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White House Announces Tech Tariffs, Investment Restrictions on China (axios.com)

The White House announced this morning a plan to levy a 25% tariff on $50 billion worth of Chinese tech goods -- with the exact list to be announced next month -- as well as tech investment limits for Chinese nationals and entities. From a report: It also plans to pursue litigation at the World Trade Organization relating to Chinese intellectual property abuses. The big picture: It's a show of force that has surprised some sources close to the White House who believed Trump would defer any aggression towards China until after the North Korea summit. A source close to the White House who has a keen understanding of the internal dynamics on China told me that this is an "initial move in a long negotiation that shows the Chinese Trump is very serious -- and a move to balance the criticism that he was soft on ZTE."

248 comments

  1. That's for the Titanic by Hognoxious · · Score: 0, Troll

    believed Trump would defer any aggression towards China until after the North Korea summit.

    he probably doesn't know they're separate things. Yellow, very yellow.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:That's for the Titanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2016 called it wants your low effort trump-is-dum-dum comment back

    2. Re:That's for the Titanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    3. Re:That's for the Titanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you ever consider this aggression is part of the lead up to the North Korean negotiations? China has always used NK for leverage in trade negotiations. Now Trump is going on the offensive.

    4. Re:That's for the Titanic by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

      That would be it exactly. Xi will now instruct Kim to capitulate to a reasonable peace compromise with SK/Trump in exchange for Trump not raping them at the WTO. So, China, how many hundreds of billions of dollars a year are the Norks' nukes worth to you?

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    5. Re:That's for the Titanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NO! He's an incredibly stupid person who understands nothing...except how to win an election against the most sophisticated and well funded political machine in American history.

    6. Re:That's for the Titanic by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      how to win an election decided by the least sophisticated and informed electorate in world history.

      FTFY.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    7. Re:That's for the Titanic by HiThere · · Score: 1

      Well, China has been a supporter of North Korea since at least the early 1950's. so that connection is reasonable.

      OTOH, the way I would react to the dealings (as I have heard them) so far is "You can't trust any deal you make with the US.". Admittedly, this isn't original with Trump, but he's been more blatant about it than most administrations. And at least so far he *appears* to be adhering to the letter of the agreement. ... I.e., ZTE is back in business. (This, of course, depends on the details of the proposed tariff.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    8. Re: That's for the Titanic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The populace voted in their best interest and kicked out the candidate of Goldman and Lockheed. The Candidate who called her own people "deplorables"

    9. Re:That's for the Titanic by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      China has supported NK in its shenanigans since forever. What were they gaining from doing it before that they aren't getting now?

      Maybe lardlad borrowed the lawnmower & didn't give it back?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  2. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, he wants to be the exporter--the one threatened in the trade relationship by the capacity of the importer to just go to the next country over and pull the plug on your economy--so he's willing to harm America by reducing the benefit we get from lower-cost goods.

    Mostly, he and Bernie Sanders don't understand economics, and they're projecting their failed grasp of macroeconomics onto a nation.

  3. Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I knew I voted for this guy for a reason! Strange I have to vote Republican to get some good old fashioned protectionism, but there it is.

    1. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      Bernie Sanders similarly doesn't understand the macroeconomics of trade and thinks a trade deficit is your economy falling apart.

      Low-cost imports make the importing nation wealthier. They raise the standard-of-living and cause economic growth.

    2. Re:Fuck yeah! by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      I don't care for Trump, but I'm 100% in favor of tariffs on China. Hell, I'm in favor of cruise-missile intercepting container ships from China. So, 25% tariffs seem tame. We should have cut them off a long time ago. Before you ask, yes I'm heartless enough to ask the poor to pay a bit more for those cheap (but toxic) flip-flops and Christmas lights at Wal-Mart. I'm weighing "access to cheap crappy garbage products" vs "having a job", and yes, the latter wins out.

    3. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hasn't worked for 40 years. Explain that. We've tried your system, and it has systematically sucked the wealth out of the country that was created in no small part due to protectionist trade policies in the beginning half of the 20th century.

    4. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      enjoy your NOT-cheap-anymore chinese products, now costing double or more at retail.... a 25% tariff at the dock is a 100% increase in retail prices. and that's not factoring the extra markup, 'just because' of the uncertainty over the issue and china relations... kinda like how trump fucking up in the middle east jacked up oil and gas prices for the long-term.

      enjoy NOT having stuff because america doesn't have the manufacturing capacity to make a lot of that stuff anymore.. and neither does the rest of the world... and what we can make, will still cost way more, because greedy american megacorps will gouge consumers. as is tradition.

      enjoy NOT having the largest fastest growing consumer market in the world as a market for your own products. they won't let the stuff in, and if they did, it won't sell because it'll have to be marked up way higher than their own domestic products.

      do you enjoy NOT having any brain cells?

    5. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The "wealthier" part is concentrated at the top, precisely where we don't need it. What's the point of a $15 toaster, if it breaks 6 months later and puts our people out of work? Income inequality is getting worse and worse, and the beneficiaries of trade are primarily the people who were already rich when it all started.

    6. Re:Fuck yeah! by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Why would a 25% tariff be a 100% increase in retail price, considering that the tariff is on value, and value is less than value + retail markup? If anything, the increase would be less than 25%, since the tariff is not charged on the markup.

      But yeah. Cry me a river. God forbid if people are forced to fix their electronics, keep them longer, buy used on Craigslist, instead of sending more e-waste to the landfill or to poor countries that burn it to remove valuable metals.

    7. Re:Fuck yeah! by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Also, having tariffs might encourage slightly more durable products or even repair of existing products vs dumping them as toxic e-waste and plastic waste. Ending is NOT better than mending, Brave New World is not an instruction manual.

    8. Re:Fuck yeah! by Johnberg · · Score: 2

      I'm thinking you don't understand economics, either. The middle class spending their money doesn't make them wealthier. Owning things doesn't improve your standard-of-living, unless you base the quality of your life on how many material things you own. It may grow low paying retail jobs, but not wealth, except for the 1% of course.

    9. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This blue fog faggot has no idea what the subject of macroeconomics does or does not contain.

    10. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your big words and insults impress me so much. Did you look that one up in the dictionary or can you spell it from memory?

    11. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2

      Owning things doesn't improve your standard-of-living, unless you base the quality of your life on how many material things you own.

      You work 40 hours. You trade that labor for things. You can get a limited amount of stuff in trade--that's purchasing power.

      Food. Housing. Clothing. Your car. High-speed Internet. Healthcare. These are things for which you need buying power.

      Lowering the cost of goods and services means your purchasing power extends further: instead of choosing between a car and healthcare, you can have both.

      Literally nothing else is standard-of-living except what you can buy for your time worked.

    12. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are one petty little paranoid American. In your little head, China is attacking you simply by existing on the planet, and so they are the enemy regardless of what they do.

    13. Re:Fuck yeah! by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      If the price of making the product goes up, there will still be downward pressure on retail price because people can only afford so much. This means the middlemen will take some hit, which is precisely where it should come out.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    14. Re:Fuck yeah! by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Most electronics are discretionary. Your life won't be materially different if you keep the old TV for a year longer or don't trade your phone in every six months.

    15. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      unemployment is at 4.9% Stop citing jobs as an excuse. They are not currently in demand. Unethical trade practices is the valid excuse.

    16. Re:Fuck yeah! by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Isn't it at 3.9%? But Trump thinks the method is incorrect and real unemployment is over 20% :D

    17. Re:Fuck yeah! by quantaman · · Score: 1

      Hasn't worked for 40 years. Explain that. We've tried your system, and it has systematically sucked the wealth out of the country that was created in no small part due to protectionist trade policies in the beginning half of the 20th century.

      Or you've been seeing the consequences of a tax policy that's insufficiently progressive to stop the wealthy from using their wealth to accumulate an even larger share of the wealth.

      Oh wait, your guy just signed a bill that transferred a massive amount of wealth to the already wealthy... I hope you're ready for another 40 years of the rich getting richer and the rest running in place.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    18. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good. Chinese products are overwhelmingly cheap in terms of price and build quality.

    19. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      So you don't buy a new TV and instead buy a new pair of shoes to replace your worn, failing ones. You buy nicer food. You insulate your house better (and save more money, thus able to buy nicer things).

      I still have a OnePlus One. I wish the 5t didn't have round corners and the 6 didn't have round goofy corners and rabbit ears.

      I also wish it wasn't so expensive to pay people to clean and maintain my lawn--or that I had more money and cared more about paying people to do that than about buying anything else.

      Who are you, really, to tell anyone how to live? Are they wrong for buying XBox over the functionally-superior Sega Dreamcast and killing one of the greatest not-Nintendo game console producers every to exist?

    20. Re:Fuck yeah! by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      Hasn't worked for 40 years. Explain that.

      The US economy has more than doubled in the last 40 years.

    21. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > thinks a trade deficit is your economy falling apart

      Gee, if every month you're losing money, pretty soon you're going to lose your house. "It's no problem. I'll get that big raise/new job next month."

      The point is: trade deficits are unsustainable. You actually have to pay for things. With relatively friendly nations, it's a problem. With a hostile country like China whose goal is to become an economic superpower, it could be a disaster. Countries used to invade each other over debts. That could happen again.

    22. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Low-cost imports don't result in real average hourly earnings staying stagnant. If you're looking for someone to blame for low real-average hourly earnings you can blame the bozo at Harvard Business School in the 1970s that argued that executive compensation should be incentivized through RSUs and stock options, shareholder returns were paramount, and that businesses should divest or outsource all functions outside their core competencies.

    23. Re:Fuck yeah! by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

      So you don't buy a new TV and instead buy a new pair of shoes to replace your worn, failing ones. You buy nicer food. You insulate your house better (and save more money, thus able to buy nicer things).

      During the time electronic toys and what not have fallen in price, what's happened to the price of food? Construction costs?

      Ohhhh.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    24. Re:Fuck yeah! by Lothsahn · · Score: 1

      Don't forget "or build locally"

      --
      -=Lothsahn=-
    25. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your life is also not materially different if you DON'T buy that $299 on sale TV one time.

      I'm just so fucking sick of everyone trotting out 'but you have a TV AND a PHONE' every time we talk about the economy.

      Like a one time in 4 to 8 years spend of $300 will make up for the systematic theft of GDP growth from the bottom 80% to the top 20%......... ??

      What you can exchange your labor for is EXACTLY what standard of living is.
      It is... like.. the definition of it.

      "Yea' Fuck the poors. They have a roof AND walls... What the fuck are they complaining about?
      One serving of gruel and a damp spot to sleep is all anyone DESERVES...
      Now piss off while I go to my much deserved vacation."

    26. Re:Fuck yeah! by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Low-cost imports make the importing nation wealthier. They raise the standard-of-living and cause economic growth.

      Isn't something like 90% of everything at Walmart imported from China? Not sure how that squares with the above as a positive.

      [ Not trolling you, just saying something that is anecdotal, but probably actually wrong. ]

      On the other hand... Seems Trump is trying very hard to prove that trade wars are "easy to win."

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    27. Re:Fuck yeah! by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2

      the wealth out of the country that was created in no small part due to protectionist trade policies in the beginning half of the 20th century.

      Right, because massive destruction of infrastructure and manufacturing capacity in Europe had nothing to do with it.

    28. Re:Fuck yeah! by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Lowering the cost of goods and services means your purchasing power extends further: ...

      Unless what you end up getting is crap, then you'll just have to buy it again, which doesn't help you but the sellers.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    29. Re:Fuck yeah! by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

      You work 40 hours. You trade that labor for things. You can get a limited amount of stuff in trade--that's purchasing power.

      Food. Housing. Clothing. Your car. High-speed Internet. Healthcare. These are things for which you need buying power.

      Lowering the cost of goods and services means your purchasing power extends further: instead of choosing between a car and healthcare, you can have both.

      Literally nothing else is standard-of-living except what you can buy for your time worked.

      You forgot to mention that while some goods can be bought more cheaply you also see your wages fail to keep pace as has been the case since the 70's. It's a race to the bottom wage wise so it's not nearly as rosy a picture as you paint. Moreover economists agree that they duped us and the impact was far worse than estimated. Opps, their bad but our loss.

