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Well you shouldn't do it because it'll start a trade war, cost jobs, and create higher prices for consumers.
I think Trump is a kind of guy that thrives on conflict. I really love it.
We need to shake things up in America. I really like the removal of globalist Gary Cohn. Cohn is a failure. He failed at becoming the CEO of Goldman Sachs. He failed at becoming Trump's chief of staff or the next Federal Reserve Chairman.
It is time to appoint Peter Navarro as Cohn's replacement.
This is what Trump's agenda was and is. "Make America great again." In the 60's and 70's, we had so much more manufacturing jobs. At one time 25% of Americans were factory workers. Now? Maybe 8%.
Trump's agenda has been always to revitalize those lost jobs that have gone to Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, etc.. Those countries have an unfair advantage. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing 50-80% tariffs imposed, particularly on China.
People argue we would start a trade war. That is hysterical. Countries like China have been ripping us off for so long, they would have too much to lose to engage in a war with the world's biggest consumer. How can you compete with a country that pays its factory workers quarters and provides inhumane working conditions? Is that fair? That wouldn't happen in the United States.
Factory jobs are the key folks. It was the reason why we won WW2. Brainless free traders think only tax cuts and deregulation will work.
It will not lead to rising employment, and there isn't a single economist, including conservative economists, who say it will.
Glad you admit that the US steel industry doesn't have the production capacity to meet the demand. How long does it take to build a steel mill (presumably they'd have to import steel, lol), and how long does it take to train up all these new steel workers, and what happens in the mean time?
The massive sell-off of our steel to China a couple of decades ago resulted in exorbitant prices here for steel, which resulted in higher commercial construction costs across the board. By increasing the price for other countries to buy steel, we can ensure that we get a better price for it.
We have a lot of idle steel facilities that can be brought up to speed in very little time. Heck, there's one about 50 miles from me here in Colorado.
It doesn't take long to train new workers. It's not like it requires 4 years of college. We are talking about well paying labor jobs. You know...the kind of jobs that used to allow a man to support his family.
btw, someone has to be hired to bring those facilities up to speed. That means jobs for construction, maintenance, fire safety...not to mention the companies that supply THEM with materials.
And just think...this will be American business investment. No "Solyndras".
We don't have the manufacturing capability to keep up with the demand for steel in this country. Therefore you are going to severely hurt many companies just to bet on a demand that may not be met.
The reason why economists call this dumb is the economy is very fragile right now and turning it upside on it's head is gambling with people's lives. I know Trump and his wealthy cohorts can afford that if it tanks, but the "average American" that Trump lies about and says he supports cannot.
This is EXACTLY right.
Many who are arguing against the President's efforts to strengthen the US economy by such methods tend to forget that China, despite making "nice-nice" over the last 30 years is a controlled economy, NOT a "free market" like our nation.
The points made by Mr. Navarro in that PBS video are spot on to anyone who has been observing the trend in Chinese economic expansion at the expense of a US decline in production capability and other economic losses.
We keep hearing people say "we are a service economy now" as if this was a good thing. It isn't, because a service economy is at the mercy of a production economy...once production is controlled by outside nations the service economy becomes dependent on them.
A dependent is one who is controlled and must follow the guidance of the controller. IMO China's long-term goal is to manipulate production, currency, and other economic factors to eventually bring the U.S. to it's knees and replace us as the No. 1 power in the world in ALL areas. To break us by using our own "profit above all else" (Greed is good) economic ideology against us.
We would be better served to accept more expensive goods produced HERE, because it means jobs and income produced here, as well as less dependency on the good will of a nation like China whose goal is to dominate us socially and economically.
We don't have the manufacturing capability to keep up with the demand for steel in this country. Therefore you are going to severely hurt many companies just to bet on a demand that may not be met.
The reason why economists call this dumb is the economy is very fragile right now and turning it upside on it's head is gambling with people's lives. I know Trump and his wealthy cohorts can afford that if it tanks, but the "average American" that Trump lies about and says he supports cannot.
We don't have it so we shouldn't create it? What kind of argument is that? :doh
The fact that we "don't have it" is the motive to create it! Creation of production capability also creates jobs in both construction, and when completed...jobs in production. Both lead to economic positives for people here in the USA.
And until the US companies can meet the demand you are punishing the smaller companies that will have to rely on the much more expensive steel and most likely go out of business or lay off workers NOW.
You are only betting that steel companies will be able to meet the demand soon and that simply is not the case. The steel industry is not something that can ramp up on a dime and have cheaper steel the day after the tariffs increase. Why do you hate the average American worker?
You're dreaming. Instead, you will see billions poured into robotic / automation tech, to offset the increased price of materials due to tariffs. Don't believe me?
Suncor is building a fleet of 150 driverless trucks that will cut 400 jobs over the next six years | Financial Post
This is just the infancy of much bigger things to come. You didn't matter to big business when they moved the work to low cost countries, and you don't matter now.
Agreed...robotics is a fact of life.
So...why not produce our own steel and use that steel to produce our own robots?
Perhaps you'd rather we buy the cheap, government-subsidized Chinese steel that they've dumped on the world market so that our own steel-producing capabilities are destroyed? And then, when the Chinese feel like it, they can cut us off like the Soup Nazi? "No Steel For YOU!!"
