Trump's Trade War

[Bookman 4,639]

Don't worry guys! Trump's got this. He's real good at understanding things.

[atomheartbevo 89,659]

9 hours ago, Hugo Stiglitz said:

I take it you haven’t read the Bob Woodward book?   Trump really thinks he can just print more money if his economic problems get bad enough.  

Trump is what I would be like as president, as an eight year old. 

If he thought he could print his way out of this mess, he wouldn’t be losing his shit on twitter so often.  He’s scared shitless this morning that his base is going to start paying attention to Fake News.   

[HenryJames 66,049]

11 minutes ago, Homercles said:

 

 

[WhatTheBuck 28,779]

13 minutes ago, 4th&Five said:

I think it was on Twitter before he said it. Pretty sure that’s where he gets most of his jokes. 

Post the tweet. Did you get it from that tweet, from Bill's monologue on Friday, or from some later tweet? Can we trace its history? I first heard it on Real Time on Friday. I considered posting it here. I would've given credit if I had. 

Bill's been doing comedy for 40 years. Suddenly he's getting "most of his jokes" from Twitter? Come on.

[tx 3 putt 76,942]

Patriot Socialist Farmers !!!!!

[American Swindle 102]

 

[Longhornfan1024 1,707]

19 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

Patriot Socialist Farmers !!!!!

Using socialism to pay off farmers in the name of capitalism.  Republican logic.  

[American Swindle 102]

What?  We're going to have to save and consume less?  But...'Murica!!!!!!

[WhatTheBuck 28,779]

2 minutes ago, Longhornfan1024 said:

Using socialism to pay off farmers in the name of capitalism.  Republican logic.  

I'll bet that small independent farms will represent a lesser percentage of the industry compared to big corporate farms whenever Trump leaves office. I don't know to what extent but I'd bet the shift will be more than trivial. 

[4th&Five 41,537]

1 hour ago, WhatTheBuck said:

Post the tweet. Did you get it from that tweet, from Bill's monologue on Friday, or from some later tweet? Can we trace its history? I first heard it on Real Time on Friday. I considered posting it here. I would've given credit if I had. 

Bill's been doing comedy for 40 years. Suddenly he's getting "most of his jokes" from Twitter? Come on.

I never watch the monologue or new rules so I never heard him say it and definitely saw the term on twitter before that. Search twitter if you want the origin. 

I think he probably gets most of his jokes from a room full of writers. 

[RomaVicta 29,907]

10 hours ago, retread said:

Are there any pros left in this administration?

Only cons who'll someday be ex-cons.

[4th&Five 41,537]

DP

Edited May 14, 2019 by 4th&Five

[Incredulity 11,669]

27 minutes ago, WhatTheBuck said:

I'll bet that small independent farms will represent a lesser percentage of the industry compared to big corporate farms whenever Trump leaves office. I don't know to what extent but I'd bet the shift will be more than trivial. 

That bell has already been rung.

 

[retread 2,951]

37 minutes ago, WhatTheBuck said:

I'll bet that small independent farms will represent a lesser percentage of the industry compared to big corporate farms whenever Trump leaves office. I don't know to what extent but I'd bet the shift will be more than trivial. 

American manufacturing isn't coming back to previous levels, and if it did, it wouldn't produce widgets at Walmart prices. Small famiiy farms that shut down aren't going to magically come back to life when Cheeto leaves office. 

[WhatTheBuck 28,779]

16 minutes ago, 4th&Five said:

I never watch the monologue or new rules so I never heard him say it and definitely saw the term on twitter before that. Search twitter if you want the origin. 

I think he probably gets most of his jokes from a room full of writers. 

I'm just bing cantankerous. I'm not trying to be a dick. We're talking about comedy, this is all in fun. I'm just calling for giving credit where it's due. 

I don't do Twitter. You post a lot of tweets. If you had it, you would've posted it. I'm not searching shit. 

You should watch the monologue and New Rules. Those are the funniest parts. The rest is very guest-dependent. 

