Trump floats claims for Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal (Update: Trump wants Gaza too) (4 Viewers)

TampaJoe said:

Stop putting words in my mouth. That is not what I said.

Click to expand...

To quote you

Whether he truly believes they were formed to screw the US is known only to him. He tends to trash talk his competitors. If he gets trade concessions he will praise them and take all the credit and blame his predecessors for letting it get out of hand in the first place. He has been following the same playbook his entire business career.

Dragon said:

To quote you

Whether he truly believes they were formed to screw the US is known only to him. He tends to trash talk his competitors. If he gets trade concessions he will praise them and take all the credit and blame his predecessors for letting it get out of hand in the first place. He has been following the same playbook his entire business career.

Click to expand...

If YOU think he is a fraud, then say it. But do not put words in my mouth. It’s really that simple.

TampaJoe said:

If YOU think he is a fraud, then say it. But do not put words in my mouth. It’s really that simple.

Click to expand...

What your own words describe there is fraudulent behaviour

Dragon said:

What your own words describe there is fraudulent behaviour

Click to expand...

That’s YOUR opinion. I did not make that statement. You are welcome to YOUR opinion but you do not speak for me. Do you have a problem with that?

TampaJoe said:

I understand the money you pay other people is money you don’t get to keep. It’s jobs in other countries. It’s gdp in other countries. We don’t collect income taxes on jobs and economic activity in foreign countries. So even though we may get some value in return for the money we spend over there, it isn’t neutral.

Not to mention the fact that we shouldn’t be totally dependent on foreign countries for mission critical goods and services.

Click to expand...

Question....the products we import ( pay others for in other countries ), are they given to US citizens for free? Are the distributors, the importers, the shippers, the vendors also free? What about sales taxes, none?

cmon man- you cant be this simple, huh?

efil4 said:

Question....the products we import ( pay others for in other countries ), are they given to US citizens for free? Are the distributors, the importers, the shippers, the vendors also free? What about sales taxes, none?

cmon man- you cant be this simple, huh?

Click to expand...

I’m not. I said already we get some value from the exchange. Those consumers are going to buy that product regardless. They are going to pay sales taxes regardless. What we won’t collect is the income tax revenue from the workers who manufacture and produce those products we import. Nor will we collect income taxes paid by those businesses that produce those goods in foreign countries.

Cmom man. Are you that simple?

I’m not one that advocates total isolation but I do think we should foster an environment that encourages production in this country. We are better off economically when we produce more of what we need within our own borders. There is a balance to be had.

TampaJoe said:

I’m not. I said already we get some value from the exchange. Those consumers are going to buy that product regardless. They are going to pay sales taxes regardless. What we won’t collect is the income tax revenue from the workers who manufacture and produce those products we import. Nor will we collect income taxes paid by those businesses that produce those goods in foreign countries.

Cmom man. Are you that simple?

I’m not one that advocates total isolation but I do think we should foster an environment that encourages production in this country. We are better off economically when we produce more of what we need within our own borders. There is a balance to be had.

Click to expand...

you said "MAY get some value" - as in "it depends"

When the answer is we absolutely get value. Not "may". Not "might". 100% fact we get value. As for the income tax of the line worker making the widget, do you think that the income tax from that line worker exceeds the income tax from the importer ( that imports the product ) the distributor ( who is tasked with distributing the product ) , the transporter ( truck driver ), the dock worker ( unloading the product ), the salesperson ( selling the product ), the company ( that sells the product ) ?

Now, you want to discontinue importing that product? So what happens to all those positions i just listed? All because you think the income tax revenue of the line worker is more important? See its NOT that simple.

So moving on....

"The consumers are going to buy that product regardless?" Regardless of what? Price? You think consumers will pay $10 for a product that was $5 previously? What about $200 for a product that was $150 previously? You think consumers are dumb?

"We are better off economically when we produce more of what we need, within our own borders" - are we? how so exactly are we better off? We produce most of the gasoline we consume. Same for natural gas. So explain why we see historically high prices.

or is it your view that we SHOULD pay higher prices for it SINCE it is produced within US- thereby supporting the US economically?

efil4 said:

you said "MAY get some value" - as in "it depends"

When the answer is we absolutely get value. Not "may". Not "might". 100% fact we get value. As for the income tax of the line worker making the widget, do you think that the income tax from that line worker exceeds the income tax from the importer ( that imports the product ) the distributor ( who is tasked with distributing the product ) , the transporter ( truck driver ), the dock worker ( unloading the product ), the salesperson ( selling the product ), the company ( that sells the product ) ?

