Tariffs
Bob Lefsetz’s Original Post – Tariffs
“Let me be a Republican here…”
“WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY?”
“I’m a law-abiding citizen, I pay my bills and my taxes, why should I support exactly who by paying more for my goods?”
“Yes, that’s the Republican ethos. Screw the takers. I earn my salary, I should pay few taxes and the government should be shrunk.”
So that’s your left coast definition of a “Republican”?
You sure have a twisted and perverse understanding of the GOP. And your shallow, narrow-minded one sentence paragraphs demonstrate how little you understand about our government, the Constitution and our democratic republic.
With a 2024 budget of $6.8 TRILLION dollars and a $1.8 TRILLION dollar deficit, is it just possible that we might have too big a government, giving away too much money, to too many people? I’m sure you love the fact that our bloated government spent $15 million dollars for condoms to the Taliban through USAID…
Besides, you’ve got a few million dollars in the bank that allows you to spend 57 days every year on ski slopes in Colorado and provides you with concierge medical treatments from Hollywood’s most expensive doctors and clinics. Is that the “Democratic” ethos?
“Not that I’m not pissed at the Democrats here… If I hear one more dyed-in-the-wool left wing baby boomer tell me that we need to bring manufacturing back to America… Yeah, and are you willing to pay $1000 for a flat screen?”
“We’re addicted to cheap goods made in developing countries oftentimes where workers are underpaid.”
So you’re okay with Americans taking advantage of people in foreign countries living in poverty and willing to work for slave wages, as long as YOU can buy a flat screen on the cheap? Now THAT’s the left wing ethos in play. Besides – if you EVER did any research:
The color-tube TV industry was the US’s to lose, but the US never really owned the flat-screen TV industry. The inventions and discoveries that enabled it originally came from the US. But in those early days, the ultimate application for them, flat-screen TVs, was deemed to be too far off to be worth investing in by US companies.
The U.S. lost the market because they failed to create and develop the technology.
“Sure, there are sweat shops, sure there are abuses, but the bottom line is people want these jobs, to advance their economic status. Whereas…”
Low wages are a common problem in Vietnamese factories. As of 2020, the legal minimum wage in Vietnam is approximately $68 per month. Factory workers in Vietnam endure harsh conditions from overcrowded factories and exploited poverty.
While conditions have slowly improved from international efforts and Vietnamese policies, workers still suffer harsh conditions and low pay. By comparison, labor costs for similar manufacturing workers in the United States are around $20–$25 per hour.
So your stance – as a left wing social justice warrior and uneducated political pundit – is that “harsh conditions and low pay” for workers in foreign countries are acceptable, as long as you can still buy cheap flat screen TVs?
That sort of thinking maintained racism and slavery in America right up until and even after the Civil War. It “advanced their economic status” picking cotton, therefore it was an acceptable source of workers who wanted those jobs. What a civilized and enlightened moral standard!
“Good luck finding an Anglo cleaner in Los Angeles. Or a citizen to pick grapes. Because Americans don’t want to do those jobs. They don’t want to do back-breaking work for almost no money.”
But you’re fine with at least 12 million illegal immigrants being allowed to enter the United States who might be willing to “do back-breaking work for almost no money”, while taxpayers pay for their health care, educate their children, and subsidize their families with food stamps, free housing, and welfare. Is that your version of “social justice”?
“Of course the minimum wage should be raised, of course people should be able to afford food and shelter if they’re working forty hours a week.”
The average minimum wage in Washington state is $16.66 per hour and Washington, D.C., has the highest overall rate at $17.50. How much MORE do you suggest that our government force employers to pay? Or should McDonald’s continue to invest their money in kiosks and AI infrastructure to lower labor costs and provide fewer jobs?
“Millions of able-bodied adults—both men and women—are enrolled in welfare programs in the U.S., with many not engaged in work or training activities.” – Perplexity
And your new BFF Kat Abughazaleh wants to add free childcare for all and increases in Social Security. Who exactly is going to pay for all this free stuff?
“But adding tariffs to all these products…”
“Mexico didn’t pay for the wall and the suppliers are not paying the tariffs… WE ARE! WHY?”
I have no idea what you think “the wall” has to do with tariffs. But all President Trump is asking for is reciprocity – 0ther countries should not be charging the U.S. tariffs on our goods and yet be offended when we do the same thing to them. Sure, some of the new tariffs seem outrageous and even silly, but that is the way you negotiate with other parties.
“I don’t want to get into all this trade balance crap.”
So, do all of those who subscribe to your music and entertainment newsletter a favor and DON’T!
“I won’t buy an American car. Period. My ski boots are made in Italy. Yes, I’ll pay extra for a foreign car, because I’ll save money in the long run. I’ll pay the premium, because I want the best. Does Trump really think I’ll settle for less?”
Maybe you are part of the problem. You prefer imported products over American-made goods! Buy an American-made Tesla and show your support for a clean energy auto, fight climate change, and stop burning fossil fuels!
“Mark Zuckerberg kissed Trump’s butt and now he’s definitely going to get f*cked by the Europeans.”
“How to win friends and influence people.”
And that’s your way of winning friends and influencing people – much like your hero Kat Abughazaleh and so many Democrat politicians do these days. F-bombs for everyone!
“Do I think Trump knows what he’s doing?
Absolutely not.”
Do I think Bob Lefsetz is a political pundit, economic professional, and trade, tariffs and tax expert?
Absolutely not. You are WAY out of your wheelhouse. Nobody subscribed to your newsletter and blog to hear you bloviate, rant and curse about subjects and issues you no nothing about.
“Where did this ethos come from? That’s not how I was brought up. I was brought up that you do what is RIGHT! That you sacrifice everything for what is right.”
“No one is standing up.”
So can we count on you to “stand up” for the billions of impoverished workers in sweatshops around the world who “do back-breaking work for almost no money”, by refusing to buy foreign cars and expensive ski boots imported from Italy?
Of course not – you are too dumb and too uninformed to wake up and smell the coffee.
Life is more than that.
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