Ouch, Tariffs out!

[zymurgy]

The reasons for trade imbalances are so complex and intertwined even the experts who make their living analyzing it cannot come to an agreement, so discussing it here would accomplish nothing.

I will say that trump's heavy-handed tariffs were not only not the answer, but would have likely made things worse by sparking retaliatory tariffs and starting a trade war.

Radical actions are rarely if ever the answer to anything.

tarrifs are the answer - the question is - how we do get people to be responsible for government spending again?

You make them pay for what they vote for

you don't just make the billionaires pay for it -

you don't make just those that get up and work pay for it

you make everyone share in this burden. taxes are a drain on society - and all of society should know and feel that they are being drained

 

[Nomad]

tarrifs are the answer - the question is - how we get people to be responsible for government spending?

You make them pay for what they vote for

you don't just make the billionaires pay for it -

you don't make just those that get up and work pay for it

you make everyone share in this burden. taxes are a drain on society - and all of society should know and feel that they are being drained

Americans are not overtaxed.

Every time a new smart phone comes out with a $1500+ price tag, or a new expensive video game system, the lines at Best Buy stretch around the building with people camping out, some for days.

The theme parks here in Central Florida keep expanding and raising their already astronomical prices, while breaking attendance records every year.

Starbucks is selling $7 cups of coffee as fast as they can brew them.

If taxes were as high as the right cries about them to be, people wouldn't have as much money to piss away on leisure activity as they do.

 

[zymurgy]

Americans are not overtaxed.

you are a clown show joke

we over consume and are over taxed


your post is weak logic. It confuses visible consumer spending with overall tax burden and cost of living.


People buying some expensive stuff does not prove taxes are low. It can also mean:

• people finance everything with debt
• people cut back elsewhere to afford a few “status” purchases
• spending is concentrated (a smaller group buys a lot)
• people prioritize treats even when budgets are tight (very common)

A guy buying a $1,500 phone every 3–4 years tells you almost nothing about:

• payroll taxes
• income taxes
• property taxes (direct or embedded in rent)
• sales taxes
• insurance costs
• healthcare costs
• inflation
• housing burden

you also cherry-picks luxury/visible spending categories and ignores the stuff crushing people:

• rent/mortgage
• groceries
• healthcare
• utilities
• childcare
• car insurance
• interest payments

In other words

“I can see people buying coffee and going to Disney, therefore the tax burden isn’t high.”

That’s not an economic argument. That’s just anecdotal vibes. It also means they can afford a more expensive phone from tariffs - so your point is just on top of your head

 

[zymurgy]

“Someone bought a latte, therefore the tax burden is fake.”

derp derp derpity derp

 

[zymurgy]

1700s: “Let them eat cake.”
2026: “They can still afford cake, so apparently inflation, fees, and taxes aren’t high enough yet.”

got to love the shit stain democrats

 

[Nomad]

you are a clown show joke

we over consume and are over taxed


your post is weak logic. It confuses visible consumer spending with overall tax burden and cost of living.


People buying some expensive stuff does not prove taxes are low. It can also mean:

• people finance everything with debt
• people cut back elsewhere to afford a few “status” purchases
• spending is concentrated (a smaller group buys a lot)
• people prioritize treats even when budgets are tight (very common)

A guy buying a $1,500 phone every 3–4 years tells you almost nothing about:

• payroll taxes
• income taxes
• property taxes (direct or embedded in rent)
• sales taxes
• insurance costs
• healthcare costs
• inflation
• housing burden

you also cherry-picks luxury/visible spending categories and ignores the stuff crushing people:

• rent/mortgage
• groceries
• healthcare
• utilities
• childcare
• car insurance
• interest payments

In other words




That’s not an economic argument. That’s just anecdotal vibes. It also means they can afford a more expensive phone from tariffs - so your point is just on top of your head

“Someone bought a latte, therefore the tax burden is fake.”

derp derp derpity derp

1700s: “Let them eat cake.”
2026: “They can still afford cake, so apparently inflation, fees, and taxes aren’t high enough yet.”

got to love the shit stain democrats

Unhinged MAGA nutjob....

It stands to reason that if taxes were as burdensome as you fucks crap your diapers that they are, people would not be spending as much on leisure as they do.

Taxes are obviously not putting much of a crimp in the finances of most people.

You MAGA whiners are just a bunch of gub'mint hatin' cheapskates.

 

[zymurgy]

Unhinged MAGA nutjob....

