(05-04-2018, 11:05 AM)robkelk Wrote: Here's another CBC analysis piece: What do Trump's tariffs and Ferris Bueller have in common? Anyone? Anyone?

I was not aware that Ben Stein improvised that scene. I'm not surprised, though. I'm also not surprised that the history he presented is accurate.

And, nine decades after the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, I'm not surprised that Trump has not learned from history. Are we sure he's capitalist-friendly?

(05-04-2018, 11:05 AM)robkelk Wrote: Are we sure he's capitalist-friendly?

CBC Wrote:Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada is hitting back with duties of up to $16.6 billion on some steel and aluminum products and other goods from the U.S. — including beer kegs, whisky, toilet paper and "hair lacquers."

(05-31-2018, 09:12 PM)robkelk Wrote: I don't know whether it's tradition or law, but we don't single out specific companies for tariffs. Equal treatment under the law, after all.

(06-01-2018, 07:55 AM)DHBirr Wrote:

(05-31-2018, 09:12 PM)robkelk Wrote: I don't know whether it's tradition or law, but we don't single out specific companies for tariffs. Equal treatment under the law, after all.

I believe I'm preaching to the choir, here, but ... do you even dream President Windrip would respect "the law"?

Quote:Whether in a real war or in a trade war, waving the flag is politically popular in a way that is hard to understand to those who live through the ultimate consequences.

Quote:It all may be part the president's political campaign to convince supporters he's making America great, says Canadian economist Matilde Bombardini, currently working at California's Stanford University. But it's not economics.

"It's madness, from the economic point of view," says Bombardini.

Bombardini, on sabbatical from her job teaching economics at the University of British Columbia, has been watching the U.S. up close. And she says the U.S. trade deficit has nothing to do with bad trade deals or unfair tariffs.

"It's purely the result of their fiscal policy," she says, as the U.S. sells bonds to countries like China to make up Washington's soaring budget deficit. "They sell T-bills and they buy goods."

(06-04-2018, 01:58 PM)robkelk Wrote: Sanctions against the POTUS, or the "blue" states?

I've already decided to spend the extra money and buy Philippine pineapple juice instead of Florida orange juice for my breakfast drink while the tariffs are in effect. (I like having some pulp in the juice, which we just don't get in apple juice any more.) Similarly, Nova Scotia rum is replacing Kentucky bourbon in my drinks cabinet.

Wikipedia Wrote:The choice of colors reverses a long-standing convention of political colors whereby red symbols (such as the Red Flag or Red Star) are associated with left-wing politics, and right-wing movements often choose blue as a contrasting color.[5] Indeed, until the 1980s, Democrats were often represented by red and Republicans by blue. The current terminology of "red states" and "blue states" came into use in the United States presidential election of 2000 on an episode of the Today show on October 30, 2000. According to The Washington Post, the terms were coined by journalist Tim Russert, during his televised coverage of the 2000 presidential election.[6] That was not the first election during which the news media used colored maps to depict voter preferences in the various states, but it was the first time a standard color scheme took hold; the colors were often reversed or different colors used before the 2000 election.

(06-05-2018, 02:27 PM)robkelk Wrote: Trump wants separate, 1-on-1 NAFTA talks with Canada, Mexico. Somebody should tell him that they've already been happening for months, in the context of the trilateral talks.

(06-05-2018, 06:15 PM)Norgarth Wrote:

(06-05-2018, 02:27 PM)robkelk Wrote: Trump wants separate, 1-on-1 NAFTA talks with Canada, Mexico. Somebody should tell him that they've already been happening for months, in the context of the trilateral talks.

why does my mind throw out the idea of Trump offering (mutually incompatible) deals to Canada and Mexico, then getting pissed off when they talk to each other and point out that he can fulfill the US's side without screwing over one (or both) of them?

Quote:notimpressedeither commented: When the 6 leaders and Trump (because he doesn't qualify as a leader) are in the meetings they should all constantly bring up Obama's name and make positive remarks about Obama's past successes.

rjpmagnificent replied:  Donny’s head might explode. Great idea praise OBAMA in his presence until his bigoted bean goes boom.

(06-07-2018, 03:21 PM)robkelk Wrote: Meh - let him stay distracted with his upcoming chat in Singapore, and let everybody else get down to work. Then when he discovers at the end of the meeting what everybody else agreed to, well...