3 ms·

So let me ask you, do you think the people in charge do not know this? Do you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not list

So let me ask you, do you think the people in charge do not know this? Do you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not listen to advisers? Do you think our government is truly led by the whims of a single individual? Tariffs are a political tool. There is some objective here that is not being publicly outlined because it would defeat the purpose of the strategy. Example: Other countries involved in this "trade war" are placing tariffs specifically on bourbon. Why? What do they have to gain by that sort of rule? Absolutely nothing, other than putting political pressure on the representatives and senators from Kentucky. (Source: NPR, radio earlier this month where a representative of Canada said exactly this. I wish I could find the audio.) This is the very definition of other sovereign countries interfering with American politics. I would bet that the tariffs being placed here locally are designed to have similar effects.

tacomonstrous 8y ago
>you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not listen to advisers? You don't have to buy anything. Just listen to the man himself and it's crystal clear.
dnomad 8y ago
Your argument is that there's some super-intelligent strategy at work here but it must be kept secret in order for it to work. This is literally baseless nonsense. America has a single goal that is beyond transparent: prevent the rise of Chinese apex-technological manufacturers. Everything was okay when China was making shoes and Christmas lights but now they're fabricating increasingly sophisticated computer chips [0], producing more electronic cars than the rest of the world combined [1], and kicking out all sorts of fancy 5G telecom equipment that does more but costs significantly less than what Western manufactuers can offer [2]. The "strategy" here is too little and far too late. Trump's only victory here will be, like so many other victories, purely symbolic: his base might get riled up and support him for taking on the "Chinese" who "stole" all their jobs... but China's competitiveness here won't be affected. Cutting off Americans from China's competitive electronics will just drive up prices in America and make American companies less competitive on the global market. The rest of the world (the other 7.3 billion on the planet) absolutely love China's cheap but capable electronic products. The only thing at this point that will actually stop China's growth here is literal bombs and tanks. [0] http://mckinseychina.com/whats-next-for-chip-makers-in-china/ http://mckinseychina.com/whats-next-for-chip-makers-in-china... [1] https://nextshark.com/china-now-makes-electric-cars-every-country-combined/ https://nextshark.com/china-now-makes-electric-cars-every-co... [2] https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile-network-equipment-makers-eye-5g-windfall/63136118 https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile-net...
bmelton 8y ago
I mean, I can answer those questions, but the OP comment was a critique of the policy, not the policy makers. Yes, I understand that perhaps OP's comment might have been influenced by the policy maker, but nothing in their post makes any mention of anything beyond a simple policy critique, so this line of argumentation is, at best, putting words in their mouth. If a policy is, to one's opinion, good or bad, then it should not matter whether or not the policy was proposed by someone we like or someone we hate, and to that end, it shouldn't matter one whit how popularly supported it is by our legislators, even where that popularity is enjoyed across partisan lines. Arguing against a policy critique with a critique (or commendation) of the policy-makers is totally non-sequitur.
mcphage 8y ago
> Do you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not listen to advisers? Well, I have listened to him speak, so yes.
s73v3r_ 8y ago
"So let me ask you, do you think the people in charge do not know this? " Given the actions of the past year and a half, I would be shocked to know that the people in charge know how to tie their shoes.

tacomonstrous 8y ago

>you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not listen to advisers? You don't have to buy anything. Just listen to the man himself and it's crystal clear.

dnomad 8y ago

Your argument is that there's some super-intelligent strategy at work here but it must be kept secret in order for it to work. This is literally baseless nonsense. America has a single goal that is beyond transparent: prevent the rise of Chinese apex-technological manufacturers. Everything was okay when China was making shoes and Christmas lights but now they're fabricating increasingly sophisticated computer chips [0], producing more electronic cars than the rest of the world combined [1], and kicking out all sorts of fancy 5G telecom equipment that does more but costs significantly less than what Western manufactuers can offer [2]. The "strategy" here is too little and far too late. Trump's only victory here will be, like so many other victories, purely symbolic: his base might get riled up and support him for taking on the "Chinese" who "stole" all their jobs... but China's competitiveness here won't be affected. Cutting off Americans from China's competitive electronics will just drive up prices in America and make American companies less competitive on the global market. The rest of the world (the other 7.3 billion on the planet) absolutely love China's cheap but capable electronic products. The only thing at this point that will actually stop China's growth here is literal bombs and tanks. [0] http://mckinseychina.com/whats-next-for-chip-makers-in-china/ http://mckinseychina.com/whats-next-for-chip-makers-in-china... [1] https://nextshark.com/china-now-makes-electric-cars-every-country-combined/ https://nextshark.com/china-now-makes-electric-cars-every-co... [2] https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile-network-equipment-makers-eye-5g-windfall/63136118 https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile-net...

bmelton 8y ago

I mean, I can answer those questions, but the OP comment was a critique of the policy, not the policy makers. Yes, I understand that perhaps OP's comment might have been influenced by the policy maker, but nothing in their post makes any mention of anything beyond a simple policy critique, so this line of argumentation is, at best, putting words in their mouth. If a policy is, to one's opinion, good or bad, then it should not matter whether or not the policy was proposed by someone we like or someone we hate, and to that end, it shouldn't matter one whit how popularly supported it is by our legislators, even where that popularity is enjoyed across partisan lines. Arguing against a policy critique with a critique (or commendation) of the policy-makers is totally non-sequitur.

mcphage 8y ago

> Do you buy into the media push that Trump is a petulant, reactive child who does not listen to advisers? Well, I have listened to him speak, so yes.

s73v3r_ 8y ago

"So let me ask you, do you think the people in charge do not know this? " Given the actions of the past year and a half, I would be shocked to know that the people in charge know how to tie their shoes.