Of course he gets his jokes from a room full of writers. Just like everyone else in late night comedy does. And like everyone else he's the final arbiter of which jokes make it on the show. 

It was a good gag. You should check out last week's New Rules. It was really strong.

[Brisketexan 105,125]

2 minutes ago, retread said:

American manufacturing isn't coming back to previous levels, and if it did, it wouldn't produce widgets at Walmart prices. Small famiiy farms that shut down aren't going to magically come back to life when Cheeto leaves office. 

To the extent that we still have small farms, this admin is going to make great progress towards finishing them off.

And as for cheap manufacturing.....MAYBE (in fact, definitely) many cheap items will no longer be manufactured in China (that's actually how it goes as an economy matures -- when I was a kid, cheap plastic toys were made in Japan...then Taiwan....then Korea....now China - you can chart the history of 20th century Asian economic progress by looking at packages of plastic army men).  But that does NOT mean that the manufacturing will come back to the US.  It is NEVER coming back to the US.  Manufacturing cheap consumer goods is like water -- it seeks the lowest point.  Vietnam, Bangladesh, India....don't sleep on parts of Africa or even Central America as time goes by. 

But the "America is the world's factory!" that existed for around 20-25 years post-WWII (also coincides with our sharpest increase of standard of living in our history) is NEVER COMING BACK.  That ship has sailed.

Yet we have an admin fixated on bringing those days back.  Trust me, if we end up going "back to the good old days" of our economy counting on small family farms and factories making plastic army men, those will both be signs that we are in DEEP SHIT.

[Biff Tannen 45,682]

3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

To the extent that we still have small farms, this admin is going to make great progress towards finishing them off.

And as for cheap manufacturing.....MAYBE (in fact, definitely) many cheap items will no longer be manufactured in China (that's actually how it goes as an economy matures -- when I was a kid, cheap plastic toys were made in Japan...then Taiwan....then Korea....now China - you can chart the history of 20th century Asian economic progress by looking at packages of plastic army men).  But that does NOT mean that the manufacturing will come back to the US.  It is NEVER coming back to the US.  Manufacturing cheap consumer goods is like water -- it seeks the lowest point.  Vietnam, Bangladesh, India....don't sleep on parts of Africa or even Central America as time goes by. 

But the "America is the world's factory!" that existed for around 20-25 years post-WWII (also coincides with our sharpest increase of standard of living in our history) is NEVER COMING BACK.  That ship has sailed.

Yet we have an admin fixated on bringing those days back.  Trust me, if we end up going "back to the good old days" of our economy counting on small family farms and factories making plastic army men, those will both be signs that we are in DEEP SHIT.

[retread 2,951]

Imo it's analogous to the immigration issue. Instead of accepting reality, we put out head in the sand. Instead of seeking opportunities in those realities we revert to 20th c. tactics. We'll start a trade war w China, and we'll lock prospective, future, contributing US citizens in prison camps. MAGA.

[WhatTheBuck 28,779]

16 minutes ago, retread said:

American manufacturing isn't coming back to previous levels, and if it did, it wouldn't produce widgets at Walmart prices. Small famiiy farms that shut down aren't going to magically come back to life when Cheeto leaves office. 

Of course not. I was just saying he's accelerating the process despite his socialist giveaways to a lot of little people who helped elect him. 

Edited May 14, 2019 by WhatTheBuck

[retread 2,951]

^Yep. Totally agree.

[Brisketexan 105,125]

Oh, and don't forget that Trump's border slowdown is costing a shitload with respect to the $1.7 billion in trade PER DAY that crosses the US-Mexico border.  In case you'd forgotten how his fuckery goes in all directions.

[Royalfan5 2,354]

One thing to note on the Farm stuff, is that we've had an extraordinarily wet spring, which has planting as the 4th slowest in the past 32 years, with more rain to come. We are now getting to the point that significant loss of yield and acres for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat, as well as cotton is in play.  