      Citations:

      http://prospect.org/article/de... https://www.economist.com/node...

    30. Re:Fuck yeah! by higuita · · Score: 2

      shush!! since when the reality is important! when trump says that he is getting poor... err... sorry, ignore that! the USA are getting poor, it must be true!!

      The sad part is that while the US economy increased, most of the profit went to the top 1%

      --
      Higuita
    31. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      No, you're right; it's just that things like Cordoba Guitars are made in China, Fender Guitars are often made in Korea, high-end bicycle frames are made either by Trek or in China, high-end bicycle components were made in China or Japan until SRAM moved from China to Taiwan in 2016, and so forth.

      Logitech? China. Apple? China. CISCO? China. Intel? USA. Oxo Good Grips, some of the best-made kitchen tools I've seen? China. Breville, some of the best kitchen appliances? Designed in Australia; manufactured and assembled in China. KitchenAid? Manufactured around the US, with a lot of higher-end products manufactured in China, and the final assembly for all stand mixers done in the USA so they can sort of claim all mixers are "made" in the USA.

      WalMart actively pressures their suppliers to reduce costs or get out. When they hit a cost wall, WalMart pressures them to manufacture in China. WalMart's entire business model is basically selling cheap crap.

    32. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      Sure. The main problem with the fallacy is it costs more to produce crap at exactly the same quality in the domestic nation than in the foreign trade partner; and producing at a higher quality is also cheaper in the trade partner nation than doing so domestically. You get cheap crap because people buy cheap crap and sellers are trying to undercut each others's prices in a world where consumers don't care about quality comparisons.

    33. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      what's happened to the price of food

      Generally represents lower of our consumer expense share each year; caveat: we eat more out-of-home, and food out-of-home is food plus paying for a time-share of servants to cook and serve and clean for us, which is more than just food.

      Construction costs

      Screwing around with international trade and making oil more-expensive has been a part of it; the bigger part has been running down mortgage interest prime rates, causing home prices to run up so the monthly mortgage payment is the same (which pins consumers to their mortgage, whereas a high prime rate market with depressed home values enables consumers to put little extra payment into their mortgage and avoid large amounts of interest costs).

      Since you absolutely must pay 2-3 times as much of the cost of the house to buy it, we can charge 2-3 times as much for the same house if we build it, and so construction workers can run up their labor prices and take a big chunk of that, too. Want home improvement? That guy could be building a house for twice as much; you better up your hourly offer or he's not fixing your bathroom.

      That's still not the whole story. It's huge and complex and annoying because of how the housing market works (it's not strictly a production market, but mostly a market of trading family heirlooms).

      It has slowed down a bit in recent decades. Oddly enough, food and clothing keep going even when the overall trend pauses.

    34. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      You forgot to mention that while some goods can be bought more cheaply you also see your wages fail to keep pace as has been the case since the 70's.

      Working 40 hours and being able to buy more means your wages are keeping pace with your cost-of-living increase.

      That said, so long as you're not arguing that wages (other than the minimum wage, which needs government support) are falling or remaining stagnant, you're not wrong; with a 10% increase in average purchasing power, you can have everyone's purchasing power go up by 5% and they're all still...well, richer. They're also lagging behind.

      I've actually suggested a completely-new approach to tax and income policies which ties minimum wage to 1/4 the GNI-per-Adult ($10.20 in 2018 based on a policy I wrote) and effective tax rates to the GNI-per-Capita and some equivalence scale magic (it's a straight-forward process, but tedious to explain; being straight-forward makes it less-complex, but having some math involved makes it slightly-annoying).

      That all essentially means your taxes go down if you don't get a proportional share of the productivity (if it goes up 10%, your income goes up by inflation, then goes up by 10% from there, and you pay exactly the same effective tax rate at that point), and the minimum wage also goes up in proportion to productivity growth (except it never goes down). That maintains the structural foundation, and doesn't force the structure into a given shape above that--except it sort of prevents it from becoming more bottom-heavy (or at least resists).

      The per-capita income is about $59,000 and the per-Adult income is about $86,000. You need some structure below to have structure above, but the people at the bottom shouldn't be immobilized by poverty or completely unable to care for themselves. When that center point moves, the people at the bottom should move along with it: the entire structure should shift forward instead of simply elongating, and the bottom should shift forward in the same proportion as the center.

    35. Re: Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's why US finances are royally fucked now and millions of young white men are on drugs, unemployed.

      When the day of reckoning comes, there will be either hyper inflation or and outright default. Either way, the Maoists of Beijing have won.

      Not least by the good work of the Cultural Marxist Trojan horses in the west.

      Goldman Sucks.

    36. Re:Fuck yeah! by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      Right, it's not falling apart, just hemorrhaging wealth to other nations. Specifically China. But the economy is growing so we can live with a half trillion open wound every year. Seriously, our economy is huge, we can take it. And a decade or two that has really elevated a bunch of poor Chinese peasants into something resembling middle class. It's truly money from those who can afford it to those who need it most. Been a big help with all sorts of averaged worldwide metrics. Obesity is now a bigger problem than malnourishment almost entirely because the Chinese started eating.

      Low-cost imports make the importing nation wealthier.

      Yes. Also high-cost imports. Pretty much anything the buying is willing to pay for is a net-wealth gain. Otherwise they wouldn't do it. It's kinda how trade works. And cheaper goods means more trade. And global trade has been great for society. Super-great for anyone that managed to move their factory over there. And by that I mean outsource (haha, it's not like China gov would let Americans own that). Although it's a real fucking kick in the teeth to the previously middle class factory workers, or those expecting that lifestyle. Certainly a contributor to the growing GINI coefficient. (That's the income gap between the wealthy and the poor)

      Hope they keep buying US bonds though, otherwise our government is fucked. You know, more so than the agency heads actively dismantling themselves. Interest paid on federal debt is... what? 11% of GDP?

    37. Re:Fuck yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The sad part is that while the US economy increased, most of the profit went to the top 1%

      I'm the guy you're criticizing. We're saying the same thing. The wealth of the middle class and below has been destroyed, which is what I was saying. I realize the stock market has been gang busters. The stock market doesn't help someone with no wealth, and the secondary benefits are pretty minimal.

    38. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      it's not falling apart, just hemorrhaging wealth to other nations. Specifically China. But the economy is growing so we can live with a half trillion open wound every year.

      A half trillion dollars of imports is not our nation becoming poorer. We aren't shipping our wealth out. We're working our labor to efficiently produce, and trading that efficient production for production which is done more-efficiently (lower cost to us) elsewhere.

      We can make 20 million tonnes of potato and 10 million tonnes of melon with equal exercise of labor (cost). Mexico can make 10 million tonnes of potato and 20 million tonnes of melon with the same labor. Instead, we make 30 million tonnes of potato, Mexico makes 30 million tonnes of melon, and we trade a third of our potato for melon. Now, instead of exercising the labor to make 40 million tonnes of potato (US) or melon (Mexico), we're exercising the labor to make 30 million tonnes of either and trading 1/3 of it. That means 25% of our potato-melon labor can go on to farm wheat or cotton, or transition into manufacture (the evil that destroyed America's good agricultural heritage) or IT, medicine, and services (the evil that destroyed America's good manufacturing heritage).

      In other terms: we're spending $2 billion on 20 tonnes of potato and $2 billion on 10 tonnes of melon; now we're spending $2 billion on 20 tonnes of potato and $1 billion on 10 tonnes of melon (basically, we bought that other $1 billion of potato and traded it for $2 billions of melon). We've got $1 billion lying around to spend on other stuff.

      So here's the thing: what if potato isn't a thing? What if Mexico has their own potato, and sells us melons?

      Well, instead of spending $2 billion on 10 tonnes of melon, we spend $1 billion to have that 10 tonnes imported. We still have $1 billion of spending money lying around to spend on other stuff.

      All of these melons need to be shipped, sold, and so forth as well, along with anything else we buy. Shipping, of course, got more efficient (the wooden shipping pallet turned 48 hours of labor into 4 hours); and IT services like Spotify and Netflix deliver over a highly-efficient data pipe (Internet download).

      The Marxist dream is to wall off Mexico and force a handful of people to work to make melons while the rest of the consumer base pays twice as much for melons, remaining poor.

      The Keynesian reality is that our labor force expands to meet carry capacity for jobs, created by consumer demand, and this slowing of expansion results in that same "natural unemployment rate" under economic conditions (it's 5% in the US, and I'm trying to pin us to the 2-3% full employment rate) whether you're a poor nation with no trade or a wealthy nation importing a lot of stuff cheaply instead of making it inefficiently.

      The whole idea that you must be bleeding money because you're importing more than you export is economics as a zero-sum game. It's a world where technology doesn't exist and babies are instantiated by God snapping his fingers and having the Stork deliver them on his schedule.

      Pretty much anything the buying is willing to pay for is a net-wealth gain

      It's only a net gain if you're getting at the same quality as you would otherwise but with lower price (or cost, I guess, since your price is labor trade... it gets complex here). People are rational, but not knowledgeable: a lot of sellers make their living by convincing people a low-quality good is better than a high-quality good, and inverting price (you pay more for less because it says Sony Vaio or Apple on the tin).

      it's a real fucking kick in the teeth to the previously middle class factory workers, or those expecting that lifestyle. Certainly a contributor to the growing GINI coefficient.

      Sort of. Technology does the same thing as trade: it creates structural change. Your GNI-per-Capita goes up--we're richer on a per-

    39. Re:Fuck yeah! by Cederic · · Score: 1

      As opposed to what? A modern luxury status symbol like the iPhone?

      Oh, wait. They were made in China.

      If China is churning out cheap shit it'e because people are buying it. There's very little of it in the UK..

    40. Re:Fuck yeah! by GonzoPhysicist · · Score: 1

      Not everything is material. If I lived a life where I could buy all I wanted but couldn't spend any time with people I like or express myself freely, it would certainly be a lower standard of living

      --
      horror vacui
    41. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      Sure, but that's outside the control of this branch of economics. Economics in general is concerned with achieving the most ends with the least means.

      In behavioral economics, those sorts of things are addressed by people forming governments to protect those things they call natural rights. You may notice a problem: people decide their vote doesn't matter, and don't vote. People also can't all be experts in everything that's happening, so we must vote in people who specialize in doing this (politicians are basically paid consultants who are supposed to represent our needs and desires in a time-consuming exercise requiring knowledge we don't have time to acquire).

      Those societies then form the framework of rules within which we attempt to form strategies to achieve the greatest ends with the least means. It's more-efficient to let a dictator run everything, although the dictator may decide that certain things are better a certain way, and then you have to deal with those consequences--which inevitably mean insecurity. In a way, representative democracy attempts to avoid the severe damage of such dictatorships's failure modes while giving up the advantages of the occasional benevolent genius dictator who might actually solve the world's present problems immediately; and, being well-aware of the difficulty in locating such a benevolent dictator and the high likelihood that one is out there somewhere at all times, we go so far as to remove all emergency provisions allowing us to leverage such a thing now and then so as to avoid the inevitable outcome of instilling a tyrant who talks nice.

      All behaviors are evidently the same behavior.

    42. Re:Fuck yeah! by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      If Paul CREATES and sells $50 of potatoes in a primary industry, but BUYS $60 of mexican melons, where's the fucking wealth going? Is Potato Paul getting richer or poorer? I'm not saying we should stop all trade, that's fucking idiotic. I guess Paul just really needs those melons. Shut down trade and Paul would then have to buy $120 of US melons or something. Whatever. But TRADE IMBALANCE is a direct and obvious example of a WEALTH TRANSFER. It might be the cheapest, best, most rational option, but it doesn't mean money and wealth isn't flowing in that direction. From us, to them.

      BUT HEY! just to really hammer home that money flowing from one of the wealthiest nations to the poor masses of humanity isn't that bad of a thing. Frankly, they've earned it. Yay elevating our brothers and all that shit.

      The whole idea that you must be bleeding money because you're importing more than you export is economics as a zero-sum game.

      I explicitly said our economy is growing enough that it's not a problem. You talk a lot but you don't listen well.

