US Politics Thread 2021-24

[AVGWarhawk]

Many fail to remember, at least here in the USA, that COVID/pandemic opened our eyes to who has control of what. Surgical masks/KN95 or N95 are manufactured in China. Interesting, right? It has long been said COVID originated in China. Interesting, right? The games China plays.

My office was tasked with chartering aircraft to transport these masks to the USA. We were not successful. China kept moving the goalposts on FEMA. In short, driving the cost sky high. China was selling to the highest bidder. It was a jolly game with China not only with masks but other life sustaining products. This is just one of the many reasons Trump is imposing high tariffs on China.

This type of manufacturing Trump wants back in the USA. What was once a good will agreement between countries and global economy that is good for all has turned into a toy to play with and manipulate others. China is the worst of them.

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Many fail to remember, at least here in the USA, that COVID/pandemic opened our eyes to who has control of what. Surgical masks/KN95 or N95 are manufactured in China. Interesting, right? It has long been said COVID originated in China. Interesting, right? The games China plays.

My office was tasked with chartering aircraft to transport these masks to the USA. We were not successful. China kept moving the goalposts on FEMA. In short, driving the cost sky high. China was selling to the highest bidder. It was a jolly game with China not only with masks but other life sustaining products. This is just one of the many reasons Trump is imposing high tariffs on China.

This type of manufacturing Trump wants back in the USA. What was once a good will agreement between countries and global economy that is good for all has turned into a toy to play with and manipulate others. China is the worst of them.

And once again you fail to see the reality behind the words.


a) selling to the highest bidder is capitalism, just as America wants it.

b) The masks were still vastly cheaper than anything produced in the US could possibly have been, and by quite a margin. You simply cannot undercut the Chinese, unless you pay your workerrs slave wages. But hey, if that's what you want for your children.


And Vietnam and Camobida from your previous post are excellent examples to show the futility of Trump's ludicrous attempt at financial politics. Both countries heavily export to the US because labor is cheap there. Neither country imports much from the US because the vast majority of people simply cannot afford high priced American good. No tariff is going to change that.



When economic reality hits the addled minds of FOX viewers...

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Never said it did and I have no idea where you believe I do.

You said that Ukraine provoked Russia, I’m used to seeing provocations used as justifications.

A few post back Buddahaid linked some boat incident between Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to say the Ukraine war started during Trump first term.

It started in 2014, in Obama’s second term.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Ostfriese

And once again you fail to see the reality behind the words.


a) selling to the highest bidder is capitalism, just as America wants it.

b) The masks were still vastly cheaper than anything produced in the US could possibly have been, and by quite a margin. You simply cannot undercut the Chinese, unless you pay your workerrs slave wages. But hey, if that's what you want for your children.


And Vietnam and Camobida from your previous post are excellent examples to show the futility of Trump's ludicrous attempt at financial politics. Both countries heavily export to the US because labor is cheap there. Neither country imports much from the US because the vast majority of people simply cannot afford high priced American good. No tariff is going to change that.



When economic reality hits the addled minds of FOX viewers...

Bud, the status qou of cheap crap yadda is just that. Cheap crap. I will pay the higher cost for a product that does not crap out after one use. I then need to go buy another. Where am I saving money? Harbor freight tools. Buy 2 because the first one will not last through the job.

I scour eBay for NOS America made car parts. I pay the price because they are quality parts. Parts manufactured in China are a dollar and it shows.

People are willing to pay more for quality. I no longer buy partial board furniture. Absolute junk from China. But I sure as hell will buy a piece of furniture made by Amish. It will be passed on for generations. Partial board crap not so much..

Stop with the FOX news nonsense. I don't watch any talking heads news outlets.

[Dargo]

Who really gives an F under witch US president the Ukraine Russia war started it is Putin who started this way before 2014 nobody else it's his and Russian culture of Übermensch over all.

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Bud, the status qou of cheap crap yadda is just that. Cheap crap. I will pay the higher cost for a product that does not crap out after one use. I then need to go buy another. Where am I saving money? Harbor freight tools. Buy 2 because the first one will not last through the job.

I scour eBay for NOS America made car parts. I pay the price because they are quality parts. Parts manufactured in China are a dollar and it shows.

You keep looking at a small number of products, not at the entire market.

