the local grocery store run by Chinese communists trying to build up a massive military and exert influence and power around the globe?

---

I've posted since I first joined SE365 that I could not care less what we did to China. They lie, cheat, and steal incessantly and place sky-high barriers for American business. I had clients in private practice lose everything because China stole their trade secrets and tech.

But China is truly unique.

My point is that trade deficits in themselves are not bad things. We are a consumer economy. We are massive. Due to pure inertia, we will have trade deficits. But if all (or most) economies are growing, irade still benefits everyone.

And trade deficits are used as propaganda. We have a trade surplus with Canada, yet Trump has demonized Canada more than anyone.

---

We do not have a trade surplus with Canada.

---

son, please. We have a $600B trade surplus with Canada . You are more than clueless. go away.

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

boognish_bear said:

---

Read the full story, presented by @crctransportus: https://t.co/QO7HmMOWu7

— Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) April 2, 2025

---

oh. but wait. administration critics have insisted that companies don't pay tariffs. (except they do to defend market share......)

RealEstateBear said:

---

Allowing Israel to charge us a 17 percent tariff is the most ridiculous thing ever. Holy cow I would tariff them 50 percent. What a joke to treat us that way

---

They stopped them yesterday.

But, even before that, they were exceedingly limited - some agriculture products.

While I oppose tariffs, if you're going to use them, use them to product critical industries. If Israel were ever blockaded or otherwise cut-off, there are no neighbors that would provide food. I somewhat understand limited tariffs in that case.

Similarly, as to products we would need in the case of war or extreme events, we should make sure we have the supply chain.

There are sound arguments for such measures. What Trump is doing is in a different stratosphere.

Assassin said:

---

Assassin said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 US Senate votes to terminate President Trump's tariffs on Canada.

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) April 3, 2025

---

The traitors; Four Republicans Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voted for the measure

---

BTW - would still have to pass the House, which is probably wouldn't. It's just another way for us to identify who we need to replace in the Senate

---

even if it did, POTUS would veto it. I wouldn't write that scenario off as a possibility, either.

Assassin said:

---

Mexico and Canada Violated the USMCA

---

Yes, years ago, and the enforcement process worked.

Guess what, we are charged with trade violations all over the world and sometimes found guilty.

Typically, these violations are not intentional per se, but rather, deal with nuanced issued under trade deals that don't cover every conceivable issue.

Lutnick: "Let Donald Trump run the global economy. He's knows what he's doing. He's been talking about it for 35 years. You gotta trust Donald Trump in the White House ... it's broken. Let him fix it ... Let Donald Trump fix the American economy." pic.twitter.com/QhPA3DG0LC

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 3, 2025

whiterock said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

Read the full story, presented by @crctransportus: https://t.co/QO7HmMOWu7

— Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) April 2, 2025

---

oh. but wait. administration critics have insisted that companies don't pay tariffs. (except they do to defend market share......)

---

Wrong. These vehicles are made in the U.S.

It's a brilliant move by Nissan, and I expect other foreign companies to copy.

We paid these companies $ billions in incentives to build plants here. They are the least affected by the tariffs. But the profits go back to Japan.

This could be the end of multiple lines of cars produced by domestic manufacturers, who were (1) forced by federal CAFE standards to assemble cars in Mexico and elsewhere, and (2) did so entirely consistent with trade laws and regs at the time.

As I posted well before yesterday, Tesla and the Japanese companies (and suppliers) are going to have a field day. They all are non-union by the way.

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

sombear said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

sombear said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

Trade deficits are not just some obscure, unimportant numbers.

Rather they represent a hemorrhaging of US cash out of the country.

Historically most US presidents never blindly allowed trade deficits. As they understood the negative implications.

---

You have a massive trade deficit with your grocery store.

---

In the local grocery store run by Chinese communists trying to build up a massive military and exert influence and power around the globe?

---

I've posted since I first joined SE365 that I could not care less what we did to China. They lie, cheat, and steal incessantly and place sky-high barriers for American business. I had clients in private practice lose everything because China stole their trade secrets and tech.