      The trick here is even a collapsed factory town is a tiny, tiny piece of our economy. Any one movement is 99.9% winners and 0.1% losers, if not much better. Most of them are 0.001% or further down (localized improvements).

      A factory town? As in single? Son, you need to get out more. The Gini coefficient takes into account EVERYONE.

      That means the GNI coefficient isn't much affected by [outsourcing to China] in particular, except maybe in the long run and by other, bigger mechanisms.

      Yeah, no shit sherlock. Way to finally pick up what I was laying down. Like a full minute after you knee started jerking and you let your mouth start running. Factory jobs were outsourced to China (and automation started eating jobs around 2000). You can bet your ass that employing cheaper Chinese factory workers MOST DEFINITELY contributed to the rising Gini coefficient. It put more money to the US owners, while giving some money to the Chinese, and took away the money from the US workers. This is super obvious. A direct and rational cause and effect.

      Gini coefficient. GINI, not the gross national income. It's named after an Italian guy. A metric of inequality.

    43. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      This is super obvious. A direct and rational cause and effect.

      It's only as obvious as that mice are spontaneously created by the conditions of placing grain wrapped in a shirt. People believed that for a long time; they reasoned that they saw no mice, then there were mice, thus the mice must have been spontaneously created. Where there is grain, there are mice--they don't come, breed, and spread, but rather appear from the ether.

      Your information is limited, and your conclusions are thus imprecise. What happens if you compare trade deficits to unemployment? And no, the conclusion is not that a falling trade deficit causes rising unemployment, either, even though the chart appears to show that (the correlation is the other way around: less capacity to buy, thus less importing).

      Some folks have studied this in other nations, and written interesting things about such.

      If Paul CREATES and sells $50 of potatoes in a primary industry, but BUYS $60 of mexican melons, where's the fucking wealth going?

      This is a micro-economics question. Paul is of course operating on credit.

      Shut down trade and Paul would then have to buy $120 of US melons or something.

      It's more that, between Paul, Mike, and Brian, the US CREATES and sells $60 of potatoes, and CREATES and sells $120 of melons. In doing so, they exercise 6,000 hours of US productive labor.

      Instead, Paul CREATES and sells $60 of potatoes. Meanwhile, people IMPORT $60 of Mexican melons. Now Mike and Brian have 4,000 hours to expend on CREATING chairs or wheat or cars.

      There's an interesting issue here: the US consumers can now spend $60 on US goods and purchase 2,000 hours of labor (yeah it's like, 1790, no inflation yet). That can employ Mike but not Brian.

      Here's the thing: people retire somewhere between 66 and 74. Jim was going to retire at 74, but he's got his Social Security going on (just ignore the anachronism) and a technological change has improved the farm work for keeping cows. Jim could go fight with Brian for that new chicken farm job that's opened up since folks are buying more eggs with the money they're saving on milk, but he retires at 72 instead of trying to get a job for the next 2 years.

      Now Paul, Mike, and Brian all have jobs; Jim retired.

      This is actually a hell of a lot more complex today: we bring in nearly 300,000 H-1B Visa permanent workers each year; college students go to grad school or drop out based on job availability; and, again, you've got the whole thing with people not retiring exactly at 66 1/2. You also have some funky thing that caused something called "Baby Boomers" that one time, where continued high employment availability leads to continued population growth until the job market slows down; the opposite is also true.

      Long story short, we have high labor force participation and low unemployment. Our labor markets have shifted around structural change and continue to do so. Meanwhile, we all get more for every hour we work.

      I explicitly said our economy is growing enough that it's not a problem. You talk a lot but you don't listen well.

      Sorry, I assumed too much about your knowledge of macroeconomics. Let me remedy this.

      Economies grow in two major ways. The lesser growth effect is the accumulation of factors of production: more population, more factories, and so forth. That kind of growth doesn't increase standards of living; it only increases GDP. In numerical terms, GDP-per-Capita and GNI-per-Capita stay the same.

      The other type of growth is structural change. Structural change involves technical progress (the wooden shipping pallet eliminated 92% of labor in loading and unloading goods d

    44. Re:Fuck yeah! by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      When someone says you talk a lot but don't listen well, that's really not an invitation for a wall of text.

      Furthermore, you're called bullshit on "Outsourcing to china increases the Gini coefficient" being obvious. Going so far as to compare it to the theory of spontaneous genesis..... and proceed to talk about trade deficits... Now, I get that they're related, I wouldn't be so nitpicky if you didn't employ so much hyperbole. But you kinda swapped out the topic there. Holy shit, shut up and READ a little bit. And if you DO read any of this, give comprehension a try. Seriously, this is TWICE. I was insulted the first time. Now I'm just giving up on you.

      The MIT paper only says "FREE TRADE GOOD". But it doesn't mention trade deficits at all. Or imbalance. It only talks about budget deficits. And I agree, free trade good. Nobody has said otherwise. ...that graph shows DOES appear to show that it shows that you're full of shit. I was confused about why you were showing it to me. People getting laid off, money going overseas. But yeah, sure, they both probably just a function of the economy going into the shitter.

      If a trade deficit were reducing our wealth, however, we wouldn't be able to pay the new laborers to work. Instead of growing, we'd be shrinking. We're not.

      UNLESS WE FUCKING MADE THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE! Jesus. Thricely I say unto thee: OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING ~~MORE~~ THAN THE HALF TRILLION WE SEND TO CHINA We can afford it.

      This isn't the first time we've danced around each other you know. I think it might have even been years ago. Listen Lucid, John, if I may... my advice now, just as it was then, is still the same. You've got some good ideas, but holy shit you need to learn to simply AGREE with other people when they're agreeing with you. There's no need to start an argument over semantics or disagree with someone simply because they said the same thing in the wrong way. There's no fucking way you'll make it in politics if you're THIS fucking combative to people who would otherwise be in the exact same political camp. Stop bible-thumping your own choir. Be friendly, god damnit. And the pretentious thing won't get you votes.

    45. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      shut up and READ a little bit. And if you DO read any of this, give comprehension a try. Seriously, this is TWICE.

      I did read. I thought. I considered objective reality.

      I was insulted the first time.

      That's because you said something and I told you you're categorically wrong. You've believed strongly your whole life that the sky is a brilliant shade of gold; I pointed up and said, "That... is blue." It can't not be insulting. I'm accusing you of being ignorant and lacking knowledge of the world.

      Let me explain this to you in simple, brief terms by an example.

      If we ceased to import Men and Boys's Cotton Trousers and Pants from China and instead made and sold those same products in American factories, the cost in terms of wages to produce those would go up. The direct employment from this manufacturing in China would be around 178,000 American workers; however, with the cost increase, American consumers would be able to purchase only enough sufficient to support 58,000 American workers involved in domestic production.

      Out of 158 million workers, that's .037%.

      That's at the same quality. For the American pants to be of higher quality, the cost would be higher, affordability would be lower, and fewer jobs would be created.

      A minimum-wage American worker now works 1.8 hours to buy pants; under this scenario, the worker works 3 hours instead. This 67% increase applies across the board: for a worker who works 0.6 hours to buy those pants, that person now spends 1 hour's wage on the same pants.

      First result: 99.96% of Americans are poorer. The ones most impacted would be the poorest, by the way.

      Because of this, Americans purchase fewer pants or fewer things which aren't pants.

      With less purchasing, fewer trucks are driven to ship goods. Fewer retail cashiers, inventory specialists (unloading trucks), and other such support can be employed. The numbers for these are actually calculated by the cost differential between Chinese- and American-made pants.

      That loss comes out to be around 92,000.

      58,000 jobs created, 92,000 jobs lost

      Second result: 34,000 fewer American jobs in total.

      you need to learn to simply AGREE with other people when they're agreeing with you. There's no need to start an argument over semantics or disagree with someone simply because they said the same thing in the wrong way.

      I can't agree with you when you're wrong.

      You're saying the trade deficit is causing loss of wealth which is being offset by growth--a ridiculous statement because hemorrhaging wealth in that way would cause negative growth and a declining capacity to support jobs and population.

      Thricely I say unto thee: OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING ~~MORE~~ THAN THE HALF TRILLION WE SEND TO CHINA We can afford it.

      See this statement? It's rooted in ignorance. This is you saying something that has no basis in reality. I explained why this is (it has to do with labor: you're trading time), although only in a brief statement buried in a wall of text.

      I'm saying that by importing cheap goods from China, we make the American poor and middle-class wealthier and create thousands of American jobs.

      that graph shows DOES appear to show that it shows that you're full of shit. I was confused about why you were showing it to me. People getting laid off, money going overseas.

      Sorry, let me explain the graph.

      Do you see the green line? That's the unemployment rate. The red line is our trade balance--lower means deficit (more imports than exports).

      Notice that, at a nearly $200 billion trade deficit in 1987, we have 5.5% unemployment.

      Notice that, at a nearly $800 billion trade deficit in 2005, we have 5% unemployment.

      The increase in deficit doesn't increase unemployment

    46. Re:Fuck yeah! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      There's no fucking way you'll make it in politics if you're THIS fucking combative to people who would otherwise be in the exact same political camp.

      tl;dr: Imports from China have made all Americans--especially the poorest--wealthier and increased the number of American jobs in total. Gini coefficient is caused by internal structural policy, not trade. Growth is not somehow covering up loss; the things you claim are loss are a major cause of America's growth.

      Basically, everything you're saying is wrong, and either the opposite is true or there's no relation between the things you're claiming and what's actually happening.

  4. believed Trump would defer any aggression by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The big picture: It's a show of force that has surprised some sources close to the White House who believed Trump would defer any aggression towards China until after the North Korea summit.

    What kind of idiot thinks that?

    "I won't do X because it might upset you" is the negotiating tactic of a complete, errr, pussy. It hands way too much leverage to the other person.

    It sure seems like the entire US foreign policy establishment has been believing in the own perfection for way too long and absolutely in need of an outsider like Trump to shake them up.

    1. Re:believed Trump would defer any aggression by Comboman · · Score: 1

      What kind of idiot thinks that insulting someone is good way to start negotiations? When you buy a car, do you start by telling the salesman how fat his mother is?

      --
      Support Right To Repair Legislation.
    2. Re:believed Trump would defer any aggression by Cederic · · Score: 1

      "Hello, welcome to the showroom. Would you like our wheelmobile?"

      "Its fuel economy is terrible and there are only 27 cup holders. It may be a popular penis extension but really you're going to have to help me overcome those issues before I could even pretend to be interested"

      Yeah, I'd insult someone to start a negotiation.

  5. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    We didn't "need" China before Clinton gave them MFN status and we don't need China now. We can make our own shit and if that means we have to stop feathering our environmental nest with more anti-industry regulations or you have a pay a bit more to replace your iPhone every 12 months then so be it.

  6. "a move to balance the criticism that he was soft" by denisbergeron · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And "with the exact list to be announced next month "

    China don't have to worry, next month they will list what and when is going to be effectif hten, China will buy another hotel to Trump and every sanction willbe drop !

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
  7. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trump announced steel and aluminum tariffs March 1st. Now it's about 90 days later and they've all been deferred indefinitely. It won him next to nothing the first time around, and is likely to do even worse this time now that people know it's only a negotiating tactic.

  8. Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm no lover of Trump's policies. He's an authoritarian ass and enabler to state violence (i.e. "rough them up a bit").

    But I can't bring myself to be upset about this tariff, and think it's a shame that it can't be 100%. Yes. 100%, full cost of the item. People throw too many things out -- I've seen perfectly good electronics on the street due to a damaged power cord or similar minor issue.

    We've become a throw-away society where "used" and "repair" are dirty words, and which produces an unsustainable amount of toxic, poorly recyclable e-waste. Trump may not mean to be an environmentalist, but raising the cost of dirt-cheap disposable electronics is ultimately an environmental good.

    Remember the 80s and 90s, where people kept their TVs for 10-15 years, then handed them down to their college student children?

    1. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by atrex · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Many consumer electronic devices are beyond the simple repairs of yester-year's picture tube TV sets. Not only are the devices much more complicated than they used to be, the very concept of repair manuals is flat out scarce, and then there's the problem of built-in obsolesce as well.

