Rand Paul warns tariffs could cause GOP ‘decimation.’ He has a point.

WaPo ^ | April 6 | Analysis by Aaron Blake

[RandFan]

Republicans who are evidently not too comfortable with President Donald Trump’s decision to announce large new global tariffs have tried plenty of hints to push him in a different direction. And one of Trump’s most vocal tariff critics on the GOP side, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, tried a relatively novel one on Wednesday.

He pointed to electoral peril for the GOP.

“Tariffs have also led to political decimation,” Paul told reporters. “When [William] McKinley most famously put tariffs on in 1890, they lost 50 percent of their seats in the next election. When [Sens. Reed Smoot and Willis C. Hawley] put on their tariff in the early 1930s, we lost the House and the Senate for 60 years.

“So they’re not only bad economically; they’re bad politically.”

This is a good point.

Whatever the theoretical economic benefits of major tariffs, history shows they have coincided with huge losses for the Republicans — and it has almost always been Republicans — who pursue them.

[RandFan]

So Freepers, Rand reckons the GOP won't hold power for 60 years after this mess.....

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Rand reckons the GOP won't hold power for 60 years after this mess...

It's already a mess? Nice try, but the tariffs aren't even in effect yet.

One of the great lessons of the Ukraine War is that the United States needs to re-establish its industrial base, in favor of more overall production and less consumption. It's a matter of national survival.

Right now, if the US finds itself in a major war, the country would depend on Thailand and Vietnam to produce its ammunition and other stocks for that war.

It was easy to flip the switch in 1941 since the US was already an industrial giant.

[SoConPubbie]

Randy Paul,

Siding with a l the wrong people: McConell, Democrats, Washington Post , n

[RandFan]

We’ll see*

*the mess I’m referring to is the roiled markets

[Chgogal]

Nope, don’t buy it. Talk to me when US tariffs are equal to or greater than China’s and the EU’s tariffs put upon the US’.

[Equine1952]

This BS about should we really move the cheese it pissing me off. I figure we got three choices. We can either Fight, F$&k, or go for our Guns. We’ve already tried the get screwed with Biden, Obama etc. So now we fight. If that don’t work? Fall out, draw ammo. God, Guns, and Guts got us this far. Let’s see how they like that shit. IMO

[Angelino97]

So Freepers, Rand reckons the GOP won't hold power for 60 years after this mess.....

I don't think Rand Paul has a specific number in mind. He's only citing past historical events to suggest there might be a political price to pay.

[Soul of the South]

Rand conveniently forgets the period from 1865 to 1900 when the U.S. had the highest tariffs in its history and its highest economic growth. Tariffs allowed the U.S. to transition from a primarily agricultural economy, decimated by 4 years of civil war, to the largest industrial economy on the planet. In addition Rand forgets the Republican Party controlled the federal government for most of that time.

[Angelino97]

One of the great lessons of the Ukraine War is that the United States needs to re-establish its industrial base, in favor of more overall production and less consumption.

That was also one of the lessons of Covid. Currently, much of our medical technology and drugs are manufactured overseas.

[Equine1952]

That was also one of the lessons of Covid. Currently, much of our medical technology and drugs are manufactured overseas.

Why do you think that is the case? Are we too dumb to make a mask or a ventilator? I already know we were to damn dumb to use ivermectin.

[Lod881019]

Because post Covid was run by Biden who was so in bed with the Chinese it wasn’t even funny

[Lod881019]

Rand needs to decide does he want a manufacturing base in America or not.

[Equine1952]

Trump is awakening a sleeping giant. We have the technology, we have the abilities, we have the resources, and if this gets going? The new Industrial Revolution will make the last 50 years look like a slumber party. IMO

[Farcesensitive]

He has a point on top of his head.

[Farcesensitive]

Rand has decided, he doesn’t want America to have one.

[Lod881019]

I agree I just wonder if Rand wants to ever see a manufacturing job in the United States the comments I’ve seen from the guy seem to indicate he could care less if everything consumed in the United States came from overseas as long as the US consumer got the lowest prices.

[vivenne]

Maybe Rand should shut up about this and let it succeed. He should Stickney Optometry.

[Lod881019]

I wonder if Rand would be ok if he never got into politics and stayed an eye doctor and everyone just went to Zenni for 7.99 glasses.

[paudio]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14573081/trump-tariffs-americans-deliver-verdict-trade-poll.html

Tariff is very popular among union members, that’s why Trump’s number went up among Democrats.

[Equine1952]

Yeah, I guess I’m glad he wasn’t alive in 1941. He bought and sucked the wind from his daddy’s sails. My dad was 82nd Airborne in 1951. I ducked the jungle in Vietnam in 1971 and rode USN Submarines, my son rode the USS Carl Vinson as a navy aviation electrician, and my daughter served as an Air force air traffic controller in the USAF. What kept us all doing our job? The USA. Our citizens, the everyday grunts that work for the US. Trump is getting us back in the game. God Bless him. I hope it works.