But China is truly unique.

My point is that trade deficits in themselves are not bad things. We are a consumer economy. We are massive. Due to pure inertia, we will have trade deficits. But if all (or most) economies are growing, irade still benefits everyone.

And trade deficits are used as propaganda. We have a trade surplus with Canada, yet Trump has demonized Canada more than anyone.

---

We do not have a trade surplus with Canada.

---

son, please. We have a $600B trade surplus with Canada . You are more than clueless. go away.

---

We do not have a $600B trade surplus with Canada.

This information is very easy to look up.

If I am clueless, you are comatose.

whiterock said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

Read the full story, presented by @crctransportus: https://t.co/QO7HmMOWu7

— Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) April 2, 2025

---

oh. but wait. administration critics have insisted that companies don't pay tariffs. (except they do to defend market share......)

---

Or make the country they are in eat it or they will leave. WalMart is making China eat it. China has no choice. They need WalMart desperately

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

sombear said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

sombear said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

Trade deficits are not just some obscure, unimportant numbers.

Rather they represent a hemorrhaging of US cash out of the country.

Historically most US presidents never blindly allowed trade deficits. As they understood the negative implications.

---

You have a massive trade deficit with your grocery store.

---

In the local grocery store run by Chinese communists trying to build up a massive military and exert influence and power around the globe?

---

I've posted since I first joined SE365 that I could not care less what we did to China. They lie, cheat, and steal incessantly and place sky-high barriers for American business. I had clients in private practice lose everything because China stole their trade secrets and tech.

But China is truly unique.

My point is that trade deficits in themselves are not bad things. We are a consumer economy. We are massive. Due to pure inertia, we will have trade deficits. But if all (or most) economies are growing, irade still benefits everyone.

And trade deficits are used as propaganda. We have a trade surplus with Canada, yet Trump has demonized Canada more than anyone.

---

We do not have a trade surplus with Canada.

---

son, please. We have a $600B trade surplus with Canada . You are more than clueless. go away.

---

We do not have a $600B trade surplus with Canada.

This information is very easy to look up.

If I am clueless, you are comatose.

---

no, you are a clueless moron.

https://economics.td.com/ca-canada-us-trade-balance

Robert Wilson said:

---

Mothra said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

Not sure if this is accurate across the board or not… Comments seemed to indicate so

This guy cracked the tariff formula:@orthonormalist

It’s simply the nation’s trade deficit with us divided by the nation’s exports to us.

Yes. Really.

Vietnam: Exports 136.6, Imports 13.1
Deficit = 123.5

123.5/136.6 = 90% pic.twitter.com/fDOMoQwzKt

— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) April 2, 2025

---

So, when I first saw the list, I thought it was actually a reciprocal tariff based on the tariffs imposed by other countries, and I thought it might not be so bad.

However, if this is truly the formula Trump used - which is based apparently on trade deficits - this is not a reciprocal tariff but instead a tariff that tries to get manufacturing to come back to the US - something that is likely never gonna happen in any large numbers.

In short, the Trump admin is misleading the American people by labeling this a reciprocal tariff. That's just a wholly false statement.

Such an entirely ridiculous and unnecessary move, and it's going to come back to bite him. Kiss the midterms goodbye. We are going to lose the House and the Senate. So dumb.

I hope Republicans who didn't skip Economics 101 will block this deal.

---

I'm with you. I could get on board with reciprocal tariffs. If we are instead enacting huge one sided tariffs just to counteract trade deficits, that's insane.

---

muddled thinking. the purpose of tariffs is to address a trade deficit, which will benefit domestic manufacturers and jobs. Whether they are reciprocal or not depends on the nature of the abuse happening, e.g. look at the way China relocates production & transshipments to avoid existing trade restrictions. This is particularly true when it comes to trade subsidies (which many countries do) and non-tariff barriers to trade like the EU VAT.

if you are going to pick this fight you have to smack hard coming out of the gate, to effectively deny entry to our market unless concessions are made. Your opponent, who has investments in an existing supply chain has to make hard decisions about whether he is going to abandon the supply chain or open up his own market to your goods. Sure, the wealthier countries will have at least theoretical options to consider, but it will take years for them to restructure and in the meantime they will incur more damage to their economy than they will inflict on ours (by virtue of having a trade surplus with us).

our position is quite strong and concessions from trade partners are a matter of when not if.

