Posted on 03/19/2018 12:50:03 PM PDT by Thalean
Tariffs are to the Free Traitor™ what sunlight is to the vampire.
Ben Shapiro never struck me as exceptionally intelligent. Just arrogant, smug, and reasonably good at repeating the official talking points of the GOP.
Good analogy.
Good point.
That seems to be one of the many things that the Far Left and the Globalist "Right" have in common: both want free trade and open borders to facilitate an international order and a race to the bottom for the working and middle classes. The only difference is that the Marxists think this race to be bottom will eventually lead to revolution while the advocates of transnational corporations and finance hope that rock bottom (for everyone else) will be permanent.
The problem with "free trade" is you have to pay for things twice: Once ay WalMart and again on April 15th to pay for all the social programs for the "displaced" US workers.
What Free Traitors™ want you to believe is that the supply function is static and no new domestic suppliers will EVER come on line. Despite their best efforts to the contrary, brand new factories are still being built in the USA all the time. Not as many as are closed mind you, but the situation is dynamic and not static. With more domestic supply will mean pressure to reduce prices.
I've tried to explain it it you several times but you are a myopic simpleton. The problem with "free trade" is you have to pay for things twice: Once at WalMart and again on April 15th to pay for all the social programs for the "displaced" US workers. What Free Traitors™ want you to believe is that the supply function is static and no new domestic suppliers will EVER come on line. Despite their best efforts to the contrary, brand new factories are still being built in the USA all the time. Not as many as are closed mind you, but the situation is dynamic and not static. With more domestic supply will mean pressure to reduce prices.
I am not in favor of free trade as it is currently structured. But labeling me a myopic simpleton is a personal attack, and if I flagged your post for abuse, would it be deleted?
Managed trade is just as bad as the welfare-warfare state, but protectionism isn’t a very good long term strategy either.
” but protectionism isn’t a very good long term strategy either”
In a world of mercantilists, one must protect, or die.
Every other nation of the world uses all the state power at their disposal to further the interests of their businesses. And we have unilaterally disarmed based on a theory that has NEVER been proven because it has never been implemented.
Anywhere. Ever.
I agree. For me tariffs are just a tax to fund the federal government. That’s why I am in favor of restoring them as the primary means of funding govt, instead of personal income tax. Where I draw the line is with tariffs being used to protect inefficient industries.
Our alleged free trade agreements are nothing more than a structure for regional govt and globalism.
“The only difference is that the Marxists think this race to be bottom will eventually lead to revolution while the advocates of transnational corporations and finance hope that rock bottom (for everyone else) will be permanent. “
The Marxist theory is complete crap, but Globalists Corps/Gov know exactly what they’re doing.
It’s a race for Control.
“Yup. He wrote about it explicitly. Not sure why “republicans” believe in the fiction of free trade.”
They’re getting rich off it.
“Wealth is like water, it flows downwards until all levels are equal. If you have the high ground, you must build a dam or risk being left high-and-dry.”
That’s a great metaphor. Our wealth has been flowing off of our high ground for decades.
Time to build our dam.
A damn big one.
“Tariffs are not synonymous with protectionism. “
Good point.
China et al can still sell all their junk here, just pay the fee.
I have yet to hear a free trader include the fact that these huge surpluses are being used to make weapons pointed at the US.
I think that changes the economics considerablty.
LOL. Touche.
Nailed it.
I have never understood why people who oppose income taxes and favor sales taxes are against tariffs. Tariffs are equivalent to sales taxes. Take any item that has a tariff, if you want to purchase/consume it, you end up paying a subsidy to do so. Put another way, it gives the consumer a means to control how much they pay in taxes.
Do not think Trump would use tariffs to protect inefficient industries.
Tariffs don't protect inefficient industries because even with a very high tariff on all foreign imports, you still have open competition among businesses within the US that will drive inefficient industries out of business. The goal of the tariff is to charge foreign nations and foreign companies a fee for the privilege of doing business in the US - which our domestic businesses already do in the form of taxes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.