      We do need a much better electronics recycling program. Part of which would take those devices that are repairable, fix them, and then sell them at low cost of give them to people that don't have, and can't afford to buy new off the shelf. But when you've got fried circuits that require a replacement part that only the manufacturer can provide, it's not a cheap and easy fix.

      On the subject of tariffs however? This move is just plain stupid. We don't manufacture finished products here in the States. This is going to end up being a straight up tax on the middle class, and it's only going to further blow up in our faces. You can't transition from a free trade economy to a protectionist economy overnight, and running around throwing up huge tariffs on imports is not going to hurt the countries we import from nearly as much as it's going to hurt us. It takes years, decades even to setup the manufacturing facilities and establish a sufficient supply chain to assemble a complex product. Meanwhile, it's a big world out there and there are plenty of other people China can sell to and buy from.

    2. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Disagree. Modern electronics are also more reliable than the TV sets of yesteryear. Failures are typically:

      (1) Broken connectors/cords.
      (2) Broken solder joints to the connectors.
      (3) Loose internal cables.
      (4) Power supply issues (fried capacitors, etc).

      All of which can be easily fixed.

    3. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      I'd mod you up if I could. To add to your comments, we can't have a nationally controlled economy which keeps prices higher than the global average while using offshore labor which pushes salaries (and the means to buy those products) down. It's just not fair to the population and puts a lot of pressure on the middle and lower class.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    4. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      Not only is your list incorrect, but vendors don't want to fix even the most miniscule problem. They'd much rather replace than service. This leads to a whole supply chain of secondary returned-items refurbishers but also a huge pile of waste. User-serviceable equipment is nigh impossible. SMT-mounted electronics, crammed to the gills, are hideously difficult to service.

      People are seduced in this over-consuming economy, to buy the latest greatest stuff. Who cares that there's only a scant amount of 4K media out there? People are buying 4K tablets and notebooks. Or if you're an Apple Macbook Pro user, new Macbook Pros because your old one had a worn-out keyboard. Keyboard!

      Who will suffer in China over this? Not too many. $50B is not that much. Trump isn't protecting American workers, only American brands.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    5. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Make the SMT-mounted electronics modular. You might not be able to replace an individual IC easily, but you can swap a failed board.

    6. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      Go ahead, wave your magic wand.

      Then don't bitch when you get socket dioding, chips falling out of the freaking socket, corrosion, poor sinusoidal vibration fall-outs, and worse.

      This stuff was NOT DESIGNED TO BE FIXED OR RECYCLED. The whole CE industry is focused this way, because: Wall Street, who is fed by Trump's demons.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    7. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      If your TeeVee is being subjected to severe vibration, you've got other problems.

    8. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      Tell that to moms pacifying their kids with back-of-seat video players, or all those integrated dashes, or people that move from place to place, trying to keep their electronics working.

      No, you've got other problems: fingers in your ears.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    9. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      The "integrated dash" thing is pure crap. HOPE those things break at 3 years of age so as to discourage automakers from installing touch-screen junk hardware in their cars. As far as back-seat TVs, my laptop (Thinkpad) has modular design and connectors. Works fine under all sorts of conditions. Why would a TV or tablet given to a sprog in a mommyvan need to be different?

    10. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      I don't like them either, but see: "magic wand". You and I don't have control over this stuff. It's what the CE people design and sell to the automakers, the airlines, etc etc.

      The fact is that there's lots of stuff out there that isn't recyclable! Lots of it! Not gonna change unless people understand what kind of mess it makes!

      Today, on the screen of your laptop, you can design tons of SMT gear from your chair, and have it built and UPS'd to you, all in a couple of days. There are NO MORE solder jockeys in skunkworks building and inventing stuff. It's done with board CAD, for short runs and longs, every new nuance being designed into the gear to keep up (or down) with the latest market needs.

      Much of it's designed in the good old USA, but the production is done in China and the ASEAN countries where pollution regulation and wages are low. It leads to poisoned rivers and lagoons that poison aquifers, and wages that get you a bowl of rice and a hovel compared to the standard of living in the USA.

      Sanctioning Chinese goods does no one any good except the branding companies and of course, Wall Street.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    11. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by XSportSeeker · · Score: 1

      As someone who lives in a country where electronics have import taxes that are 100% and up, you really have no idea what you are asking for, and all the things you listed that it would be good for really are just fantasies. That's not how it works.

    12. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Power to tax is power to destroy. Let's destroy it, even if it costs US CE jobs. Long term impact on the environment is more important than short term jobs.

    13. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by postbigbang · · Score: 1

      Power to tax is granted to permit civil infrastructure and common good. The long term environmental impact is important, but don't forget that this isn't about US jobs, it's about US BRANDS.

      Trade wars are mostly a fiction, because government accounting isn't transparent, and therefore is an oxymoron. The US subsidizes more industry than China does, especially the military, but the military isn't the only segment-- just look to agricultural supports if you had any question. You should be paying $6+ for a gallon of milk, as an example. You're underwriting all of the people who are paid so poorly by Walmart, Starbucks, and even public school systems that they need SNAP or other subsidies just to live minimum lives in the US. Power to tax? Or power to put money in shareholder's wallets? You be the judge.

      --
      ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
    14. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      100% is way too high. We simply need to put the same tariffs/vats on their goods that they put on western goods. If we do that, then allow China to decide how to deal with this. If they want to keep them on, good. Better yet, would be remove them and we remove ours.
      The problem becomes that China still manipulates their money, subsidies/dumps, and have one of the worse environmental/labor laws. But we really should be dealing with that as well. America needs to bring our environmental laws up to the rest of the western standards, esp. Canada and Europe's. While we are ahead on somethings (such as mercury and lead emissions), we are behind in others (err.... CO2 anybody). All of these are tied to gov and businesses choices so one approach is for us to tie a slowly increasing tax to the worst part/service for the various pollutants. That would get everybody to clean up.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    15. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And everyone else will just go to the WTO and slap more targeted tariffs on you. You aren't too bright are you.

    16. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      First, this is only with china/America, not with others, so nobody else can do squat.
      Secondly, according to WTO, when trade differs by more than 10% between 2 nations, then tariffs ARE legal. And 150B vs 650B is a bit more than 10%.
      YOu are the one that is not too bright.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    17. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are certainly the worst in coal emissions.

    18. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Think about the consequences to America of these tariffs. The Chinese are already investing a lot of money in developing their own mobile phone chipsets, after seeing what happened to ZTE. With reciprocal tariffs on US tech this is only likely to accelerate that process.

      So rather than US companies continuing to dominate that field for many years, the Chinese are now strongly motivated to replace them with domestic suppliers.

      Same things is happening with Brexit. "Oh, the Germans will be desperate to buy our car parts" the politicians said. Actually it's just made them mitigate the risk by investing in local suppliers and manufacturing, even in doing more business with China.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    19. Re: Trump the accidental environmentalist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the worst is the dirtiest nation that is killing Its citizens. That would be China.
      Get mao's dong out of your mouth, dipshit.

    20. Re:Trump the accidental environmentalist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget about costs. A 27" TV in a 1988 Sears catalog is priced at $799, a 'savings' of $190.
      1988 federal minimum wage was $3.35, which would take 238 hours of work to buy that TV for Christmas (and be over a tenth of your best yearly gross income). Repairs and parts aren't free, either.
      Current federal minimum wage is $7.25; it would take 27.5 hours of work to buy a current 40" TV for $200 (something like 1% of your yearly gross income).
      And things were probably even more skewed if you go back to the 60s or 70s.
      You'd put a lot of effort into repairing something that took you a month and a half to buy. Not so much when it takes you less than 4 days.

      Hell, you'll put in a shitton more work paying for your cable/internet bill these days than you would getting even a sizable TV, at least in the US.

    21. Re: Trump the accidental environmentalist. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Still healthier than American's I'm happy to inform you.
      Make Trump proud, go burn some more coal.

  9. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2

    Better yet, fix what you have or keep it longer instead of generating more toxic e-waste because shiny and new! No one needs a new phone or TV every year. The difference between 1k and 4k is basically invisible to most people at actual viewing distance.

  10. Re:Trump by Kernel+Kurtz · · Score: 1

    You need us more than we need you.

    Yeah, you just keep thinking that.

  11. Re:Trump by llamalad · · Score: 1

    That link somewhat works against your point if you read into it-

    The Chinese aren't simply shipping us cheap stuff. And at times it seems like they're doing less to lower production costs and invent new stuff than they are simply circumventing licensing costsâ" hence the intellectual property complaints.

    If inventing new things is a boon, then creating a disincentive to invent new stuff (through not respecting intellectual property law) is a detriment.

    What does or doesn't constitute sane intellectual property law is another subject entirely.

  12. Dollar tanking, using every trick in the book by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Dollar started tanking under Nixon, and now America has been playing every trick in the book to keep it afloat. The game of inflating the economy by creating expenditures and loans out of thin air is not working as well, and now theyr'e getting desperate.

    1. Re:Dollar tanking, using every trick in the book by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Found the gold bug.

  13. Re:Oh lord, here come the retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    yeah, it seems to have worked on you.

  14. No suprise by MountainLogic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The tech community in general is more educated and mere diverse (in some ways) than the general population and hence much less will to support trump. Plus tech CEOs are not psychologically the types to kiss the kings ring so yes, he is about to screw tech for both fun and profit. Probably he will use as leverage to extort more personal gain out of Beijing.

    1. Re:No suprise by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 4, Insightful

      A lot of tech people and engineers tend to actually lean conservative and "law-and-order" vs being freewheeling liberals.

      The liberals tend to be the scientists, professors, and artists for some reason.

    2. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're meshing engineers with 'IT'.

      There's also the wireless hardware embedded engineers, especially the 'old guard' like old Xerox employees. Generally the newer generation of AI and complex Infometrics and mathematically heavy are very liberal. I've worked and consulted with various companies in different states so this is the general pattern.

    3. Re:No suprise by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      But "engineers" are also civil/mechanical/industrial/power electrical, that lean conservative.

    4. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I too can pull unsubstantiated claims out of my anus.

    5. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think he isn't interested in 'engineers' that actually have a degree granting them the title, he's interested in Silicon valley types that took a coding bootcamp and read an article on AI that called themselves engineers.

    6. Re:No suprise by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      A lot of tech people and engineers tend to actually lean conservative and "law-and-order" vs being freewheeling liberals.

      The liberals tend to be the scientists, professors, and artists for some reason.

      And since the conservatives give us the tarriffs and wage and price controls, who is the liberal in the end?

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    7. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IT/eng here. Flaming communist.

    8. Re:No suprise by Lothsahn · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not just "for some reason".

      It's highly linked to a personality trait called openness. People who are high in openness are interested and emotionally get benefit/happiness from new ideas, thoughts, and concepts. People with this personality are generally very interested in becoming scientists and professors. Likewise, high openness correlates strongly with liberal political views. Therefore, it makes complete sense that there's a strong correlation between scientists/professors, and liberal political viewpoints.

      Just imagining it makes sense -- conservatives generally want to embrace tradition and liberals want to change the world to make it a better place. Somewhere in the middle is good for society--too much change is chaos, and too little is stagnation.

      Sources:
      https://www.chicagoreader.com/...
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      --
      -=Lothsahn=-
    9. Re:No suprise by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      And since the conservatives give us the tarriffs and wage and price controls, who is the liberal in the end?

      Conservatives and GOP used to be in general more "free trade" than progressives and Democrats. T bucks that trend. That's sometimes why his political stances are labelled as "populism", although the term is a bit fuzzy. It generally means "anti-establishment". Being that neither party actually changed much in 3 decades with both trade and immigration (despite lip service), his aggressive focus on those issues effectively makes him anti-establishment.

    10. Re:No suprise by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 0

      The liberals tend to be the scientists, professors, and artists for some reason.

      So ... people who aren't real world and live off the government.

    11. Re:No suprise by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      tech has never leaned conservative or GOP.
      Engineers used to, but not any longer.
      At this time, Trump's backers are uneducated whites, along with old whites.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    12. Re:No suprise by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      The liberals tend to be the scientists, professors, and artists for some reason.

