Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

MatthewlovesAyn Loc: Ohio

And written by someone else and place on a teleprompter.

straightUp Loc: California

Here is the resounding fact that I think everyone is aware of... We have a massive trade deficit with China that has extended over several decades and this issue has been highly exposed and it's been linked to our decline in manufacturing, right down to jobs. This makes it a great flash point for a populist like Trump.

So here's what Trump claims - that the trade deficit is the result of unfair trade deals and that he aims to change that. Well first of all, it's questionable that restrictions on trade have much to do with the deficit. In general, Chinese producers have the ability to deliver products to market at a lower price than American producers can, so there's a good argument that says consumer choice has far more to do with it than regulation. Secondly, because China has so much leverage on the trade issue, any renegotiation of the trade deals is going to be very difficult if not impossible.

These two factors may explain why previous presidents stayed so quiet on the matter. Not that they weren't also looking to change the situation but knowing the challenges it just doesn't make sense to hang your e******n chances on it.

But this is where Trump is different. He decided to make this a highly publicized issue, which leaves a lot of people scratching their heads. Why would he make such an outrageous claim?

Well, he could just be r****ded... No? OK, let's give him the benefit of the doubt here. Let's just say for argument's sake that he isn't r****ded... So, how then do we explain why a president would promise something that he has so little power to deliver?

Now, here's the part where people are going to roll their eyes but bear with me for a moment... If you study populism (especially f*****t populism) you will notice that one of the prevailing characteristics is the use of symbolic issues. In other words, tapping into the issues that people are emotional about and promising to fix them even if you can't. If the emotions people have about the issue exceeds their understanding of the issue, it will be very easy to blame failure on others, in the meantime, you get a boost from v**ers who think you really are going to fix it.

It's basically a cheap and dirty way to win popularity among cruder people.

Now, IF this is what Trump is doing, it is probably the only viable reason for suggesting he will fix the trade deficit with China. So it's basically a show and the second resounding fact that I think everyone can agree on is that Trump loves a show.

Now for these tariffs... The stated idea is that the tariffs will hurt the Chinese and give the U.S. some leverage on renegotiating trade. The fact is the Chinese aren't going to budge because they really don't have to. They know more about the U.S. economy than most Americans do. Most Americans don't realize how much our economy depends on Chinese investments. This is why we haven't interfered with Chinese agressions in Taiwan or in Tibet.

But does that matter if this is a symbolic issue?

No, it doesn't. What matters is that Trump actually takes action, any action - it doesn't matter if it works or not because trade is so complex it will be easy for someone like Trump to just say it's working... Or if the failure is obvious enough, it will be just as easy to blame the Democrats or anything else for that matter.

So cut back to the real impact, or at least what facts we can be sure of.

1. So far, renegotiation has not happened.
2. American consumers are paying more for products imported from China AND for American products with Chinese components through Trump's added tax.
3. Chinese have reciprocated so now American producers such as soybean farmers are losing their advantage on the Chinese market.

The symbolic issue is currently staying afloat on the idea that the change won't happen overnight, which is a completely reasonable assessment. The question is, how much negative impact are Americans willing to sustain before they start looking into the REAL issue where they will probably realize they've been had.

Regarding your comment about hating Trump...

I remember when people on the right h**ed Obama and refused to understand anything he was trying to do, so I get it. But sometimes people h**e a politician because they DO understand. When Trump announced his presidency I was indifferent. I didn't like him but I didn't h**e him. Since then I have seen enough of what he has actually done to develop a true hatred toward him. So yes, I h**e Trump, the first president in my 58 years that I have ever felt that way about.

CodyCoonhound Loc: Redbone Country

Obviously, you are happy with the inferior product coming out of China. Price was not the consumer's
choice to buy Chinese. It was forced on all consumer's by company's moving production and jobs out of USA to China. Thus, for example, if one wanted a great screw driver, the choice was Made in China and guaranteed to break immediately after the warranty expired. Same with many large appliances and just about everything else made in China.

The destruction of USA middle class is the objective of any big government fan. Anyone who thinks a free phone is great, clearly has no idea how that takes many freedoms away from them.

That is why it is critical to say free from your friend - the democrats.

As average income declined about 10 K per year, the now underemployed(if employed at all) was supposed to be happy for the hand out.

Trump talked to, not the dumb Americans, he talked to the victims of democrat tax and ship jobs to China Americans. And now the legal immigrants from Hispanic to all around the world are supporting Trump.

We also see the average Black person has now realized that promises made and not kept was a democrat strategy.

Trump has made that obvious and now supported by about 40% of the Black population vs. the historical 10%.
Former President Johnson and his 200 year prediction that democrats would have the Black man's v**e because of his "war on poverty" , is now kicking and screaming in his grave. Why? Trump has exposed the lie.

