Posted on 03/02/2018 7:28:44 AM PST by SeekAndFind
President Trump is raising tariffs 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, claiming that cheap steel from other countries has hurt the American steel industry. His claim, that steel imported at lower prices hurts our steel industry, is certainly true.
But talk show host Mark Levin says Trump's tariffs are crony capitalist gifts for wealthy steel-owners that are bad for the economy as a whole. On his talk show last night, he listed a number of reasons why:
1. Industries that depend heavily on steel, such as auto and airplane manufacturers, will take a big hit. With the increase in the price of steel, they will have to increase the price of cars and planes, reducing sales and profits, and ultimately, these manufacturers will have to fire employees to compensate for the inevitable losses.
2. Industries that even peripherally rely on steel will be affected as well. Just think of any business that needs anything made of steel, whether it be cars, refrigerators, trucks, stoves, computers, or any number of other things. They will all have to raise prices to compensate.
3. The ultimate end purchasers of anything made of steel, or anything made with steel, will have to pay higher prices. Levin frames this as a loss of liberty, which is correct, and, equally important, as a tax that punishes the American people. Every time you pay more for a car or a boat or a can of beans or even a loaf of bread, which is made in an oven, which, guess what, is made of metal, you will have to pay more. Because metal is so ubiquitous in manufacturing, Trump's tax will make you pay higher prices for nearly everything you buy.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
It's no coincidence that Clinton signed NAFTA into law on December 8, 1993; the agreement went into effect on January 1, 1994. Clinton, while signing the NAFTA bill, stated that "NAFTA means jobs. He, and the Chamber of Commerce Republicans, couldn't have been more wrong.
Sounds like a swell idea, put 100% tariff on communist countries like China, undercutting countries like India, and use that money to end our income tax!
“These guys want us to keep financing China as they surpass us. Just act fat, dumb and happy as we get rolled by other countries that put tariffs on us but we, with our principles refuse to do the same to them because.....”
China, Germany, Japan...most other industrial countries are Mercantilists. And they are emulating the most successful Mercantilists in history...the USA of the 18th and 19th centuries.
The fact that we continue to allow traitors in the Republican party to shame us over “Free Trade” is the true shame.
Free Trade has never existed in the history of man. Nation-States have always, and will always use trade as a tool of advantage. From accepting goods at less than real value (beads for Manhattan, $1 for a barrel of oil) to currency manipulation, MERCANTILISM is the natural state of man.
Those who pretend it doesn’t exist because Adam Smith wrote about a theoretical “better way”, seek to lead the rest of us to our destruction. Worse, there are those who KNOW the end result of “unilateral free trade” but are happy to skim off the top of the largest transfer of capital stock in the history of man.
Those are the ones we must hunt and hang.
It is fortuitous indeed that America is awakening. Especially conservatives. We historically have been cowed into believing this lie about Free Trade.
We are now free to examine the result, and to hold accountable its advocates.
RE: who asked this Never Trumper for his opinion? Get lost!
The only problem with that is he’s not a NeverTrumper. He has DEFENDED Trump against the Mueller investigation and the Democratic witch hunt from day one ( and still does ).
And also — HE VOTED FOR TRUMP.
Not everyone who criticizes Trump’s policies are NeverTrumpers.
Why not deal with his arguments instead of attacking the man?
You state this as fact, please provide source.
The article posted was an opinion piece, not facts. My opinion is that taken as a whole (corporate tax cuts, less regulation, some tariffs etc ) will be a wash at worse on prices.
OK, so with all due respect, you really don’t know this, it is your opinion based on well, your opinion.
Well, I disagree on principle.
The steel industry, like every other business got a huge tax cut (a reduction down to 21% if they even pay that much) and onerous regulations are being peeled back to make industries more competitive.
Therefore, steel industry does need subsidizing by the middle class thru tariffs IMHO.
According to Speaker Ryan, the tax cuts will provide an average family earning $73,000 a reduction of $2,059.*
You state at the worst (sic) it will be a wash—well let’s say you are correct (even tho you have no date to support that).
...Well, why is that a good idea?? Why should it be a wash? People were not thinking they were getting a tax cut to pay for steel subsidies. They thought they were going to be able to get ahead.
Frankly, I think people would be apoplectic if Obama had done this—Why do I think this? Because they were with the GM and other auto bailouts.
BTW, did not see that the article was an editorial, it provided some facts and even if it was an “{opinion piece” that does not mean people cannot provide facts in their posts and I would like to see more of them from people who think this is a good idea.*
*https://www.speaker.gov/general/2059-tax-cut-average-american-families
Just saw Wilbur Ross, US Commerce Secretary on CNBC do a GREAT job of setting straight all the naysayers on these tariffs and possible ‘reciprocal taxes’.
I would only direct Mr. Levin to watch that interview. Actually, watch it twice, then maybe he’ll learn something.
Stay the course Mr. President.
Yes. Our founders intended such things to be the primary funding source for the federal government.
HOORAY President Donald J. Trump!
“Then he’s a hypocrite - how is it harmful to Americans to restrict foreign steel but not to restrict foreign labor? All his arguments for the former apply to the latter. “
100% correct.
Trump this morning:
When a country Taxes our products coming in at, say, 50%, and we Tax the same product coming into our country at ZERO, not fair or smart. We will soon be starting RECIPROCAL TAXES so that we will charge the same thing as they charge us. $800 Billion Trade Deficit-have no choice!
6:57 AM - Mar 2, 2018
Probably because it doesn’t involve the FRee traitors in the US who love to do business with communists, and will do ANYTHING to protect their masters in Beijing.
It doesnt take much to send Levin back to #NeverTrump.
Levin is a little sh** stain.
It is strictly a tax to support the country. If it supports any industry, it is an ancillary benefit/concern.
Any tax shifted to foreign goods is a tax we can reduce on reportable income or on locally-made goods. Its a definite win, as long as it reduces these other burdens.
Exactly
Generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of the word “tax” in any context. But in this case, if we’re unable to maintain our own raw materials industries due to dumping, what happens if/when we end up in a war with one of our “suppliers”? Raw materials — especially steel and aluminum — are indispensable commodities, not just for consumer products but also for defense.
Our founders intended such things to be the primary funding source for the federal government.
Correct. Seems Ms. Levin’s slip is showing.
Blank you, Levin. You’ve been an anti-Trump zealot since day one, and your poor imitation of Bob Grant grew tiresome about 20 years ago.
If nothing else, this is going to be a great test of the free trade vs. protectionist debate. The free traders have had decades of their preferred policy in place. Now let’s see what the protectionists can do.
Keeping and increasing American jobs, providing basic commodities in the USA, Ending illegal importing through non producing nations, and encouraging suppliers to move to the US are all excellent reasons for tariffs.
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