It stands to reason that if taxes were as burdensome as you fucks crap your diapers that they are, people would not be spending as much on leisure as they do.

Taxes are obviously not putting much of a crimp in the finances of most people.

You MAGA whiners are just a bunch of gub'mint hatin' cheapskates.

derp derp

if poverty is as bad as you fucks say it is, people would not be spending as much on lesure as they do.

this is called circular reasoning dipshit

 

[Nomad]

derp derp

if poverty is as bad as you fucks say it is, people would not be spending as much on lesure as they do.

I actually agree with that.

I have said many times on many forums including this one, that "poverty" in America is not the same as the kind of REAL poverty that people experience in third world countries.

this is called circular reasoning dipshit

MAGA reasoning is circular reasoning, dipshit

 

[gfm7175]

That would not last forever. They've held off passing on the costs because they know trump is so unpredictable his policies can change at the drop of a hat and turn on a dime.

But if the tariffs were left in place long term, eventually they'd have to pass the costs on to the retailers who would pass them on to the consumer.

It's just basic business 101.

They've been in place for over a year now. There just hasn't been any increased prices on the consumer side of things due to tariffs. It's not happening. The exporting/importing companies have been eating the cost. All it means is that their profit margin decreases ever so slightly. Whoopity doo. They still make money hand over fist and the consumer still purchases the product because the retail price that they pay doesn't increase.

Importers don't make products, Einstein. They import products made overseas in foreign countries

Are you suggesting that every foreign company should shut down their manufacturing facilities and move them to the US???

Puh -lease.

If they wish to avoid tariffs, then yes. Otherwise, PAY UP!

And even if it were remotely possible, that would still be as bad as or worse than a tariff give the costs associated with moving/rebuilding and the vastly increased labor cost.

Then keep manufacturing in other countries and PAY UP!

Translation:

"I'm against many taxes/fees, but not if trump imposes them. If trump does it I'm okay with it.

My taxes/fees have gone down since Trump came into office.

"I've never had any issue with tariffs imposed by trump. When trump does them, they are very good/useful and are beneficial to the USA because trump says they are.

This is true regardless of what Trump says.

 

[zymurgy]

I actually agree with that.

I have said many times on many forums including this one, that "poverty" in America is not the same as the kind of REAL poverty that people experience in third world countries.

MAGA reasoning is circular reasoning, dipshit

so you should appreciate the more honest form of taxation these represent

we are fucking the world over. we import cheap goods and export depreciating debt, all while telling our voters that we deserve more

 

[Nomad]

They've been in place for over a year now. There just hasn't been any increased prices on the consumer side of things due to tariffs. It's not happening. The exporting/importing companies have been eating the cost. All it means is that their profit margin decreases ever so slightly. Whoopity doo. They still make money hand over fist and the consumer still purchases the product because the retail price that they pay doesn't increase.

He's been all over the map with them to the point that it's difficult to keep track of who's paying what.

He lowered many of them from the outrageous levels he first imposed, suspended some and cancelled others.

Auto manufacturers have eaten the tariffs at the cost of decreased profits in the hopes that they would not last very long.

But that will not last forever.

If they wish to avoid tariffs, then yes. Otherwise, PAY UP!

Then keep manufacturing in other countries and PAY UP!

No foreign manufacturers are going to close their factories to move here

PAY UP! is exactly what the American consumer is doing.

My taxes/fees have gone down since Trump came into office.

This is true regardless of what Trump says.

Golly gee whiz, you wouldn't just be saying that to kiss trump's ass, wouldja????

 

[Lionfish]

The reasons for trade imbalances are so complex and intertwined even the experts who make their living analyzing it cannot come to an agreement, so discussing it here would accomplish nothing.

I will say that trump's heavy-handed tariffs were not only not the answer, but would have likely made things worse by sparking retaliatory tariffs and starting a trade war.

Radical actions are rarely if ever the answer to anything.

I agree.

 

[Jarod]

I agree.

Good, we all agree. Do you agree that he did not Constitutally have the power to do what he did?

 

[Lionfish]

Good, we all agree. Do you agree that he did not Constitutally have the power to do what he did?

Neither of us is a lawyer.

 

[Lionfish]

View: https://youtu.be/HLUVnbJ2Z4Y?t=3652

 

[zymurgy]

“Inflation isn’t policy.”

Right. And taxes aren’t taxes if you hide them in prices.

They can dress it up with words like “price stability,” “stimulus,” and “full employment,” but if your money buys less every year by design, that’s not an accident.

That’s policy.