Now, you want to discontinue importing that product? So what happens to all those positions i just listed? All because you think the income tax revenue of the line worker is more important? See its NOT that simple.

So moving on....

"The consumers are going to buy that product regardless?" Regardless of what? Price? You think consumers will pay $10 for a product that was $5 previously? What about $200 for a product that was $150 previously? You think consumers are dumb?

"We are better off economically when we produce more of what we need, within our own borders" - are we? how so exactly are we better off? We produce most of the gasoline we consume. Same for natural gas. So explain why we see historically high prices.

or is it your view that we SHOULD pay higher prices for it SINCE it is produced within US- thereby supporting the US economically?

Click to expand...

I believe we are better off when we produce more of what we need in this country. Yes. I realize there may be some offsets. But overall I believe we are better off. I realize there may be some examples where we might be better off importing some items. I get you like absolutes but I don’t do absolutes. There are always exceptions.

Now you don’t have to agree. I accept that. I get that other people have different perspectives. That’s okay with me. That’s what makes the world go round.

TampaJoe said:

I believe we are better off when we produce more of what we need in this country. Yes. I realize there may be some offsets. But overall I believe we are better off. I realize there may be some examples where we might be better off importing some items. I get you like absolutes but I don’t do absolutes. There are always exceptions.

Now you don’t have to agree. I accept that. I get that other people have different perspectives. That’s okay with me. That’s what makes the world go round.

Click to expand...

You dont do absolutes?

you just said "consumers will buy that product, regardless" ( which you didnt address "regardless" of part ) - correct me if im wrong, but that is an absolute.

I understand ambiguity and the leeway it affords someone when discussing a topic they arent well-versed on. I get it.

And its becoming clear that you have no intention of understanding the subject matter.



moving on...

efil4 said:

You dont do absolutes?

you just said "consumers will buy that product, regardless" ( which you didnt address "regardless" of part ) - correct me if im wrong, but that is an absolute.

I understand ambiguity and the leeway it affords someone when discussing a topic they arent well-versed on. I get it.

And its becoming clear that you have no intention of understanding the subject matter.



moving on...

Click to expand...

By all means. Move on.

I buy steel and all raw building materials. A lot of them. A whole lot.

I am required to buy from American mills first, per my corp directive and the deals we have in place.

Every single American company - from steel to windows to roofing to concrete - has raised their price by the amount of the impending tariffs.

I am on the leading edge of purchasing. It will hit the regular consumer in about 4 months.

To be clear, these are American companies untouched by the tariffs; and they are raising their prices 25%. On everything.

Why you might ask? Because that is how a supply side economy works! They aren't going to open new plants to add production - that costs money! They simply charge more now because they can. And the ending consumer will get it from all angles.

So what you are saying is we should absolutely go ahead with the deck replacement we have scheduled for the first week of April, right? At this point the contractor is still honoring his quote from last fall (we ran out of decent weather before he could get to it - it involves redoing the supporting posts and our ground freezes where I am).

That’s good to know - I had considered putting it off due to the economic chaos being caused by Trump.

We do all need to prepare for a recession as the very best scenario, IMO. And for inflation to come roaring back. He’s driving the best economy in the world off a cliff.

And a lot of people are just ignoring it, or worse, making excuses for it.

More like stagflation with high unemployment.

If you can put a down payment in to lock in a price for materials only even you should. Timber is primarily from Canada. Once the tariff is enacted treated lumber will go up 25% or more

Prices will never come down. Even if the tariffs are rolled back.

Optimus Prime said:

Click to expand...

These people never fail to show their ignorance. It's quite astounding.

Was talking to my Canadian friend today. He says that the whole 51st state bullschlitz has to do with resources and specifically rare earths. He also said Canada is a member of NATO and if Trump tried any crap NATO would stand with Canada.

Our country is being run by an amalgam of idiots and gutless cowards.

Stick a fork in us.

And right on cue

CoolBrees said:

And right on cue

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-orders-new-tariff-probe-into-us-lumber-imports-2025-03-02/

Click to expand...

Here comes more of the pain that Musk promised! I swear, these guys actions are purposefully designed to sabotage The United States from within. When they reach their endgame, we will be incapable of responding to what comes next.