3 ms·

Here's a simple explanation for what is going on in the US. I'd love to know if people think this is sufficient. There are two types of taxes: - Domestic taxe

by dguest 2y ago

Here's a simple explanation for what is going on in the US. I'd love to know if people think this is sufficient. There are two types of taxes: - Domestic taxes are levied by congress - International tariffs are controlled by one person (the president) So if the president wants to control people via taxes, they use tariffs. By this theory it has nothing at all to do with financial policies or political parties: it's just another tool we've given the president and we shouldn't be surprised if it gets used. By the same theory, if the president had full control over domestic taxes we'd see exactly the same thing.

readthenotes1 2y ago
Tariffs were supposed to be approved by the Senate (Article 1 section 8, Article 2 section 2), but Trump is using "emergency powers" With so much of American goods coming from China, it's kind of hard to see how the US could win a war with them without, for example, improved domestic production of bandages https://natlawreview.com/article/can-president-impose-tariffs-without-congressional-approval https://natlawreview.com/article/can-president-impose-tariff... https://www.globaltrademag.com/adhesive-bandage-import-in-united-states-soars-28-to-new-record-of-85m-in-march-2023/ https://www.globaltrademag.com/adhesive-bandage-import-in-un...
- dguest 2y ago
  Very interesting, thanks! So the "emergency" is a possible war with China? But how does that justify taxing (for example) Canada, or Mexico (or Lesotho)?
  - tokai 2y ago
    He declares different "emergencies". Tarifs on Canada and Mexico used a fentanyl emergency. Now he has declared the trade deficit an emergency. "Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency" https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-pr...
    - bookofjoe 1y ago
      Also low water pressure in showers: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-makes-americas-showers-great-again/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-pr...
  - ceejayoz 2y ago
    The emergency is "I wanna".
mindslight 2y ago
The "surprise" is that people expect the President to use those powers to work in the best interests of the country, rather than focusing on enriching themselves by stealing everything they can for themselves and for those who bribe them. The executive is not supposed to be an adversarial position that the rest of the country needs to defend against. And if the President does abuse their letter-of-the-law powers, then we expect Congress to impeach and convict rather than enabling the behavior out of some sense of partisan grievances.

by dguest 2y ago

readthenotes1 2y ago

Tariffs were supposed to be approved by the Senate (Article 1 section 8, Article 2 section 2), but Trump is using "emergency powers" With so much of American goods coming from China, it's kind of hard to see how the US could win a war with them without, for example, improved domestic production of bandages https://natlawreview.com/article/can-president-impose-tariffs-without-congressional-approval https://natlawreview.com/article/can-president-impose-tariff... https://www.globaltrademag.com/adhesive-bandage-import-in-united-states-soars-28-to-new-record-of-85m-in-march-2023/ https://www.globaltrademag.com/adhesive-bandage-import-in-un...

dguest 2y ago
Very interesting, thanks! So the "emergency" is a possible war with China? But how does that justify taxing (for example) Canada, or Mexico (or Lesotho)?
- tokai 2y ago
  He declares different "emergencies". Tarifs on Canada and Mexico used a fentanyl emergency. Now he has declared the trade deficit an emergency. "Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency" https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-pr...
  - bookofjoe 1y ago
    Also low water pressure in showers: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-makes-americas-showers-great-again/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-pr...
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  The emergency is "I wanna".

mindslight 2y ago

The "surprise" is that people expect the President to use those powers to work in the best interests of the country, rather than focusing on enriching themselves by stealing everything they can for themselves and for those who bribe them. The executive is not supposed to be an adversarial position that the rest of the country needs to defend against. And if the President does abuse their letter-of-the-law powers, then we expect Congress to impeach and convict rather than enabling the behavior out of some sense of partisan grievances.