      So ... people who aren't real world and live off the government.

      Yeah, govt or a patron of some sort. People that are good at that type of thing tend to not be so good at the making money part of things. Rich folks used to support these types. Back in the last millenium they helped to produce the Renaissance. After WWII, the US govt, generally with the support of the voters, made a big push for science & engineering (and arts) to compete globally, which produced a period of Pax Americana.

      Supporting a Pax is very expensive: we are seeing the pendulum swing back to the rich guys again, with a large amount of support from the voters. Will we see Pax Koch or Pax Soros? Or will we be happy with a Pax Chinaca?

      "May we live in Interesting Times" - C. Fucious

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    13. Re:No suprise by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Being that neither party actually changed much in 3 decades with both trade and immigration (despite lip service), his aggressive focus on those issues effectively makes him anti-establishment.

      However, I have always found that actions are more reliable as indicators than words. HIs Republican party has done nothing to stop him. Since after Newt Gingrich's Contract on America, where it was not only necessary to elect Republicans but a purge of moderates was needed to walk in lockstep, his party doctrine is the de-facto policy of his party.

      Didn't use to be that way, when we could blame a disastrous decision on one or another wing of the party, but given the silence of his lambs, they support everything he does.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    14. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Tech CEOs have been pandering to China’s totalitarian regime since the 90s with Apple now his big Chinese info in China with keys to the kingdom.

      Only google has had the balls to say no so far.

      So it’s all free speech and privacy here and whatever you say emperor Ci over there....

    15. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh honey, that's the attitude that got Trump elected the first time. Deny reality to your peril.

    16. Re:No suprise by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      no, it did not. Trump was not elected. Hillary was simply voted out. HUGE difference.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    17. Re:No suprise by sydbarrett74 · · Score: 1

      Not to be pedantic, but merely having a four-year engineering degree is necessary but insufficient to be legally called an engineer in most states. One must also pass an NCEES PE exam.

      --
      'He who has to break a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom.' -- Gandalf to Saruman
    18. Re:No suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe in the 80's and 90's, but in the past 18 years tech and engineers have almost completely been replaced by liberals and socialists. At least I have been unable to find any engineers or techs of right wing political leaning that were competent enough for the job, and fired many for making huge, million dollar loss mistakes.

      I think the right's demonization of logic, math, and science has backfired on them. Now the old engineers are working stocking shelves at Walmart.

  15. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well though in practice that depends on how the country with the deficit is paying for the excess of imports. If you're using debt, then that is indeed a problem.

    Also deficits with some countries can be offset by surpluses with others. But if worldwide the USA has a net deficit that we're paying for with debt, then that is an even bigger problem.

  16. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2

    True, although we prohibit the sale of pirate IP here, so they can't export their stolen IP to America (and other countries operating under certain international treaties). Strengthening these international IP agreements was one of the big things for which people attacked the TPP: we don't like the Berne Convention (I'd rather limit copyright to 14 years, or some such).

    My point is importing cheap stuff from China actually makes our economy more-powerful and raises our standards of living. People think it just means jobs go away and we get poorer somehow.

  17. Re:Trump by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Really, there is no doubt that there would be a large adjustment to make shutting out China, but I don't think we need them in a society ending kind of way. Things will be more expensive, but there will be more jobs and we will move on. Also, I'm not really clear on why we are so gung-ho to remove our dependence on foreign oil by pressing EVs and the like, but yet a reliance on a foreign manufacturing is a good thing that we need? Doesn't make sense.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  18. Best president since Kennedy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We havent seen a president represent the people in such a long time, hereâ(TM)s to four more years!

    1. Re:Best president since Kennedy by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      actually, he will get about 12 years, not 4. Pence might only get 8 years, but hopefully not.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  19. Re:Trump by llamalad · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's a hoarding/bunker mentality versus a focus on quality of life.

    On one side, there's the folks who want to keep economic and physical resources on hand and maintain and develop manufacturing capability to ensure self sufficiency.

    On the other, you've got the folks who want to enjoy as many of the available ancient vises and modern conveniences as possible.

    Both sides have good arguments supporting them. On one side, what happens if international trade goes to hell? And on the other, why live like a Great Depression survivor when that crisis may never come?

    As with most things, the most successful strategy is probably a middle ground between the two extremes.

  20. His daughter's business must need something by edtice1559 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sure they will negotiate a solution where her business gets a concession and this goes away. The good thing about corruption is that it's predictable and it's much easier to run a business in a predictable environment.

    1. Re:His daughter's business must need something by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm sure they will negotiate a solution where her business gets a concession and this goes away. The good thing about corruption is that it's predictable and it's much easier to run a business in a predictable environment.

      The Clinton Foundation agrees with you. lol

  21. Thank you! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's what the "you got cheap consumer electronics" crowd doesn't understand. Our wages haven't kept up with housing costs (we are becoming a society of renters), medical costs and education costs. The important things. Decent food has gone up fast, too.

    Being able able to get a cheap TV doesn't help me with my student loans or my medical bills.

    Free trade is supposed to help everyone but as we are seeing, the benefits are going mostly to the top.

    When xyz company send their manufacturing to China or Mexico, its workers are then scrambling for the limited part-time jobs at Walmart that pays less than half of what they were making - and without benefits.

    1. Re: Thank you! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slowly people are waking up to the fact that patriotism is important, if you do not want to live in a shithole.

      China is highly patriotic and so far they have succeeded in transferring dozens of millions of middle class jobs to China.

  22. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 2

    But (as a human, not as a country), what's wrong with living cheaply, not keeping up with the Joneses (they're dumb anyway) and just keeping old stuff or buying used? The tradeoff from living cheaply won't be hoarding of money or stuff, it will be the ability to have a one-parent, 40 hour a week working family. Trading free time for stuff that doesn't enrich your life anyway.

  23. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Bluefox doesn't know anything about macroeconomics.

  24. Re:Trump by imgod2u · · Score: 1

    The problem is that the population does not remain static. And with more mouths to feed (and house and clothe and educate so that they aren't a drag on the economy) year over year, you *need* that productivity increase just to keep things the same.

    And don't forget, to have anything to buy used, someone at some point had to have bought it new.

  25. Re:Trump by llamalad · · Score: 1

    Nothing at all.

    The only *real* trouble with that is that's not what mainstream culture values. It's a marketing machine, and as soon as you opt out of the lifestyle of constantly buying shiny new crap you're worthless to advertisers and therefore irrelevant.

    There are some good resources for those who think in those terms. One of my favorites is the Mr. Money Moustache blog.

  26. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    Mainstream "kultshah" is essentially a bread and circus for the stupid and terminally ignorant.

  27. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    Simple, enact policies to keep population static domestically. Invest heavily in economic development programs abroad that encourage and provide birth control as well. Earth is overloaded as it is. Perpetual growth is an illness, not the solution.

  28. That is why I'm rich! by Kludge · · Score: 1

    Low-cost imports make the importing nation wealthier.

    Yeah, instead of investing my money on making things to sell, I blow all my money on cheap plastic shit from China! Just like Warren Buffet. That's why I'm so rich!

    1. Re:That is why I'm rich! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      You can buy the same low-quality trash made by an American, but for a 20%-40% higher price, and so can work longer hours and buy fewer things.

      Alternately, you could buy a higher-quality American-made good--although many companies have China make those higher-quality goods as well, and they also cost less than an American manufacturer can achieve at the price point.

      Really, there's so much low-quality trash because people see two can-opener-shaped objects, one for $3 and one for $15, and reason they're the same object. One lasts 20 years and one lasts 20 uses, but they buy the cheap one every time. The more-expensive one requires a more-expensive die-cast process, better quality control, higher-quality metal, and so forth, so you're not going to get it for $3.

      Look at the highest-quality goods you own. Most of those are also made in China.

    2. Re:That is why I'm rich! by llamalad · · Score: 1

      On the subject of there being a lot of cheap imported stuff, I give you Sturgeons Law:
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      And on buying the $3 one instead of the $15 one, the Boots Theory:
      https://moneywise.com/a/boots-...

      And to pick at nits, I woudn't trust a cast can opener. Would seem to have to be too brittle for the job. Forged or gtfo.

      And on the subject of can openers, my favorite is the kind that breaks the lid's seal instead of cutting the metal below it: https://www.amazon.com/Kuhn-Ri...

    3. Re:That is why I'm rich! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      Yes, Vimes's theory of boots applies. Also, Oxo makes a can opener like that and it's magical.

  29. A historic president for sure. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 0

    Dumbest negotiator ever. His abject stupidity and blatant criminality is why he keeps getting owned in trade negotiations.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:A historic president for sure. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But I heard on great authority that trade wars are easy to win?

      Meanwhile, while waiting for the "win", everyone can pay more. ("This deal is getting worse all the time")

    2. Re:A historic president for sure. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think ego and a short attention span are bigger factors. Many times I think that Big Giant Orange Head is simply an ego machine .

      Of course he also thinks he knows everything worth knowing, so he is "ignorantly arrogant" too.

      Let's see. BGOH has screwed the pooch on foreign policy by:

      - withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal;
      - bungled the North Korean situation;
      - withdrew from the TPP;
      - withdrew from the Paris Accord;
      - about to bungle the NAFTA renegotiation;
      - consistently gives aid and comfort to dictators;
      - consistently pushes away friends and allies;
      - moving the Israeli embassy means the Arab world won't accept US impartiality, and he received nothing from the Israeli's in return, and he triggered violent riots and a slaughter on the Israeli border;
      - compromised Israeli security by revealing Top Secret information sourced from them (the foreign partner isn't known for certain but is rumoured to be Israel);

      What does BGOH have to show as foreign policy wins?

      - he claims he defeated ISIS. Really, he just continued the Obama policies, so he gets a Meh for not screwing this file up. He also gets a Really? for claiming far too much credit;
      - he claims he brought North Korea to the negotiating table. He actually has to share credit for this with South Korea, so a Really? for grabbing at the spotlight. There's another Really? for claiming victory prematurely, and yet another Really? for talking himself up for a Nobel prize;

      That's not a good record. BGOH is proving to be a lightweight, and totally unprepared for the international scene. And because of his arrogant ignorance, there is basically zero prospect of ever doing better either.

    3. Re:A historic president for sure. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you support China....?

    4. Re:A historic president for sure. by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      So blatant is his criminality there is no need for allegations or charges.

      But just for completeness here they are:

      Disagreeing with CNN.

      Entering office WITHOUT the approval of Robert Muller.

      Increasing government revenues while lowering taxes.

      Not seeing that improving the economy is not the most important thing, like Van Jones said.

      So completely criminal that we can surely sidestep formalities like impeachment hearings, the petty opinions of the electorate, and the welfare of the United States in removing him from office.

      Case closed !!

    5. Re:A historic president for sure. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      Increasing government revenues while lowering taxes.

      HAHAHAHAHA!!!

      Wow, you drank so much of that kool-aid that you're immune to facts. ;)

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    6. Re:A historic president for sure. by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      OK ... here's a fact for you:

      US revenues are up 12% compared to previous year.

      "Federal Budget Surplus for April Largest on Record"

      https://www.wsj.com/articles/t...

      How can that be? We REDUCED taxes?

      What facts do you have?

      Memorial day is a good time of year to break out the Kool-Aid. Unless you're in Jonestown, of course.

    7. Re:A historic president for sure. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      You seem to be ignoring the fact that the government still needs to be funded.
      https://washingtonpost.com/93c...

      Fanciful thinking doesn't change reality, it just drives the nation deeper into debt.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    8. Re:A historic president for sure. by micahraleigh · · Score: 1

      If federal revenues are INCREASING how does that endanger government funding?

      How does INCREASING revenue possibly drive the nation deeper into debt?

      You claim sounds too incoherent for me to understand.

    9. Re:A historic president for sure. by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      Oh well since you got it all figured out, you should go tell the CBO that they are all stupid and replace them.

      I guess you don't understand how lacking your understanding of government funding is.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  30. 3D Printers by TheSync · · Score: 2

    Oh man, think about the cheap 3D printers!

    1. Re:3D Printers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dunno about yours but I bought mine from the Czech Republic.