If that is evil, then I wish him more "Promises Made-Promises Kept" success over the next 5 years. And for all who cannot read the earth or tea leaves, he is g***ming v**ers and successors to carry on in the fight to grow our success into our great grand children's futures.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

This redneck agrees with you.

CodyCoonhound Loc: Redbone Country

Thank you. And I predict that about 73 million Americans will agree with Trump in November 2020

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

emarine

Ahh... you forced me to read a NY Post article something I usually avoid... two opinions usually don't represent a 400 billion multifaceted industry like farming... However I found it interesting that small farmers had to work off the farm at another job for the health insurance... that in itself shows trump has no healthcare plan in which he campaigned on in 16... the very best affordable healthcare ever ... after 3 years of nothing accept trying to destroy the only try at universal healthcare for all ever in America... maybe healthcare isn't important to those who can readily afford it... those who cant afford to line the pockets of traditional for profit healthcare just shouldn't be sick?... all in the very best economy ever... I find it interesting that healthcare is approaching 20% of our GDP rapidly... we require smarter people to fix this mess...

Saspatz007 Loc: The goat sheds

Amen

emarine

We can blame China forever for what has happened over the last two decades... It was pure capitalism unobstructed that moved American labor offshore... Big Corporate profits enjoyed huge gains while paying little tax on pure profits... Corporations are for profit and are not people or care about people except on TV ads... Trump gave away trillions in tax cuts to the fat cats & lied to Americans ... MAGA is a cheap tool to incite followers ... thinking & observing is harder than chanting catch phrases at tribal rallies ... & while you're at it, beat the crap out of Americans who disagree... some see it & some don't...

Saspatz007 Loc: The goat sheds

Just like the Libertarians captured the Republicans for a minute. I’m hoping they get the same results. Otherwise, the best option is for sane Democrats to form a third party.

CodyCoonhound Loc: Redbone Country

No attentive person blames China. Nixon started the imbalanced trade to eliminate c*******ts threat. Nixon felt if making a decent wage and standard of living improves, then all is good. The problem is not one President revisited the initial action until Trump. The trade should have been revisited every 4 or 5 years and fine tuned. Something a smart business person, running his own company does on a regular basis.

We gave China all the tools to build a 1st class war machine, high tech to lead in AI, well built cities, capital improvement money etc.

What should have happened is get them to taste the rewards of a good economy and then turn it into a free trade and competitive market. Not one president from 1970 to 2016 had the guts to address the issues.

As to health care for 330 M people, realize that is 4.2 trillion per year arguably, and probably more. The current health care infrastructure is not capable of delivering the same level of care as current. There has to be a 20% increase in infrastructure and personnel to handle this over today's levels.

Your comment about do not get sick, is closer to the t***h than anyone wants to admit.That should be the objective of health care. Now it is like police, come in after someone is seriously ill and try to save them.

Not one politician is talking about prevention. Simple minded- YES! But true!

Rose42

I know whats going on. Your mistake is in thinking its limited to the Koch brothers. There are others who hold sway over both parties and liberal or conservative doesn’t matter. Ask yourself of all the worthy candidates why did the democrats end up with Clinton, Obama was a nobody who had done virtually nothing in politics, Trump, and now in the current crop of candidates the best have zero chance. And you think this is coincidence? There is no such thing.

emarine

One of our healthcare issues is that large groups have clout like Blue Cross ETC... but small groups get raped... Hospitals are for profit corporations just like insurance ... & if the American people could come together & form one large group things would get better... but in this political environment there's little chance of that... look at those who incite & divide the people ... plutocracy 101... we don't require people much anymore & it's all about the money & those with too much moneys quest for power...

straightUp Loc: California

That isn't what I said.


That actually doesn't make any sense. I mean seriously, I don't even know what you're trying to say.


Don't put the blame on the companies... The consumers have the ultimate power here and consumers prefer cheaper prices, period. Most times when they shop they aren't even thinking about political-economic situations, they're just looking for the best deal.

So if a company moves their manufacturing to China where operating costs are lower it's probably because they're trying to figure out how to get their products to the shelves with the lowest price. So if anything, American consumers drove business out of the country. And now instead of taking responsibility or their own lack of attention they want to blame it on something else. If you're on the right, I guess that means the government. You folks love to blame the government for everything even your own bad decisions.


That's a load of patriotic nonsense. Yes, we buy a lot of junk from China but we buy a lot of junk from the USA too. I have a Huawei Phone. Chinese. Best damned phone I have ever had.


Big government MADE the middle class and I'm not sure what freedoms you think a free phone takes away.


Again, I can't even make any sense of what you're trying to say here. I'm guessing you are referring to that same old rant about "Democrats = Big Government = C*******m = No freedom". I have that baseless BS filed right next to the "Moon is made of cheese". Just as old and just as stupid.


Say's who?


Yeah I dunno... your statements seem to be swimming in a discombobulated soup of delusion and fury. I'm just going to step away now. Have a nice day Cody.