2d ago

American living standards are a sacrifice Trump is willing to make

www.huffpost.com

American Living Standards Are A Sacrifice Trump Is Willing To Make

Summary

Trump’s sweeping global tariffs are causing rising consumer prices, market losses, and job risks, but his administration defends them as necessary for long-term economic independence.

Critics warn the tariffs hurt low-income households dependent on cheap imports, especially from China.

Officials argue the American dream isn't about “cheap baubles,” but higher living standards. However, economists say tariffs worsen inflation and housing affordability.

Despite past GOP support for cheap goods, MAGA allies now downplay short-term pain.

30 comments

Even if the stated goal was to reshore large amounts of production of goods to the US, there are several problems with that.
One, history shows that it is largely not possible, at least in any practical sense. US companies make t-shirts in Vietnam and Pakistan because they can sell them to consumers here for $10. Are US consumers magically going to decide they're OK with an Old Navy (low quality) garment costing $35 instead of $10?
Secondly, standing up manufacturing and distribution domestically isn't an overnight thing. Funding, site selection, construction, supply chain integration etc. all take time. Trump thinks he can trade a few weeks of bad headlines and market hit, for some magically reappearing domestic manufacturing. It doesnt work that way. Even if it were possible, it wouldn't create positive economic conditions on any kind of timeline sufficient to offset the negative effects real consumers are already experiencing.
"Sorry little Johnny, not only can we not afford new Nikes for you anymore, but also you can forget about that Nintendo Switch 2 for Christmas because we can't even order one. But at least we know your GED-educated uncle Jimbo in northern Michigan might be able to get a lower-middle class factory job assembling widgets again... maybe... in 2 years."
That isn't a good economic pitch for most people.
- This is an intentional strategy to bankrupt most of the poors, so they'll have to sell their property to The Nobility.
- Trump thinks he can trade a few weeks of bad headlines and market hit, for some magically reappearing domestic manufacturing. It doesnt work that way. Even if it were possible, it wouldn't create positive economic conditions on any kind of timeline sufficient to offset the negative effects real consumers are already experiencing.
  A few weeks? Try a few months. Or years. I think Trump is fine with bad headlines for months on end.
  The positive interpretation is: Trump's confident that he's right. He's confident America will be better off under his tariff plan. OR he's confident he can use tariffs to force trade deals that benefit America and exploit the rest of the world. And he knows voters have short memories. As long as the economy is strong in fall 2026 he can take credit for it and give Republicans overwhelming electoral victories at the federal and state level.
  The negative interpretation is: Trump doesn't care about public opinion because he doesn't think elections are going to matter anymore.
  Either way, what the media and the voters think about tariffs now doesn't matter to Trump. Trump does what Trump wants and the rest of the world submits to him. It's everything he's always wanted.
  
  Try decades.
  Trump doesn't think anything. The Heritage Foundation has one of their minions tell him what to think and say, and he does it. But like the colossal narcissist he is, they make him think it's his idea, then he says it is. 100% predictable.
  The man is in late stages of dementia, and it would be pitiable if he hadn't been such a spoiled, entitled, narcissistic, psychopathic asshole his entire life. He is a tool to them, but one that is uncontrollable and unpredictable. That is, to anyone but Putin, who has the kompromat on Trump.

Americans aren’t known to be a people willing to “do without”
- They are if they think it hurts Those People more.

"Short term pain", LOL.
No words.
- Well, it won't hurt The Aristos, just their maids, butlers, landscapers, chefs, drivers, cult members...

It didn't work out when the Republicans tried it in 1930. Now the US is even more dependent on foreign trade, this time it will be a disaster.

Purchasing power in the form of cheap goods is really the only thing distracting people from the fact that we are being ripped off by the wealthy. Now that Trump has levied tariffs as a political cudgel, when the nations of the world insulate themselves from our influence, people will have no one else to blame.
- Sports and TV/movies are also there to provide that distraction. Bread and circuses.
  
  Well, they're taking away the bread, and the circuses cost $80/mo now. So probably won't be able to keep it up too long.

- May is doing a lot of heavy lifting, it's more about how many at this point.

I stil cant believe this narcissist is the god damn president of the United States. Every day im actually surprised to not be having a nightmare.
Im not joking. The man has no empathy and he is running the United States now.
- It was a coordinated effort by the rich and white, Christian nationalists.
- He's the president AGAIN.

Americans living is also apparently a “sacrifice” this traitor is willing to make.

There an article going around Powell is looking to jump ship soon, he doesn't want to get blamed for this
- Shit. I feel like Powell is the only thing saving us from hyperinflation
  
  Didn't Trump pressure Powell into keeping the interest rates low during his last presidency when it would have been better to increase them?
  He's meh in my opinion, but who knows if we'd get someone better next time.

What level of bullshit can the right wing tech bros maintain when ordinary Americans are priced out of bread and circuses? Even the most unfair social contracts have rails.
More to the point, how many Americans have maxed out their credit cards paying bills and basic necessities? What happens when making the minimum payment on the maxed credit card balance makes them unable to afford food and housing? Are millions of people going to become homeless in the next several months? Is the credit system going to collapse?
Honestly, the solution at the citizen level is for everyone to file bankruptcy. It ensures a roof over your head, paused payments on debt, and it shifts all the financial losses to the banks. Banks taking actual losses and being threatened with insolvency puts their skin in Trump’s game to destroy the global economy.
- Oh, great, we'll have to bail out the banks again
- Priced out of circuses? My dude, social media is the new circus, cheaper and more accessible than ever. No need for bread when we can control and distract the masses by pulling on the algorithm levers at no cost.

I know it's probably necessary to reiterate these points to people who still don't get it, over and over again. But as someone with a functioning brain I find these "stating the obvious" headlines very tiring.

As far as I've read Europe wants a global carbon credit system that they are rolling out, while Trump is pushing to erode barriers to trade including eroding those climate tariffs. Everyone is now competing in a changing world order where debt is more expensive, due to aging global demographics, and China and Saudi Arabia no longer recycling their profits into US treasuries. Trumps plan seems to be following Milton Friedmans ideology of free trade, low regulation, and stable money supply growth, while the EU attempts to financially repress their citizens via carbon tariffs in order to perform economic central planning.
Europe Plan https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/social-climate-fund_en
USA Plan https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24088042-project-2025s-mandate-for-leadership-the-conservative-promise/
- Are you AI, a shill, or just an idiot?
  
  I am just stating what I think is happening, and what their plans seem to be. Trump has denounced the project 2025 plan, but its from the heritage foundation and yet it talks about implementing a border wall, so its pretty obvious that it is Trumps plan given the absurd ridiculousness of a border wall. It also lines up with what he is doing, Musk and John Kennedy made speeches recently that all countries should remove all barriers to the US if they want the tariffs taken off themselves.
  Europe meanwhile has a full policy listed, where they say they will tariff foreign emitters, and then create a "social climate fund" for social goals. As they rush in a CBDC for October to push expiring stimulus and inflation quotas in the guise of carbon quotas to control monetary policy. Canada's PM has already said they intend on signing onto this foreign emitter tariff system as well, and I'm sure other countries will be too.
  Maybe you can explain where I am misreading or misunderstanding the situation, I find it interesting and would love additional insight into whats happening globally, we are clearly in an era of upheaval.

30 comments