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

RealEstateBear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

Read the full story, presented by @crctransportus: https://t.co/QO7HmMOWu7

— Car Dealership Guy (@GuyDealership) April 2, 2025

---

oh. but wait. administration critics have insisted that companies don't pay tariffs. (except they do to defend market share......)

---

Or make the country they are in eat it or they will leave. WalMart is making China eat it. China has no choice. They need WalMart desperately

---

"When the American economy gets a cold…China gets the flu"

Redbrickbear said:

---

---

A lot has changed with the platform since the roaring 20's.

whiterock said:

---

Robert Wilson said:

---

Mothra said:

---

boognish_bear said:

---

Not sure if this is accurate across the board or not… Comments seemed to indicate so

This guy cracked the tariff formula:@orthonormalist

It’s simply the nation’s trade deficit with us divided by the nation’s exports to us.

Yes. Really.

Vietnam: Exports 136.6, Imports 13.1
Deficit = 123.5

123.5/136.6 = 90% pic.twitter.com/fDOMoQwzKt

— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) April 2, 2025

---

So, when I first saw the list, I thought it was actually a reciprocal tariff based on the tariffs imposed by other countries, and I thought it might not be so bad.

However, if this is truly the formula Trump used - which is based apparently on trade deficits - this is not a reciprocal tariff but instead a tariff that tries to get manufacturing to come back to the US - something that is likely never gonna happen in any large numbers.

In short, the Trump admin is misleading the American people by labeling this a reciprocal tariff. That's just a wholly false statement.

Such an entirely ridiculous and unnecessary move, and it's going to come back to bite him. Kiss the midterms goodbye. We are going to lose the House and the Senate. So dumb.

I hope Republicans who didn't skip Economics 101 will block this deal.

---

I'm with you. I could get on board with reciprocal tariffs. If we are instead enacting huge one sided tariffs just to counteract trade deficits, that's insane.

---

muddled thinking. the purpose of tariffs is to address a trade deficit, which will benefit domestic manufacturers and jobs. Whether they are reciprocal or not depends on the nature of the abuse happening, e.g. look at the way China relocates production & transshipments to avoid existing trade restrictions. This is particularly true when it comes to trade subsidies (which many countries do) and non-tariff barriers to trade like the EU VAT.

if you are going to pick this fight you have to smack hard coming out of the gate, to effectively deny entry to our market unless concessions are made. Your opponent, who has investments in an existing supply chain has to make hard decisions about whether he is going to abandon the supply chain or open up his own market to your goods. Sure, the wealthier countries will have at least theoretical options to consider, but it will take years for them to restructure and in the meantime they will incur more damage to their economy than they will inflict on ours (by virtue of having a trade surplus with us).

our position is quite strong and concessions from trade partners are a matter of when not if.

---

So, in other words, this is about damaging other countries' economies more than helping our own. It will take years to change supply chain and manufacturing base, but at least over the course of the next two years we can damage their economies worse than they can damage ours. In the meantime, the American people take it in the shorts.

Such a silly strategy.

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

sombear said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

sombear said:

---

KaiBear said:

---

Trade deficits are not just some obscure, unimportant numbers.

Rather they represent a hemorrhaging of US cash out of the country.

Historically most US presidents never blindly allowed trade deficits. As they understood the negative implications.

---

You have a massive trade deficit with your grocery store.

---

In the local grocery store run by Chinese communists trying to build up a massive military and exert influence and power around the globe?

---

I've posted since I first joined SE365 that I could not care less what we did to China. They lie, cheat, and steal incessantly and place sky-high barriers for American business. I had clients in private practice lose everything because China stole their trade secrets and tech.

