Tariffs

[Doc]

I know that this forum is frequented by some of the best noted experts on international economic policies, and I won't even pretend to be qualified to speak on that subject as to whether tariffs are good or bad for our country. But there is one thing that I think is fairly logical. And that would be that our national security is not a service industry, and that we no longer have the metals industry within our borders to build our own weapons of self-preservation. Our ability to arm ourselves is really in the hands of our adversaries.

If a president wants to reverse that situation, he has my total support. Over many decades and through administrations from both sides of the aisle, we have worked diligently to hand over our technology and the control of our raw materials and the means of beating us at our own game of production of finished products to whatever third world country that wanted them. And we find ourselves in the position of being beholding to all kinds of other countries for our basic self protection materials (steel and aluminum). Trump wants control of those materials back  primarily within our borders. I'm with him no matter what it takes. I know he publicly sees it as a fairness problem, and that is important too, but I see it as a self defense problem, which to me is a much more pressing reason for concern. 

Edited March 4, 2018 by Doc

[Robhuntandfish]

If we can become more self reliant on anything from bubble gum to bazookas I am all for it. 

[philoshop]

The only reason there is push-back at all on what Trump is doing is that certain folks; the US Chamber of Commerce, the Business Round-table, the Bilderberg Group, the Davos crowd, and the rest of Wall Street have figured out how to game the current system to make money for themselves. They don't like the thought of putting money back in the hands of Main Street because then they won't be able to control it.

As far as actual consumer price impacts of these tariffs: A six-pack of beer or soda might go up by one cent; The price of a $35,000 automobile might jump by almost $200 dollars; A store cart full of soup and tuna fish might go up by about a buck...

But these critical industries will grow again in the U.S. and employ citizens. That's what's important. I just hope that a few college students put down the "Underwater Basket Weaving" textbooks and pick up texts on metallurgy and foundry management.

[wolc123]

Finally, a president has came through the White House door and done what he said he will do.  It won't be long until we are all drinking that free bubulub and drinking that rainbow stew.