  31. Re:Oh lord, here come the retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    leading the pack, I see.

  32. Fiddle Playing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "initial move in a long negotiation that shows the Chinese Trump is very serious -- and a move to balance the criticism that he was soft on ZTE."

    I sounds like Trump is played like a fiddle.

  33. Re:Trump by Hognoxious · · Score: 2

    You don't need any productivity increase just because you have more people, because productivity is defined as output per something, and absent indication to the contrary that something is an hour of labour.

    tl;dr every mouth that needs feeding comes with two hands to work.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  34. hey kid by gDLL · · Score: 1

    it seems the only negotiation you have ever been in is the car/thing buying kind. There are *A LOT* more sort of negotiations and it seems you don't have the experience of them. I would say your life inexperience is really showing.

    1. Re:hey kid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not what your fat mama said last night. :-P

  35. Re: Oh lord, here come the libtards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If they werenâ(TM)t spying on those traitors, they werenâ(TM)t doing their jobs.

  36. Re:You're a funny guy! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You need Canada's clean air and water, and Mexico's cheap labour and drugs.

    TransMountain Pipeline in Canada was just nationalized, meaning 3x the capacity from the oilsands will be sold to CHINA instead of the USA. But yeah, everyone needs you guy! You're so important buddy, that's why you have no environmental or worker protection laws worth shit and no healthcare. Keep on smoking that rich guy's cock tho buddy, I'm sure that meaty taste will pay for your kid's braces.

  37. Re:"a move to balance the criticism that he was so by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    Learn how to type you half-wit.

    That wasn't a typo, it's covfefe's brother.

    Seriously, though, T is confusing and confounding other nations because of his flip-flops, surprise "temporarily exemptions", vagueness, etc. Today's proclamations maybe be irrelevant tomorrow via a new Tweet. Most world leaders are relatively careful, systematic planners and don't know what to make of his style.

    I'm not going to even say T's unpredictable style "doesn't work"; for it's too early to judge. I'm merely saying that it's baffling the h$ll out of world leaders and negotiators.

    Maybe there is a method to his madness. I wouldn't bet on it personally because it resembles trolling to me, but can't rule it out yet. It's an interesting experiment; I just hope us lab-rats survive it all.

  38. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I don't know if your descriptions are accurate, but the people you describe make up a majority of the public. We need an economic system that accounts for that and seeks better outcomes instead of maximum profit.

  39. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Paying a "I bit more" is an understatement. We might be able to make our 'own shit' but it would mean major automation of manufacturing to keep the same price point otherwise the standard of living in the US will drop. Not against automation, but it would take time.

  40. easy with the words. by gDLL · · Score: 2

    You don't know what the word "authoritarian" really means (in a political context). Trump is gentleman compared to a real authoritarian.

    If you keep calling everyone a "nazi" or "authoritarian" then everybody will get the idea that nazis and authoritarians were not that bad really.

    Btw you will know what authoritarian means when the state starts confiscating succesfull businesses and politicians/journalists get some exotic poison or just plain old get killed in their elevator.


    And also, quite true about Trump being accidental environmentalist :).

    1. Re:easy with the words. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Except that the US is bad by (developed, democratic) world standards. We jail 1% of our population. We retain the barbaric death penalty. We jail people for things like UNPAID PARKING TICKETS instead of sending them to civil collections. Apparently, you can't even have a beer on a beach without being harassed by cops, in some states.

      The US is authoritarianism disguised as democracy. They tell us the laws are for our own good.

      And a large proportion of Americans like it that way. Respect the cops! They're heroes! Respect the flag! People died for it! You're lucky to be here! Love it or leave it!

    2. Re:easy with the words. by meta-monkey · · Score: 1

      That doesn't have anything to do with Trump, though. We were still jailing 1% of our population when Obama was president, too.

      --
      We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
    3. Re:easy with the words. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump is a symptom.

      The people who accuse Obama of fostering riots and anarchy are the same symptom when a democrat is in office.
      Everyone would like to see a boot on someone's face but unless you're rich or powerful right now then you're most likely going to be the face and not the boot no matter who you voted for.

    4. Re:easy with the words. by gDLL · · Score: 1

      Except that the US is bad by (developed, democratic) world standards.

      No it isn't.

      The US is authoritarianism disguised as democracy.

      Again, you don't get what the word means. NO it isn't, not even close by 100 kilometers. When you will see it you will know.

      If i'd have to choose between overzelous crazy policemen and corrupt policemen/justice (like we have here), you can guess which of the two evils i would go for. Just go and stay a while in some nondemocratic place and then we talk :).

  41. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    there's the folks who want to keep economic and physical resources on hand and maintain and develop manufacturing capability to ensure self sufficiency.

    That's not quality-of-life; that's your local economics market. Back before manufacturing was big, America had this huge dialogue about how evil manufacturing was encroaching on the good American way of life where 90% of the workforce was in agriculture.

    Quality-of-life is how people live, not how your nation's means of production are composed. It's about the people. It's about being able to eat, about being secure and not becoming homeless, and about having access to hygiene and medical care and social mobility.

    On one side, what happens if international trade goes to hell?

    Your nation has already fallen.

    If we lose stable electricity for a day or two, our entire logistics system falls apart. We rely so much on communications and on shipping from town to town--much less across the states or to other nations--that we can't even keep stores stocked without trucks showing up every single day. After five days of high-speed communications being down across the nation, this nation isn't recovering; it's already over, the Constitution is no longer and shall never again be in force, and there is no capacity to maintain order and domestic tranquility.

    Trade with other nations is a mechanism of stability. It gives us allies who are vested in helping us stay in one piece, and severely reduces the likelihood of war because neither side could sustain it.

    why live like a Great Depression survivor when that crisis may never come?

    In which case your isolationist nation is getting invaded by someone with the military prowess of Canada.

    As with most things, the most successful strategy is probably a middle ground between the two extremes.

    That assumes either side is an extreme, rather than that we're simply not leveraging mechanisms we should use. Holding your breath every 60 seconds could be said to be a middle-ground between breathing and not breathing when faced with, for example, air pollution.

  42. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

    No you don't. Productivity is the amount produced per person (or per working-hour, depending on context). Population growth to carry capacity is unchanging productivity; population growth stops at carry capacity because productivity decreases when you exceed your maximum technological production rate and start pulling excess labor per unit produced.

  43. Re:Trump by alvinrod · · Score: 1

    The tradeoff from living cheaply won't be hoarding of money or stuff, it will be the ability to have a one-parent, 40 hour a week working family. Trading free time for stuff that doesn't enrich your life anyway.

    I don't think that even the economic ability to have a single-parent, 40-hour work-week family means it is a good idea. If you look at the statistics, children coming from single parent homes are over-represented in just about every category for negative life outcomes whether it's crime, suicide, teen pregnancy, drug use, etc. The economic growth that we've seen has allowed us to support this without collapsing in on ourselves, but it's not a good thing. All of the labor being devoted to dealing with those issues could be redirected to enriching our lives in other ways.

  44. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    I didn't say anything about single parents.

    I was talking about two parent families with one working parent and one stay-at-home parent. Or two parents working short enough hours to be able to spend time with their children.

  45. Re:Trump by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

    Things will be more expensive, but there will be more jobs

    No. There will not be "more jobs". Look, protectionism isn't a "new" idea. It has been tried over and over throughout history. In fact, it has been more the norm than the exception. It hurts the economies of both importers and exporters, and leads to job losses and lower living standards.

  46. Trump administration blocking WTO judge appointmen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Per NPR, the Trump Administration is blocking appointment of judges at the WTO. The WTO's 7-judge panel is down to 4 members, 2 more are leaving, and the panel can't meet its minimum to hear appeals of WTO decisions.

    Transcript:
    GONZALEZ: OK, but there's one thing I want to get in here. Yes, the U.S. is making things difficult for the WTO. They're screaming at the referees on the soccer field. But the U.S. is still on the field. They are still playing against other countries.

    AZEVEDO: The United States itself is bringing disputes to the system even under this administration. So why bring a dispute to the system if you don't want to observe the system or if you don't want the system at all?

    GONZALEZ: So you're saying under the Trump administration the United States is coming to the WTO and making claims against other countries?

    AZEVEDO: I'm not saying that. That is a fact.

    SMITH: I feel like the United States is saying, WTO, can't live with it, can't crush your trade opponents without it.

  47. Did he forget we don't have the infrastructure? by ErichTheRed · · Score: 1

    Outside of military equipment, big-ticket specialty/precision items, airplanes and cars, the US doesn't manufacture many consumer goods anymore, especially tech goods. Unless his next announcement is a nationalization of what little manufacturing infrastructure we have left and a shift to something like war production to force the electronics industry to come back, I don't think the President is thinking this through.

    Even if factory work came down to minimum wage, it would still be too expensive to compete with China and other countries. Companies would rather go out of business than open factories domestically. It's a nice idea, and I would love to see factory work as an alternative to shoveling everyone into higher education. But, it would have to be way more than a 25% tariff to get anything to change.

    If we actually could accomplish this I would like to see it. Factory workers of a previous generation were able to have good careers and provide for their families. Now, unless you're in the technology sector you're going to end up automated out of a job, and most of the tech jobs are headed that way too.

    1. Re:Did he forget we don't have the infrastructure? by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      actually, you are wrong on many accounts. We DO a lot of consumer good manufacturing. And with electronics, S. Korea, Japan, and Europe all do a lot.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    2. Re:Did he forget we don't have the infrastructure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL so why the hundreds of billions of dollar trade deficit with China, and also the rest of the world?

  48. THIS! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1
    Republicans are all about the free market except when they want to destroy it.

    Quick quiz - Who was the president that put in wage and price controls?

    https://www.cato.org/publicati...

    That's right, Another fine honest Republican, the honorable Richard Nixon.

    On Aug. 15, 1971, in a nationally televised address, Nixon announced, “I am today ordering a freeze on all prices and wages throughout the United States.”

    Wow...... Wage and price freezes. Hey - how'd that work out? Probably as good as what will hapen with the tarriffs on Chinese tech, and then the US working to make certain that the jobs of the Cell phone mfgr we kicked out are saved.

    Funny how the Demoncrats are called the party of socialism, when the Republicans actually implement it.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  49. Re:Trump by llamalad · · Score: 1

    You make some very good points there. Good food for thought.

    Can you phrase some of your ideas as positives (do X, Y, and Z) instead of negatives (this means you've failed, it's already over, X isn't Y).

    What mechanisms should we leverage that we're ignoring or underutilizing?

  50. It's negotiating over NK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's negotiating leverage with North Korea, which is controlled by China as a proxy. He talked about this during the campaign, but everyone "forgot" I guess.

  51. Re:Trump by ErichTheRed · · Score: 2

    I think this was more about having the ability to have one parent work and the other stay home.

    This is a problem because if gets wrapped up in so much religious conservatism/nostalgia for the 50s where a woman's place is in the home. Why couldn't it be both parents having to work less overall so they had more time to actually raise their kids?

    Kids from two-parent homes do end up doing better, but they do way better when both parents actually have time to spend with them. If both parents could work a flexible 25 hour work week instead of the old-school "Your butt must be in the seat from 8:30 to 5 every weekday" then things would be better.

    I live in a reasonably affluent area and we have a mix of families -- ours and many others are 2-income FTE families, in some cases one parent is a doctor or lawyer and just has the spouse do all the childcare, and in others you have two total workaholic parents with high-pressure jobs. That third group has similar problems to the single-parent kids because even though they have tons of money, the parents don't have time to spend raising the kids or are too exhausted to do anything when they get home.

  52. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You probably also think economic brinkmanship is useless.

  53. Re:Trump by BlueStrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Look, protectionism isn't a "new" idea. It has been tried over and over throughout history. In fact, it has been more the norm than the exception. It hurts the economies of both importers and exporters, and leads to job losses and lower living standards.

    Tell that to the Chinese as they've been using protectionist policies against the US for decades and engaging in tactics like flooding Western markets with super-cheap goods by "dumping" products at artificially-low prices subsidized by the Chinese government at a loss with the sole purpose of destroying US industrial and commercial sectors.