[Brisketexan 105,125]

4 minutes ago, Royalfan5 said:

One thing to note on the Farm stuff, is that we've had an extraordinarily wet spring, which has planting as the 4th slowest in the past 32 years, with more rain to come. We are now getting to the point that significant loss of yield and acres for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat, as well as cotton is in play.  

And help us understand the economic impacts for that?  I presume that for individual farmer (those who couldn't plant), the loss of yield hurts like hell.  But for others, the loss of yield means higher prices?  What's the overall impact?  I ask this in seriousness -- I ain't an agricultural economist.

[Longhornfan1024 1,707]

7 minutes ago, Royalfan5 said:

One thing to note on the Farm stuff, is that we've had an extraordinarily wet spring, which has planting as the 4th slowest in the past 32 years, with more rain to come. We are now getting to the point that significant loss of yield and acres for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat, as well as cotton is in play.  

So I guess it's a good thing they can't sell any of it.  

[NBMisha 224]

1/2 percent GDP hit on border shenanigans, 1/2 percent GDP hit on trade.  Its as if he's trying.

[tx 3 putt 76,942]

54 minutes ago, Royalfan5 said:

One thing to note on the Farm stuff, is that we've had an extraordinarily wet spring, which has planting as the 4th slowest in the past 32 years, with more rain to come. We are now getting to the point that significant loss of yield and acres for corn, soybeans, and spring wheat, as well as cotton is in play.  

This reminds of the intro to ‘Red Dawn’, but in reverse.

either way, I’ve watched that movie a 100+ times and I’m ready to head to the Texas hill country and begin my Guerrilla warfare campaign !!!!!!! 

[Aqua Buddha 14,596]

3 hours ago, American Swindle said:

 

Trump rails about unfair trade but talks up the manufacturing growth and the current economy.  How are current trade policies an impediment if manufacturing is growing so fast?

[Pig Bellmont 8,717]

7 minutes ago, Aqua Buddha said:

Trump rails about unfair trade but talks up the manufacturing growth and the current economy.  How are current trade policies an impediment if manufacturing is growing so fast?

Don’t respond to trolls. Trade deficit does not mean a bad economy. Anybody who posts that crap is too ignorant to argue with or intentionally trolling 

[elfenix 34,238]

2 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

But the "America is the world's factory!" that existed for around 20-25 years post-WWII (also coincides with our sharpest increase of standard of living in our history) is NEVER COMING BACK.  That ship has sailed. 

Yet we have an admin fixated on bringing those days back.  Trust me, if we end up going "back to the good old days" of our economy counting on small family farms and factories making plastic army men, those will both be signs that we are in DEEP SHIT.

those days never actually existed.  america was america's factory, yes, but exports weren't that much as a % of GDP.  frankly, no one else could afford to buy the stuff we made.  what's true now is that america is no longer america's factory.   

[Rimbo 25,927]

Trump Reassures Struggling Farmers He Has Never Seen One Of Them And Cannot Be Sure They Even Exist

Spoiler

WASHINGTON—Amidst escalating Chinese tariffs on U.S. agricultural exports, President Donald Trump sought to reassure struggling American farmers Tuesday by stating that he has never seen one of them and cannot be sure they actually exist. “While rumors of flooding and economic strife circulate, rest assured that I have never seen a guy in baggy overalls riding a tractor and must therefore conclude you are probably not real,” said the president, who attempted to soothe the fears of the approximately 3.2 million farmers in the United States by explaining that as far as he knows, they are some kind of folktale or legend. “I know there are agricultural CEOs. I know there are chickens, because I’ve eaten those. But if you’re, say, a soybean grower who’s hurting financially right now because I started a trade war with China, please understand that I don’t see or hear you and will never see or hear you.” At press time, Trump was reportedly struggling to remember why he had just been talking about chicken.

 

[American Swindle 102]

4 hours ago, Aqua Buddha said:

Trump rails about unfair trade but talks up the manufacturing growth and the current economy.  How are current trade policies an impediment if manufacturing is growing so fast?

What manufacturing jobs under which market segments have grown under Trump?  