People are willing to pay more for quality.

If that was true people would already buy higher quality products and not cheap products. The reality is that people usually are willing to pay a little more for a little higher quality, but not exorbitantly higher prices for moderately higher quality. A large number of people simply cannot afford the higher quality anyway.


And once again: American products are not exceptionally good by default. China and other nations already produce a lot of high quality products. Yeah, I know, Americans don't believe that (like that Trump lackey who said European beef was weak ).
Why do Americans buy so many German cars, whereas Germans rarely buy American cars?

[Cybermat47]

My office was tasked with chartering aircraft to transport these masks to the USA. We were not successful. China kept moving the goalposts on FEMA. In short, driving the cost sky high. China was selling to the highest bidder. It was a jolly game with China not only with masks but other life sustaining products. This is just one of the many reasons Trump is imposing high tariffs on China.

But why the tariffs on Australia, Canada, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Singapore, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Cayman Islands, the Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos, Comoros, Cook Island, Costa Rica, oh for crying out loud, are there any countries that aren’t on Trump’s tariff list?!

Oh, Russia, Belarus, and North Korea aren’t. How about that.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ypxnnyg7jo

Originally Posted by Dargo

Who really gives an F under witch US president the Ukraine Russia war started it is Putin who started this way before 2014 nobody else it's his and Russian culture of Übermensch over all.

Because apparently it’s actually somehow Joe Biden’s fault.

Don’t worry, though, Trump said he’d end the war in the first day of his second term!

[Ostfriese]

Yeah, Russia, of course. Trump remains obedient to his Kremlin overlord.

[Dargo]

You forgot Cuba This is based on ChatGPT how can a country like the Netherlands be on the list. Import duties are because of their trade surplus with the US. The Netherlands, however, has a trade deficit.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dargo

You forgot Cuba

Only on cigars

[Dargo]

[Dargo]

If you ask yourself why this will never work. Look under the bonnet, there is nothing American about it, the parts come from Germany, Japan, China, Korea. A world on wheels. Just imagine what this will cost later. Who does Trump think is going to pay for it? How will America win when everything becomes more expensive? Building more in America is really a good idea, but a wall around the economy is not the way. You make your own country unaffordable for your own people. The cost is for the citizen! German Volkswagen on Thursday already said it was going to charge an extra ‘import premium’ for cars sold in the US. Italian luxury brand Ferrari expects to raise its prices by at least $50 thousand per car. I have seen the inside of every car on earth. Let me put it this way, if you want to sell more American, maybe you should improve that stuff before excluding others. At least now we can all understand how Trump bankrupted a casino.

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by Dargo

The Netherlands, however, has a trade deficit.

I couldn't believe it when I read that, so I checked. Of course you are correct, the Netherlands exported goods worth €28.2bn to the US in the first three months of 2024 while they imported goods worth €44.4bn. That was no exception, the Netherlands have had a trade deficit with the US for at least a decade. The most important factor is the import of crude oil and natural gas.

[Otto Harkaman]

Crash the market to force the Feds to slash interest rates?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Dargo

If you ask yourself why this will never work. Look under the bonnet, there is nothing American about it, the parts come from Germany, Japan, China, Korea. A world on wheels. Just imagine what this will cost later. Who does Trump think is going to pay for it? How will America win when everything becomes more expensive? Building more in America is really a good idea, but a wall around the economy is not the way. You make your own country unaffordable for your own people. The cost is for the citizen! German Volkswagen on Thursday already said it was going to charge an extra ‘import premium’ for cars sold in the US. Italian luxury brand Ferrari expects to raise its prices by at least $50 thousand per car. I have seen the inside of every car on earth. Let me put it this way, if you want to sell more American, maybe you should improve that stuff before excluding others.

That's why it's called a world economy. Time to bring the entire auto industry back to the US. New parts, plants and aftermarket.

None of this will happen overnight. Nor was it expected. Improve cars made in the USA? I drive a Traverse made in MI. Not a single problem. I have a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer. 181000 miles. Still going! I purchased a 2006 VW Passat. Not but 30 minutes signing for it, it was on fire in my driveway. Dumped that pile of parts in 12 months. Junk.


I also drive a 54 and 60 Buick. American made. Still going.