    The Chinese have in effect been waging a trade and economic war against the US for decades. This response is long overdue and relatively mild in comparison.

    Strat

    --
    Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  54. Re:Trump by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 0

    I'd rather join Planned Parenthood and help your daughter get her tubes tied ;)

  55. Though this be madness, yet there be method in it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why are you confused? He pretty much explained how all this works in Art of the Deal. And regarding NK specifically, he laid out his strategy during the campaign. Now he's executing that strategy and the media is confused. Well, some of the media probably knows, but this is a convenient time to attack him and he's using that against them. They either give up attacking, which they refuse to do, or they talk up all the confusion and end up helping him. He is pretty good at defining people's choices for them.

    Trump tends to flip the table and then come out ahead in the scramble while everyone else is confused. People think he's an idiot, then they lose to him. This freaks a lot of people out and sometimes he can play it as 3D chess or whatever while other people think he was "lucky" for the 100th time.

  56. Tell him you're not paying sticker (sucker) price by raymorris · · Score: 2

    Trump didn't insult Xi Jinping's mother. What he said is that he's not going to let us be screwed over by unfair trade practices. I don't think the car dealer salesman is necessary, but if one insists in that analogy it would be more like letting the salesman know that unlike the last guy, you don't intend to lay sticker price.

    What the timing does is it frames the negotiation, allowing US negotiators to "give" something to China during the negotiations, to relent on something, by easing the tariffs and restrictions. We can give them something they want, and get something in return, simply by going back to the same policy we had last month! :)

    Now the *starting point* of the negotiations is that China wants something from us - easing that policy. Otherwise, the starting point was we wanted something from China - their help pressuring North Korea. In a negotiation, it's always better to be on the side being asked for something, rather than be the one asking for something.

  57. Re:Tell him you're not paying sticker (sucker) pri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When your opening move is aggressive, it encourages aggression in return. If your first words to me are "I'm not gonna let you rip me off like the last guy" I'm immediately thinking, "Oh yeah, we'll see about that."

  58. Re:Though this be madness, yet there be method in by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Why are you confused? He pretty much explained how all this works in Art of the Deal. And regarding NK specifically, he laid out his strategy during the campaign. Now he's executing that strategy and the media is confused...

    Sorry, but he was vague on details. I agree the US has been screwed on trade, but fixing it without triggering trade wars is not easy. T never laid out specific strategies, scenarios, and examples of how to do that. Or anything for that matter. Those who worked with him in business say he has an ad-hoc shoot-from-the-hip style. Perhaps it works, perhaps it doesn't, or works in some circumstances but others. Regardless, he's never written or described anything that can be turned into a relatively clear deal-making algorithm. Yes, he can be tenacious, but often to his own detriment, according to some real-estate analysts. His successes can often be traced to his self-promotion abilities and sometimes charisma, rather than shrewd decisions themselves.

    And his Art-of-the-Deal ghost writer admitted much of the book is fluff.

    By the way, "temporarily exemptions" should have been "temporary exemptions" in my message.

  59. Re:Trump by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

    Simple, enact policies to keep population static domestically. Invest heavily in economic development programs abroad that encourage and provide birth control as well. Earth is overloaded as it is. Perpetual growth is an illness, not the solution.

    Investing in a wall would do the most to keep the population static domestically. Without immigration the US population is slightly dropping over time. Mass immigration is the ultimate example of socializing the losses as our schools, infrastructure, and cost of housing all work against the 99%.

  60. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

    Sometimes, I really just like to point out that a question was in similar vein to "what if your stomach ruptured? You still need a way to get nutrition into your body." A nutrient IV might do that; however, if your stomach ruptured, you'd be dead.

    In Nordic nations, they use collective risk sharing--generally social insurances like unemployment and disability insurance--to handle structural change.

    Basically, you get wealthier by improving technology or trade, which means you expend fewer resources (ultimately, labor) in total to achieve the same ends (that's basically what economics is: people economize, which means they try to expend the least means for the most ends). This brings structural change: you need fewer workers somewhere, so you shift around the position of your employments (a factory town might collapse here or there; people lose their jobs, other people gain jobs, and you end up net-even on jobs before population growth).

    Structural change has winners and losers; typically, you're looking at less than 0.1% of your workforce being the losers--if you lose 50,000 jobs in a particular exchange, that's 0.03% in America, and the secondary impacts might bring it up to 0.1%. So 99.9% of your consumer base is better off, and they're better off by so much that the winners can compensate the losers and still be way ahead. That's collective risk sharing.

    In Norway, they've taken this so far as to have a fund preparing for the eventual global decline of oil demand. Norway is a big oil exporter, and renewable energy is the future. It makes sense, then, for workers and corporations to pay into a sort of fund that will then allow the government to manipulate the structural change and rebuild Norway's economy so as to restore order and protect the losers in this exchange when it comes. In theory, you'd want to diversify your holdings in some manner immune to national collapse, such as by holding a debt portfolio spread between various nations and thus being protected against a global recession that more-heavily impacts some than others (see: Greece, Italy, Spain).

    I've suggested a sort of Universal Dividend in the United States, largely because you can build one under 2016 tax laws without creating new deficits, cutting services, or increasing tax burdens. It's a strange and complex shuffle: I restructured Social Security on top of the Dividend (retirement and disability bridge the gap between the Dividend and their payments as would otherwise be obligated under current rules), and the taxes are offset by the Dividend in theory as a rolling tax refund (pays twice-monthly, so a slightly-higher tax rate as you go through the middle classes turns into a slightly-lower tax rate when you count the Dividend as a tax refund).

    The funding structure for this Dividend is a separate FICA tax on all personal and corporate income. It's 1/8 (12.5%), and in 2016 would have paid every adult in the United States a total of $6,700 in twice-monthly payments of $280. That has the largest proportional impact on the poorest, and has a large localized impact in areas of concentrated poverty: an increase in consumer spending creates a need for labor to keep up, or else your stores simply can't stock and sell goods fast enough. That's essentially similar to Keynesian Stimulus, like the one Barack Obama used to stop the 2008 Great Recession (remember getting a $300 check in the mail?), but always on.

    This type of direct-cash risk share is similar to both a social insurance and a universal basic income. Every time productivity increases, the Dividend increases in the same proportion--it's profit sharing (= dividend) of the whole of wealth creation. Because of the localized-poverty concentration effect above, it provides interesting protection--more as more is needed--against things like automation (technology), outsourcing (trade), and immigrant labor (also trade, but they spend their income here). It does this, of course, by sharing the benefits of those things.

  61. Re:Trump by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    My grandparents were in the second world war (like within range of a He111) and my parents were born just after. Even though rationing ended before I was born, I was brought up as if "make do and mend" was the eleventh commandment. Eleventh and twelfth, maybe.

    I'll come in again.

    Try telling that to kids[1] today, the vacuous, whiny, materialistic little shits.

    [1] Which is anyone under 30.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  62. Re:"a move to balance the criticism that he was so by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seriously, though, T is confusing and confounding other nations because of his flip-flops, surprise "temporarily exemptions", vagueness, etc. Today's proclamations maybe be irrelevant tomorrow via a new Tweet. Most world leaders are relatively careful, systematic planners and don't know what to make of his style.

    I'm not going to even say T's unpredictable style "doesn't work"; for it's too early to judge. I'm merely saying that it's baffling the h$ll out of world leaders and negotiators.

    Maybe there is a method to his madness. I wouldn't bet on it personally because it resembles trolling to me, but can't rule it out yet. It's an interesting experiment; I just hope us lab-rats survive it all.

    It's confounding only because most business negotiations are done in secret. When it leaks out it makes a lot of sense.

    Trump has done a few things differently than most presidents. First, he's refused to divest himself of his businesses - usually a president puts their business in a trust so any decisions they may won't have potential conflict of interest.

    It's why Russia is a big deal - it's one of the few countries where his businesses have done really, really, really well.

    Or why ZTE suddenly deserves a lot of support (China dumps a half billion into a Trump hotel).

    Next thing you know, Mexico will build a Trump hotel and it'll be "wall? what wall?" or if Mexico wants to build stuff using American equipment, "NAFTA GOOD!"

    The problem is, these negotiations are done in private and under the privy of no one, so what looks erratic really turns out to be negotiation tactics to get a better deal.

    Trump bends the way the dollars flow.

  63. Chinduino by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't mess with the Chinduinos Trump-O

  64. Stagnation [Re:No suprise] by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Just imagining it makes sense -- conservatives generally want to embrace tradition and liberals want to change the world to make it a better place. Somewhere in the middle is good for society--too much change is chaos, and too little is stagnation.

    Some argue stagnation may be a good thing. Some highly religious groups battle "the modern world" because they think we are diving face first into chaos and (perceived) moral decadence.

    There is no absolute "law" of the science or the universe that says technical progress is a "good thing". Science can only make predictions at best, not give value judgments. It has no feelings.

    Sure, we have more medicines, but also more people to feed, perhaps stretching our farms to a risky no-margin-for-error limit. Doomsday scenarios are endless. I'm not giving a preference here, only saying a case can be made.

    1. Re:Stagnation [Re:No suprise] by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Oblig. car analogy: Cars have both a gas pedal and a brake pedal. Without one you don't get anywhere, without the other you get there dead.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    2. Re:Stagnation [Re:No suprise] by Lothsahn · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Science and the laws of nature are amoral and don't make such value judgements.

      Let's look at American political history:
      Most of us would agree that slavery and civil wars are both bad. In the 1800s, conservatives wanted their values and traditions (which avoids societal collapse), while liberals wanted to free the slaves as quickly as possible. The ideal would be to free the slaves without unrest, but societal constraints meant that these two goals were at odds with each other. As it were, we ended up freeing the slaves, but over 1.6 million Americans died.

      The actual value judgements are left to the reader. Most would argue that war & death is bad, but there's no absolute "law" of science the says so. Most would argue that slavery is bad, but again, no absolute "law" of the science or universe says so. That's because science is amoral.

      However, most people agree on basic ethics--war, suffering, slavery, anarchy, and death is bad while progress towards shared societal goals is good. If you have those value judgements, you'll want to avoid societal collapse AND stagnation. In that context, it's essential we find a middle ground between conservatives and liberals.

      --
      -=Lothsahn=-
    3. Re:Stagnation [Re:No suprise] by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      However, most people agree on basic ethics--war, suffering, slavery, anarchy, and death is bad while progress towards shared societal goals is good. If you have those value judgments, you'll want to avoid societal collapse AND stagnation.

      I don't see how that automatically dismisses "stagnation". Call it "equilibrium" instead; sounds better. Cavemen couldn't trigger Armageddon.

      Again, I'm not proposing that as policy, only saying that science or logic doesn't automatically lead to "equilibrium" being bad/wrong, even with your added assumptions/goals as givens.

  65. give me a break by WindBourne · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This remains a joke. Trump restored ZTE because China gave Ivanka a trademark that she wanted. There has NEVER been such a corrupt president in office as trump. If he wants to be fair, he will put the same tariffs/vats on CHinese goods that they put on western goods. Likewise, he would require that all factories with chinese owners to have 50.1% American ownership. In addition, no more deals will be allowed in china for moving manufacturing over there. IOW, when we develop a product here, it will not be allowed to be manufactured in CHina, or for that matter, for ownership to be transfered to any chinese company.
    Not sure how to deal with their subsidies, dumping, and manipulation, but even this would be a good start.
    Then allow China to deal with it as they see fit. If CHina removes an items, so do we.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    1. Re:give me a break by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Trump restored ZTE because China gave Ivanka a trademark that she wanted.

      Hey, he's a better negotiator than that. He waited for China's 500MM dollar check to clear (to Trump Org.).

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    2. Re:give me a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What a clueless idiot you are.
      You post is full of lies, can you really be that wrong accidentally?

    3. Re:give me a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can start a business in China without partnering with a local except for certain sensitive fields.
      Maybe you have heard of this little company called Foxconn, well they have factories in China. (You're not one of those crazies who think Taiwan is China are you...) I fully expect you to buy into the fake news that you can't though

      You seem to also want to foolishly restrict Chinese investment in the US. Why? Do you hate local jobs or something?

