Is President Trump an Idiot? Or does he think we are?

Possibly the answer to the questions is "both." If these tariffs are so good for American manufacturers and American jobs, maybe someone can tell me why share prices of some companies like Ford Motor are at multi-year lows.

As you probably know, parts and intermediate products used to manufacture an automobile can cross the border multiple times. Apparently a 25% duty will be paid now every time that happens. Anderson Consulting is estimating the cost of pickup will go up by $8000 and an SUV by $9000. Or that's what the talking heads on CNBC are saying. Fruits and vegetables imported from Mexico will go up big time. How are we supposed to grow avocados and watermelon for harvest in March in the good old USA?

The Trump administration is telling us that we're imposing tariffs on Canada to stem the flow of f******* and illegals. Bull shit. Do they really believe we're that stupid?

The US probably sends more d**** and illegals to Canada than they send to us. And how about the new 10% tariff on imported oil? Republicans fought tooth and nail to keep the Keystone XL pipeline on track, to ship oil from Canada to the USA, so we'd have more energy security and more jobs. And now Trump has given the Canucks a bigger incentive to ship their oil to China than Biden did when he jerked Keystone. This is no way to treat your 51st state!

Well, I guess that Mexico and Canada can team up with China now, since they're all kind out of locked out of trading with us. The Europeans will be next.

I feel sorry for Treasury Secretary Bessent and Commerce Secretary Lutnick, having to explain this lunacy.

What the f*** was Trump thinking?

Trump is viewed as having a "transactional" approach to diplomacy. Apparently anything he can do make money is the key to make America Great again. He has used the phrase "not a sucker anymore".


He has stated these tariffs will turn out to be a positive money maker in the end.


I don't know what time period he is using for that prediction.

Trump is viewed as having a "transactional" approach to diplomacy. Apparently anything he can do make money is the key to make America Great again. He has used the phrase "not a sucker anymore".


He has stated these tariffs will turn out to be a positive money maker in the end.


I don't know what time period he is using for that prediction. Originally Posted by VitaMan

And who is paying the money that makes tariffs a 'positive money maker'?

Hint...it's not the country the product is manufactured in nor the manufacturer of the product.

To be honest I think Trump is trying to find a way to get rid of the totally corrupt Income Tax system that seems to only benefit the politicians in Washington DC.



The United States Federal government used to be funded on tariffs alone.


What I find amazing is how people want to say tariffs are inflationary, but they ignore than raising corporate income tax rates are also inflationary.

To be honest I think Trump is trying to find a way to get rid of the totally corrupt Income Tax system that seems to only benefit the politicians in Washington DC.



The United States Federal government used to be funded on tariffs alone.


What I find amazing is how people want to say tariffs are inflationary, but they ignore than raising corporate income tax rates are also inflationary. Originally Posted by farmstud60

You might be able to do that with a VAT or a national sales tax.

The tariffs however don't make sense. Everybody's better off if they do what they're best at. Maybe you raise soy beans, corn or wheat, and a lot of it gets shipped to China or Europe. Well, if we effectively get shut out of the world trade system through tariffs and counter-tariffs, Brazilian farmers will make out like bandits. And I guess you can start growing hydroponic tomatoes to replace Mexican imports. Which is not what your operation is best suited to do.

To be honest I think Trump is trying to find a way to get rid of the totally corrupt Income Tax system that seems to only benefit the politicians in Washington DC.



The United States Federal government used to be funded on tariffs alone.


What I find amazing is how people want to say tariffs are inflationary, but they ignore than raising corporate income tax rates are also inflationary. Originally Posted by farmstud60

Yeah, the government was last funded by tariffs
Before the federal income tax was established in 1913, tariffs were a major revenue source for the government. From 1790 to 1860, tariffs accounted for 90% of federal revenue, according to Douglas Irwin, a Dartmouth College economist who has studied the history of trade policy.

Sure, raise tariffs to get rid of income tax....
Want to guess how high tariffs would have to be?
31.25 times current tariff income.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government collected around $80 billion in tariffs and fees, a trifle next to the $2.5 trillion that comes from individual income taxes and the $1.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Yeah, the government was last funded by tariffs
Before the federal income tax was established in 1913, tariffs were a major revenue source for the government. From 1790 to 1860, tariffs accounted for 90% of federal revenue, according to Douglas Irwin, a Dartmouth College economist who has studied the history of trade policy.

Sure, raise tariffs to get rid of income tax....
Want to guess how high tariffs would have to be?
31.25 times current tariff income.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the government collected around $80 billion in tariffs and fees, a trifle next to the $2.5 trillion that comes from individual income taxes and the $1.7 trillion from Social Security and Medicare taxes. Originally Posted by RX792P

The only thing your message pointed out to me is how much markets have always been manipulated. At one time all currencies were tied to a certain amount of gold, but governments kept changing that amount of gold. The United States also had vast political differences between the Gold and Silver standards. The value of Ag products often changes more by the value of the dollar than the price in Chicago on the Board of Trade

Is President Trump an Idiot? Or does he think we are?

Trumpf is an idiot!

You might be able to do that with a VAT or a national sales tax.

The tariffs however don't make sense. Everybody's better off if they do what they're best at. Maybe you raise soy beans, corn or wheat, and a lot of it gets shipped to China or Europe. Well, if we effectively get shut out of the world trade system through tariffs and counter-tariffs, Brazilian farmers will make out like bandits. And I guess you can start growing hydroponic tomatoes to replace Mexican imports. Which is not what your operation is best suited to do. Originally Posted by Tiny

... The tariff threats are short term, mate.
Not long term.

#### Salty

Yes, Trump is an idiot

... The tariff threats are short term, mate.
Not long term.

#### Salty Originally Posted by Salty Again

So these 'short term' tariffs will neither generate long term revenue for the US government, nor will they replace any income taxes or pay off any federal debt.

Good plan.....not

Is President Trump an Idiot? Or does he think we are?

Trumpf is an idiot! Originally Posted by winn dixie

Look in the mirror. You haven't posted anything remotely correct about Trump

Look in the mirror. You haven't posted anything remotely correct about Trump Originally Posted by farmstud60

He is correct that Trump is an idiot

So these 'short term' tariffs will neither generate long term revenue for the US government, nor will they replace any income taxes or pay off any federal debt.

Good plan.....not Originally Posted by RX792P

Well, when you don't look at a bigger picture you are doomed to failure.


Trump is 3 steps ahead of most people that post here.

There are differing views about that. A defense by the MAGA for Trump has been he is playing chess while everyone else plays checkers.


Several educated counselors believe the only fork in the road Trump could comprehend is the fork in the kitchen.


Trump refuses to take an IQ test. Yet he is able to tell everyone what his IQ is.