Exactly. Somebody has to actually make the technology gadgets and the buildings that house the workers who operate the gadgets.Agreed...robotics is a fact of life.
So...why not produce our own steel and use that steel to produce our own robots?
Perhaps you'd rather we buy the cheap, government-subsidized Chinese steel that they've dumped on the world market so that our own steel-producing capabilities are destroyed? And then, when the Chinese feel like it, they can cut us off like the Soup Nazi?
"No Steel For YOU!!"
If that were to happen, you'd have steel to mine in reserve. But that hasn't. So why rush? If Trump is so bound and determined to make America an island in the clouds, dependant upon no one else, why not develop the tech first, set up the infrastructure, and then pull the plug? Despite all the hysteria, you guys are in a great spot, and have been for years. Sure there are trade deficits with poorer countries -- you guys can afford more than their citizens can! In the meantime, you are getting goods much cheaper than if they were all made in the U.S.A., which you've already paid for in the form of lost jobs that aren't coming back no matter what, use that advantage to build a system where you can be self sufficient without bankrupting yourselves, and in turn the rest of the world (like what nearly happened in 2008). And, if you guys want to be Christian about it, share that tech so other countries can do the same. Or don't, the rest of the world seems to be working towards getting along better at the global level anyway.
Instead, you'll have the entire world entering into a trade war with you. There is no economist out there right now that will say that's a good thing, unless they are getting a nice big payout to do so. And the response from the world seems to indicate that they aren't simply going to sit back and pay. I understand your concern, but you're advocating for the shooting of your own foot.
I think Trump is a kind of guy that thrives on conflict. I really love it.
We need to shake things up in America. I really like the removal of globalist Gary Cohn. Cohn is a failure. He failed at becoming the CEO of Goldman Sachs. He failed at becoming Trump's chief of staff or the next Federal Reserve Chairman.
It is time to appoint Peter Navarro as Cohn's replacement.
This is what Trump's agenda was and is. "Make America great again." In the 60's and 70's, we had so much more manufacturing jobs. At one time 25% of Americans were factory workers. Now? Maybe 8%.
Trump's agenda has been always to revitalize those lost jobs that have gone to Germany, Japan, South Korea, China, etc.. Those countries have an unfair advantage. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing 50-80% tariffs imposed, particularly on China.
People argue we would start a trade war. That is hysterical. Countries like China have been ripping us off for so long, they would have too much to lose to engage in a war with the world's biggest consumer. How can you compete with a country that pays its factory workers quarters and provides inhumane working conditions? Is that fair? That wouldn't happen in the United States.
Factory jobs are the key folks. It was the reason why we won WW2. Brainless free traders think only tax cuts and deregulation will work.
I don't get the impression that Trump is trying to make us completely not depend on anyone. I think he envisions that we continue to trade-be dependent on others as they are on us to various degrees-in a more equal fashion.If that were to happen, you'd have steel to mine in reserve. But that hasn't. So why rush? If Trump is so bound and determined to make America an island in the clouds, dependant upon no one else, why not develop the tech first, set up the infrastructure, and then pull the plug? Despite all the hysteria, you guys are in a great spot, and have been for years. Sure there are trade deficits with poorer countries -- you guys can afford more than their citizens can! In the meantime, you are getting goods much cheaper than if they were all made in the U.S.A., which you've already paid for in the form of lost jobs that aren't coming back no matter what, use that advantage to build a system where you can be self sufficient without bankrupting yourselves, and in turn the rest of the world (like what nearly happened in 2008). And, if you guys want to be Christian about it, share that tech so other countries can do the same. Or don't, the rest of the world seems to be working towards getting along better at the global level anyway.
Instead, you'll have the entire world entering into a trade war with you. There is no economist out there right now that will say that's a good thing, unless they are getting a nice big payout to do so. And the response from the world seems to indicate that they aren't simply going to sit back and pay. I understand your concern, but you're advocating for the shooting of your own foot.
Change can be upsetting to many, and many will not adapt. It doesn't necessarily make it complete disorder.Chaos: Complete disorder and confusion. I don’t think we need that.
Change can be upsetting to many, and many will not adapt. It doesn't necessarily make it complete disorder.
It's reordering, which admittedly, isn't easy.
But, I agree with the OP's premise in that, it's what we need, although perhaps not what many wanted.
Change can be upsetting to many, and many will not adapt. It doesn't necessarily make it complete disorder.
It's reordering, which admittedly, isn't easy.
But, I agree with the OP's premise in that, it's what we need, although perhaps not what many wanted.
I'm finding it highly amusing that conservative posters are ignoring the opinions of conservative economists and also arguing against free trade, lol.
I guess we've just seen what Trumpeteers are prepared to do in their defence of Trump: jettison their political ideology. Perhaps Trump should come out in favour of a single payer health system, then we could all enjoy watching conservatives insist that a single payer health system is great for America. Perhaps we would actually get somewhere with the US healthcare system.
I'm finding it highly amusing that conservative posters are ignoring the opinions of conservative economists and also arguing against free trade, lol.
I guess we've just seen what Trumpeteers are prepared to do in their defence of Trump: jettison their political ideology. Perhaps Trump should come out in favour of a single payer health system, then we could all enjoy watching conservatives insist that a single payer health system is great for America. Perhaps we would actually get somewhere with the US healthcare system.
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