But China is truly unique.

My point is that trade deficits in themselves are not bad things. We are a consumer economy. We are massive. Due to pure inertia, we will have trade deficits. But if all (or most) economies are growing, irade still benefits everyone.

And trade deficits are used as propaganda. We have a trade surplus with Canada, yet Trump has demonized Canada more than anyone.

---

We do not have a trade surplus with Canada.

---

son, please. We have a $600B trade surplus with Canada . You are more than clueless. go away.

---

We do not have a $600B trade surplus with Canada.

This information is very easy to look up.

If I am clueless, you are comatose.

---

no, you are a clueless moron.

https://economics.td.com/ca-canada-us-trade-balance

---

lol... I would wipe the floor with you in a IQ contest.

Your own source says we had a $45 billion deficit with Canada in 2024.....

It is dishonest fools like you that is tearing this country down.

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

---

Should we abolish the sales tax?

POLL: Do you support President Trump's tariffs?

Explain your reasoning in the comments.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 3, 2025

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

---

Should we abolish the sales tax?

---

So, the idea is that this is like a sales tax. Ergo, we should have no issue with this additional tax on top of same?

Garbage tariffs by a team that doesn't understand basic economics. Morons.

Mothra said:

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The_barBEARian said:

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J.R. said:

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The_barBEARian said:

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Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

---

Not to mention the retirees that are relying on 401k type of investments for retirement. They say, it is temporary. That has a different ring at 75 than it does at 35. Trump was supposed to be better for the market and retirement. This is a nightmare for many people that did nothing but work and save for retirement.

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

---

Should we abolish the sales tax?

---

So, the idea is that this is like a sales tax. Ergo, we should have no issue with this additional tax on top of same?

---

Well I disagree with you that American consumers will necessarily "foot the bill" on tariffs. In some instances costs will increase but there wont be this universal cost increase on all goods.

And to the extent American consumers do "foot the bill" with regard to these tariffs, it is no different than the sales tax we already pay here in Texas.

If Trump is using these tariffs to bring down the debt without raising taxes, then I fully support them because I prefer a consumption tax to an income tax or capital gains tax increase. If our national debt is down or at least flat by the time Trump's term ends without Eisenhower era tax hikes, we should build a giant monument in Trumps honor.

FLBear5630 said:

---

Mothra said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

J.R. said:

---

The_barBEARian said:

---

Trump is using the tariffs to pay down our national debt.

Our national debt is a national crisis and our debt-to-GDP has never been greater.

If nothing is done, the interest on our debt will match our GDP in another decade.

You have a choice:

1) See your income and capital gains taxes go up to 50%(see the tax rate under Eisenhower) to attempt to save this country and pay down the debt

2) Use tariffs to pay down the debt and try to keep taxes relatively flat on the people who work and are productive citizens

3) Default on the debt, destroy the value of the USD, and balkanize the country

Now if Trump starts bombing Iran and getting us involved in another major war fighting Israel's enemies I am going to lose it! It was wasting American blood and treasure fighting Israel's wars in the middle east that sucked the wealth and prosperity out of this country and put this country in such a dire economic trajectory in the first place

---

Tariffs will NOT pay down debt, period.

---

Tariffs will quite literally generate money that will be used to pay down the debt.

They wont get us out of debt, but they will help.

---

With American consumers footing the bill.

Definitely a recipe for success come the midterms. Hey, it now costs $60k instead of $30k to purchase a minivan, but at least we helped pay down the debt! Let's vote Republican!

---

Not to mention the retirees that are relying on 401k type of investments for retirement. They say, it is temporary. That has a different ring at 75 than it does at 35. Trump was supposed to be better for the market and retirement. This is a nightmare for many people that did nothing but work and save for retirement.

---

Sorry but its hard to sympathize too much with the Boomers after they allowed our government to run up the credit card and never did a thing to stop it and now expect the next generation to deal with it.

Most Millennials will never know what retirement feels like. The average first time homeowner age in America is 40, which means most Millennials in their thirties have never owned their own home.