[babysdaddy 2,721]

Pressure

[Foosters 17,856]

1 minute ago, babysdaddy said:

Pressure

Imagine, for one moment, a conservative just ten short years ago, trying to argue that tariffs, trade wars, and protectionism are all well and good because the other countries will be hurt too.  

Can you do it without falling over?

[babysdaddy 2,721]

10 minutes ago, Foosters said:

Imagine, for one moment, a conservative just ten short years ago, trying to argue that tariffs, trade wars, and protectionism are all well and good because the other countries will be hurt too.  

Can you do it without falling over?

There is no reason to lob implied passive aggressive insults.  Just try discussing without doing it.

All I was discussing was the current situation. 

[wildcat09 29,354]

29 minutes ago, babysdaddy said:

There is no reason to lob implied passive aggressive insults.  Just try discussing without doing it.

All I was discussing was the current situation. 

You weren't discussing anything. All you did was post a link.

[David Dennison 18,856]

49 minutes ago, babysdaddy said:

Pressure

You want to talk about pressure?

What happens when China starts dumping all of its U.S. treasuries?

[babysdaddy 2,721]

1 minute ago, David Dennison said:

You want to talk about pressure?

What happens when China starts dumping all of its U.S. treasuries?

Actual outcome?  If i had to guess, the Federal Reserve would start buying.  More QE to stabilize.  I don't believe that is an actual usable weapon for the Chinese.

[Brisketexan 105,125]

Pain CAN be a tool in negotiation.

But you know what an important part of that calculus is?  Pain tolerance.

Threaten to slap a wuss, and he'll yield.  But when you threaten to slap Dalton....

well, then....your strategy of inflicting pain till the other side yields might have a flaw.

Whose pain-tolerance is higher?  Authoritarian China, or soft-ass USA?

[tx 3 putt 76,942]

Dalton for President !

[David Dennison 18,856]

27 minutes ago, babysdaddy said:

Actual outcome?  If i had to guess, the Federal Reserve would start buying.  More QE to stabilize.  I don't believe that is an actual usable weapon for the Chinese.

What would the Fed start buying? The U.S. treasuries being sold by China or new U.S. debt?

[Hugo Stiglitz 23,367]

There are a few ways to piss off/hurt China politically without getting in a self destructive trade war.  

Those Chinamen are prideful people. 

[4th&Five 41,537]

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3,861]

52 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

 

Whose pain-tolerance is higher?  Authoritarian China, or soft-ass USA?

that economist article the other day said the same thing.  Chinese political leaders when finding out their attacks on US also hurt the Chinese?  DOOOOON'T CARE.  Empirically true.  They can --- and have begun to -- implement the most painful tariffs on us even if it sets their own population on fire.

[SuingToGetAMessageBoard? 3,861]

 

Enjoyable clip.  Pros:  this dude.  Cons: the anchor confusing "free fall" with "free for all."

[Longhornfan1024 1,707]

6 minutes ago, SuingToGetAMessageBoard? said:

 

Enjoyable clip.  Pros:  this dude.  Cons: the anchor confusing "free fall" with "free for all."

Also con: he was dumb enough to vote for Trump in the first place.

[retread 2,951]

Why does that guy in the CNN clip hate our military? 

[Biff Tannen 45,682]

Kate Bolduan.

[babysdaddy 2,721]

1 hour ago, David Dennison said:

What would the Fed start buying? The U.S. treasuries being sold by China or new U.S. debt?

Both, if it came to that.  Our debt to gdp is around 105%.  Japan's is 256%.  Not saying their model is what we need to follow but in the event of economic warfare, which is how I'd classify the Chinese dumping treasuries in an attempt to fight back on tariffs, I have no doubt the Fed would step in.  China holds a little over $1T in US Treasuries.  5% or so isn't going to make a dent.   

[HenryJames 66,049]

 

[Doc Sam Beckett 5,793]

4 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

 

Lulz holy fuck, I wanna be a farmer when I grow up