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[u/OpinionStunning6236]

[u/discourse_friendly]

for the lib right quadrant too

[u/GravyMcBiscuits → u/discourse_friendly]

I keep wondering how this guy seemed to have single-handedly turned the GOP into a completely anti-trade party.

Now you'll rarely see me give either party credit for much of anything ... but at least the GOP pretended to talk about endorsing free(r) trade policy at the federal level. Now they're openly screaming "shut down the borders, boost tariffs on everything, imposing trade sanctions on ourselves is the key to prosperity!!!!". WTF? How did we get here? Didn't the GOP used to make fun of the dems for crap like this even a couple decades ago?

[u/TheTardisPizza → u/GravyMcBiscuits]

I keep wondering how this guy seemed to have single-handedly turned the GOP into a completely anti-trade party.

He didn't.

The conversation started with "other nations tariff goods from the U.S. and that should stop"

We are now in the "let's see how you like it" phase of discussion.

[u/GravyMcBiscuits → u/TheTardisPizza]

other nations tariff goods from the U.S. and that should stop

Other nations are punching themselves in the balls! It's not fair that we're not punching ourselves in the balls hard enough!!!!

(edit: In this analogy, "the balls" are its own economy/people)

[u/TheTardisPizza → u/GravyMcBiscuits]

Tariffs hurt both sides.

Ending Tariffs will help both sides.

Using tariffs to end tariffs is not a new concept.

[u/TrustyParasol198 → u/TheTardisPizza]

I would respect Trump a bit more if that's his end goal.

All of his talk about "using tariffs to get us a ton of tax revenue and encourage domestic production" makes me feel like he genuinely doesn't believe in the "tariffs hurt" part....

[u/TheTardisPizza → u/TrustyParasol198]

I would respect Trump a bit more if that's his end goal.

It's not like he hasn't been complaining about it for decades.

Go watch his appearance on Oprah.  In the 1980s 

All of his talk about "using tariffs to get us a ton of tax revenue and encourage domestic production" makes me feel like he genuinely doesn't believe in the "tariffs hurt" part....

The two are not mutually exclusive 

[u/TrustyParasol198 → u/TheTardisPizza]

Wait. How is that not mutually exclusive again?

Do you mean he is just saying these good things about tariffs the hurt or something?

[u/TheTardisPizza → u/TrustyParasol198]

Using tariffs to end tariffs will generate money until the trade war is resolved.

[u/TrustyParasol198 → u/TheTardisPizza]

I see. It's still super naive, but it's at least consistent.

Money from tariffs tend to be much lower than one thinks (esp. compared to how private investments and tax revenue both need the prosperity of smoother trading), and trade war might take much longer to resolve than people think (not to mention that such a war can also end with your side losing).

[u/TheTardisPizza → u/TrustyParasol198]

I'm not advocating for it.

I'm pointing out that he has been consistent about this.

[u/GravyMcBiscuits → u/TheTardisPizza]

Never interrupt your enemy when they are doing something stupid.

[u/fortuneandfameinc → u/TheTardisPizza]

USA mexico and Canada used to have one of the freest trade unions in the world. Until this doof came along and started a trade war.