      Why don't you want your companies to be competitive? Don't you like profits either?

      Looks like you are 'not sure' about almost everything in your post.

      I suggest a little bit of research next time so you don't look so foolish.

    4. Re:give me a break by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

      Build that tariff wall, Make America Expensive Again !

  66. Economic growth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tumors are also a form of growth.

  67. Re:Trump by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

    What's wrong with having 4 kids by 5 baby daddy's. Some people want no kids some want 37. It's their choice to have the kids. I see nothing wrong with that so long as they can support them on their own.

  68. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Certainly China has taken effort to build their industry, but it's actually the opposite of protectionism, they've been rigorously seeking outside investment and development to fund their "growth" but it's a bit more hollow a victory than you might imagine.

    In reality, the Chinese have been victimized by their own efforts to sell-out to American (and other interests), by becoming dependent on having somebody to buy their factory products and even injuring themselves by all the pollution that developed.

  69. I'm getting dizzy... by 14erCleaner · · Score: 1

    Are we cooperating with China this week, or fighting them? How about North Korea? Is there anybody in the administration with a plan?

    --
    Have you read my blog lately?
  70. Re:Trump by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    Simple, enact policies to keep population static domestically.

    It's anything but simple. If you curb births, you end up with a population tilted toward aged non-working citizens. These people are expensive because of their healthcare, generally don't buy a lot of things because they are on fixed incomes, do not contribute to the work force, and pay little taxes because of it. If you don't have a healthy population of younger taxpayers the system falls apart.

  71. No problem by PPH · · Score: 1

    We'll just switch to the Russian-made routers.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  72. Re:Trump by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    I'm a pirate, you insensitive clod

  73. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spoken like a true Goldman Sachs bankster.

    They will not sto p until their Host Nation is dead and stuffed.

  74. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The older Elite fucks worship money. Thats even more nasty.

  75. Re:Trump by llamalad · · Score: 1

    If I were in Maryland I'd vote for you.

  76. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are lying. To sell cars in China you are forced to set up local factories. And have a Chinese partner controlling the factory.

    But they can dump their wares into Europe and the US unchallenged.

    I bet they bribe Goldman Sachs to keep this running.

  77. Re: Oh lord, here come the libtards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Meh, your Saudi friends and paymasters are much more evil than the chicoms.

    Rotten Anglo pseudo morals.

  78. Leveraging Insanity? by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    Here's an example of T's "negotiation" style. When he formed Trump Airlines, a dispute arose with a competitor airline. When T didn't like their proposed compromise, he started bad-mouthing their safety record, using arguably questionable statistics.

    Normally the airlines don't advertise based on safety records because it hurts the entire industry by spooking customers. It's like reminding grocery shoppers what's in hot-dogs. Sales of all brands would take a hit.

    So the other airline looked at T's real-estate record, and realized he picks nasty fights that appear to have dragged both parties down. If you don't share your soup on his terms, he'll piss in the pot and nobody gets any. Therefore, the competitor airline acquiesced to some degree. (Their actual reasoning was not made public, but it appears that's what happened based on the terms.)

    Whether that technique scales to international deals is another matter. You may win a "battle" or two, but lose lots of longer-term goodwill such that it may not be a net beneficial strategy. Then again, long-term benefits may not be his goal.

    1. Re:Leveraging Insanity? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was pretty clear that he was going to go after China on trade to get concessions from NK. I think I also described why specifics don't make sense for his style. You won't get a decent deal unless you're willing to walk. Yes, the books call it different things, BATNA or whatnot, but the basic idea is that someone has to give you something worth more to you than walking away from the deal.

      As for international politics, it's funny that you think that goodwill matters much with those stakes, as if all the sides aren't negotiating as hard as they can and we have to go easy on them. But let's suppose it was, that it would only go one way and it doesn't matter if the other side has any goodwill with us. Yes, let's run a trade war for decades, never get called on it, and then when we do, we have to be worried they might be unhappy for being called out? That... I can't even fathom that.

  79. Re:Trump by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

    If I were a better fundraiser, I'd probably be sitting on an easy win. ;) People seem to know who I am wherever I go, though, which is uh. Interesting. Now the question is do voters know who I am?

    I might start a lobbying organization and publish a policy handbook whether I win or lose. It may contain some radical ideas.

    If you like reading economics lit, I'm pulling in data from the Nordic model among other places. There's another book on the same topic. I don't always agree with their conclusions, and sometimes they don't make conclusions (e.g. they point out that indefinite unemployment insurance is easy to game and that people stay on it not-as-long when it's limited to 2 years, and also point out that this doesn't necessarily mean more employment because these people may be trading into jobs other people were getting and so the unemployment rate can stay the same either way--a deficiency I've commented on in our 6-month system here: it relies on people floating in and out, not on reducing actual unemployment).

  80. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hear hear

  81. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are lying. To sell cars in China you are forced to set up local factories. And have a Chinese partner controlling the factory.

    Lying about what? You just gave a textbook example of how China rigorously sought outside partners to fund their development.

    But they can dump their wares into Europe and the US unchallenged.

    You mean "The goods are eagerly sought by marketing staff because they're cheaper" don't you?

    I bet they bribe Goldman Sachs to keep this running.

    They already have. It's part of the game.

  82. Trump Doesn't Understand Trade Deficits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have a trade deficit with my mortgage company. And my power/water companies, and the grocery store down the block.

    I give them money and I never get any from them.

    But wait! What's this? I have a house to live in, power/water I used, and groceries that I've consumed.

    So a big trade imbalance isn't the terrible problem Trump makes it out to be (because it makes his supporters feel like their problems are caused by China).

    I'm not saying China plays fair, or that any other country including the USA plays fair in trade, I'm just pointing out that the money isn't actually gone, we have the stuff we bought from China.

    The focus needs to be on the jobs imbalance, something Trump cannot solve because it would be scary old socialism

    1. Re:Trump Doesn't Understand Trade Deficits by Cederic · · Score: 1

      I give them money and I never get any from them.

      When you run out of money you're fucked.

  83. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah and companies that did partner, are making huge amounts of profit. GM would have already gone out of business by now, if not for its partnership in China.

  84. Re:Trump by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

    hmmmm, I think he's an ass, but I think he's right about this one. China has been subsiding solar cells and steel. Much the same way that America's "farm bill" subsidized corn and various crops. It makes those products cheaper and more competitive abroad. We can buy food CHEAP. We do that to protect our breadbasket as it's not the sort of thing a nation wants to do without. Likewise, people in China can build things out of steel girders for cheap.

    The.... targeted dumping and presumed intentions may or may not be true... Someone in some meeting probably had that intent, so sure. But it really is protectionism.

    But where's the money coming from? We protect our farmers. China protects their steel industry. Who pays for that? America, it's the tax payers. In China, I'd argue it is (or at least was) more due to the suppressed currency. The Chinese people have artificially low wages (relative to the rest of the world) because they pegged their currency to the US dollar. And that's on top of that whole "crazy bad" levels of pollution. That tactic made China competitive and they kinda took a majority market share of global manufacturing. So China has experienced explosive growth, and all in all it's worked out. But I think the next generation isn't all giddy from being elevated from starving paddy-farming peasants and expects to be middle class. They're becoming consumers.

    With a (more) centralized state-run economy, China has had a much more focused strategy than the US. Like I said it's worked well. And while they're dependent on having global customers... we're also dependent on them buying US bonds to fund our government... And hell, if all those freighters shut down this year, we'd be FUCKED trying to spin up a manufacturing sector. It's like a decade-long process.

  85. It was her turn ! by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

    It was her turn !

    Trumps base is people just like you, who think tariffs will solve all your problems.

  86. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the past 30 years, US companies got most of the trade profit, Chinese workers could only work hard in bloody and sweaty factory. Now China is blamed for purpose of destroying US industrial and commercial sectors, will US workers work in those bloody factory 12 hours a day to produce cheap unprofitable goods?

  87. What's that smell, did you step in bulshit again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you making shit up again Windy? Show us why you think this is true.

  88. tricks for more negotication profits with China. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    US gov always changes its words, no surprise.

  89. Re:Trump sick of winning yet? by CaffeinatedBacon · · Score: 1

    So you think only China makes cheap electronics / disposable crap you buy? And you think a tax aimed at just China won't have Americans just buy their cheap junk from the next country on the list? You're even less bright than before.

  90. Re:Trump by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    Things being more expensive may mean more expensive exports and fewer jobs. Or more automation and no more jobs. It's a complex web of feedbacks and simplistic will not do.

  91. Which way will Slashdot swing...? by ComputersKai · · Score: 1

    On one hand China hates women, so they must be good. On the other hand, "muh trade war". Aagh, why do things have to be so complicated!?!

    obligatory /sarcasm

  92. Re: Trump by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    The danger is it looks like an internal power struggle.

  93. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are a French surrender monkey working for Goldman Sucks, eh?

  94. Re: Oh lord, here come the retards by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You stupid cynics will do your crazy thing until something really bad happens to you. Then you will lament that nobody knew why should bad things could happen.

    Patriots meanwhile analyze and fix real problems, before they get out of control. Irrespective if some bankster-furnished ideology.

  95. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Uhh GM did go out of business

  96. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This model has broken down due to emancipation. Since women stated working you can no longer support whole family from just one parent's income, the wages are half if what they used to be so both parents need to work

  97. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Freetrade only works if it is actually free.

  98. Re: Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or tank the economy so people won't have anything to come for. Or have a sane immigration policy where you can tax them and not provide all the benefits. A carrot works better than a stick.

  99. Re:Trump by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Automation is happening equally everywhere no matter what happens. It's still better to have a factory here with 10 non-automatable jobs then to have it in China with any number of jobs, provided cities don't give up so much to have a company there they fail to reap any net benefits for it *cough*Amazon*cough*.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  100. Re:Trump by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    The payroll taxes and economic stimulus of a dozen jobs are neither here nor there. Other stimulus would depend on parts suppliers, and taxes so on, compared to tax incentives or environmental effects. Net benefit is likely, but not a given.

  101. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And those of us with an IQ above room temperature know that building a wall won't stop even one single person from crossing it, since almost all illegal immigration is via overstayed visas. However, it might stop people from crossing BACK over, which is the direction they've been taking for the past couple years, so your plan will ultimately end up with a bunch of illegal immigrants stuck here waiting to be sold into child sex slavery.

    Please learn to think.

  102. Re:Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Same here. I truly hope you win!

  103. Re:"a move to balance the criticism that he was so by eionmac · · Score: 1

    The leader of Venice [The Doge ] was NEVER allowed to negotiate with any foreigner except when observers from the 'local parliament' were present. No foreign negotiations by leader in private! They knew how to avoid some problems.

    --
    Regards Eion MacDonald
  104. Re:Trump by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Agreed, which is what I mean about Amazon. Cities fall over themselves to host HQ2 but they forget that there should be something in it left for them.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  105. Will this be on top of, or separate by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    from the 3 billion USD gift to Chinese Telecom?

  106. Re:Trump by q_e_t · · Score: 1

    I think you need to work through the range of possible consequences in what is a complex system of feedbacks. Whilst i have a set of principles and hopes for outcomes (e.g. Individual liberty and personal fulfillment on small and large scales) , I believe that reducing things to simplistic slogans is unlikely to result in An evidence-backed answer.

  107. It's not the stuff! by Kludge · · Score: 1

    You missed the point of my statement. The point is not the quality or quantity of stuff that I buy. The point is that buying things does not make you richer. Investing and selling stuff makes you richer. And the US is buying hundreds of billions of dollars worth of stuff from the China every year. And every year the people of China are getting richer, and the people of the United States are now getting poorer.

    1. Re:It's not the stuff! by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      Investing and selling stuff makes you richer

      You can't eat money.

      You are telling me that the capability to buy more stuff makes you richer, but that being able to buy more stuff doesn't make you richer; or that the capability to buy less stuff makes you richer as long as you handwave it right. Do you understand why this is ludicrous?

      every year the people of China are getting richer, and the people of the United States are now getting poorer.

      Every year, the purchasing power per individual American is going up. How is capacity to work the same hours and purchase more "getting poorer"?