Trump floats claims for Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal (Update: Trump wants Gaza too) (3 Viewers)

[superchuck500]

Oh, but he's only joking - well, maybe, so they say. Or sort of joking with Canada, and maybe not joking with Greenland - saying that "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" doesn't sound like a joke . . . and um, not sure about what the about Panama Canal thing is?

Trump Jokes Canada Becoming 51st US State 'A Great Idea'

www.barrons.com

Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion

Trump didn't explain how such a takeover would be possible, given that the U.S. relinquished control of the canal to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

apnews.com

 

[Dragon]

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

 

[TampaJoe]

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.

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

 

[Dragon]

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

What your own words describe there is fraudulent behaviour

 

[TampaJoe]

What your own words describe there is fraudulent behaviour

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?

 

[efil4]

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.

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?

 

[TampaJoe]

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?

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.

 

[efil4]

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.

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?