Trade tariffs, anti-woke agenda, and other fairy tales
Much has been written since Trump’s election – I was among those who spoke their mind, admittedly in quite a confrontational piece. Many point to his economic programme, contrasting it with Harris’s apparent lack of one.
However, I’m not convinced of its merits, particularly regarding who benefits: He’ll reduce corporate tax (supposedly good for big business and productivity). He’ll simultaneously abolish Social Security and Medicare funding (effectively meaning smaller pensions), while eliminating pension taxation (benefiting the wealthier half of pensioners). He’ll scrap federal income tax, making up the shortfall through tariffs (10-20% on imports, 60%+ from China, 100-200% on cars and other products from American companies in Mexico). Car loan interest will become tax-deductible (primarily benefiting wealthy buyers of expensive models).
Firstly, these tariffs aren’t paid by foreign countries but by American importers. They likely won’t cover his proposed spending, and prices will rise. American manufacturers importing components and raw materials will also suffer – leading to further price increases. Moreover, aggressive trade policies will trigger retaliation (e.g., tariffs on American goods).
Trump claims he’ll reduce prices, but how exactly? He wants more oil drilling, but that’s unlikely to suffice. If I’ve misunderstood, let the experts explain. And while they’re at it, perhaps they can explain his psychopath’s IQ.
Many commentators argue Trump didn’t win; Harris lost. Indeed. The Democrats didn’t replace Biden soon enough to find someone better – anyone would have been preferable to Trump, but Harris was inadequate, unprepared, and pursued the wrong agenda.
Many also discuss ‘woke’ culture – Soti Triantafyllou, with her characteristic obsession, even claimed that “…the Democrats have surrendered to far-left manias, authoritarianism, and thought-police intentions”. So the upper-class Kamala is… far-left! “…the American spirit has returned to the moral strictness of the first settlers. Trump represents a revolt of the outraged against the effete elite […]. Thus, Democrats with their woke culture and intolerance are losing the culture war. […]. On one side are the foolish woke, and on the other the religious zealots, racists, and misogynists”.
You’ve confused us, Soti. So it’s the fault of both the… intolerant “foolish woke” and the religious racist lot? This ‘woke’ term is rather fashionable lately, but how many understand what it actually means? It began as an ‘awakening’ movement – vigilance against prejudice and discrimination (racial, sexual, gender). How did this become negative? What do anti-woke people mean exactly? That they support discrimination, are racist and misogynistic? That they prefer the good old “holy family” with the patriarchal father who visits prostitutes, much like their beloved clown? They speak of “excessive rights” – what on earth does that mean? You either have rights or you don’t; can you be slightly pregnant? Some say it affects freedom of speech – do they mean the freedom to abuse and insult vulnerable people? (As far as I’m concerned, anyone’s free to insult me; it’s their problem if they lack arguments). But not everyone’s so thick-skinned…
(Incidentally, it’s remarkable what one learns about oneself from certain comments, such as apparently being a warmongering fanatic, an admirer of dictators and murderers like Stalin, of mullahs who marry off 9-year-old girls… Wow! Thanks for the insight; I hadn’t realised – it was like free psychoanalysis! These gems, of course, come from admirers of Trump, Putin, and other such fine and gentlemanly characters).
Read more:
