The Tariff Questions?

[jabberwocky]

Yes. There is a very small list of things the Federal Government should be doing. As you can see, by getting involved where they shouldn't, the Federal Government has bloated. "Sticking to the knitting" would be a great idea.

I haven't had a chance to do it yet, but look at the timeline for "Government Departments" starting. Started out following the Constitution; slowly bloated to where it shouldn't have. The list will be my gift to the DOGE.

This is so silly that its hard to believe its an actual argument in good faith. Though it would be completely hilarious if they, like, dismantled social security and stopped infrastructure spending entirely in rural areas (which will never return the money spent in economic activity) and actually followed this to its logical conclusion.

 

[Roamers]

This is so silly that its hard to believe its an actual argument in good faith. Though it would be completely hilarious if they, like, dismantled social security and stopped infrastructure spending entirely in rural areas (which will never return the money spent in economic activity) and actually followed this to its logical conclusion.

Although SS is one of the bigger federal gov't follies, the Federal gov't would need to finish repaying the trust fund, than let payments decrease. Since SS (and Medicare) are self funded, it is different than income tax funded programs.

Obviously states would need to pick up programs that they were responsible for before the federal gov't stuck their nose in. Fed income tax goes down, state taxes increase as needed by each state.

Not really rocket science when one applies logic rather than emotion.

 

[m@Robertson]

Once again, the world's problems turn out to have easy solutions that for some reason have been totally overlooked. All you have to do is go to a forum on the internet... and learn the secrets of the universe.

 

[Roamers]

Once again, the world's problems turn out to have easy solutions that for some reason have been totally overlooked. All you have to do is go to a forum on the internet... and learn the secrets of the universe.

All you have to do is not be a politician trying to figure out how to be reelected! Just think how much better US could be if politicians cared about the country as much as they cared about themselves.

 

[Roamers]

Back on topic.

MSN

"Oxford Economics estimated a 60% China tariff could boost U.S. inflation by 0.7 percentage points, and across-the-board tariffs would boost inflation by 0.3 points. Oxford believes any tariffs would be gradually introduced, but some analysts are worried about a shock effect."

Boo hoo 1% inflation increase with proposed tariffs.

 

[m@Robertson]

All you have to do is not be a politician trying to figure out how to be reelected! Just think how much better US could be if politicians cared about the country as much as they cared about themselves.

We're screwed on that front.

 

[PedalUma]

We're screwed on that front.

We are so screwed on that front with a guy who will say anything to get elected and only cares about himself. Gov has always favored minority groups to lift them up with things such a rural electrification and rural mail delivery. Things that no hedge fund would touch but never-the-less are good for the people of the nation. Economics is a social science just like Geography. Who thinks a policy of pulling the rug out from under the rural agg and construction labor force will favor those living there? Who is going to tear off your old roof, milk the cows, or pick the vegies?

 

[Roamers]

Who thinks a policy of pulling the rug out from under the rural agg and construction labor force will favor those living there? Who is going to tear off your old roof, milk the cows, or pick the vegies?

If they are hiring illegals, the business owners should be penalized. There are more H-2A and B visas available than are used.

There are means to legally bring workers in.

 

[mschwett]

Yes. There is a very small list of things the Federal Government should be doing. As you can see, by getting involved where they shouldn't, the Federal Government has bloated. "Sticking to the knitting" would be a great idea.

I haven't had a chance to do it yet, but look at the timeline for "Government Departments" starting. Started out following the Constitution; slowly bloated to where it shouldn't have. The list will be my gift to the DOGE.

yep, super bloated. significantly less than 40 years ago. 4% of the population. try again, use some facts this time!

 

[Joe Yeti]

have you read"beating guns" by Claiborne and Martin? an interesting take on the "gun" problem,it is obvious that less guns equal less death by gun and the good ol' US leads the world in death by gun per capita.

Not even close; https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/insights-blog/acting-data/gun-violence-united-states-outlier

 

[Roamers]

yep, super bloated. significantly less than 40 years ago. 4% of the population. try again, use some facts this time!


View attachment 186340

Nice new direction, # of people. Pretty sure we've been talking $. Is it possible for fewer people to spend more money? Swing, miss.

Fact: there is federal gov't spending that is not aligned with what the Constitution indicates they are assigned. Regardless of the number of people involved.

 

[Roamers]

elect me as president-first year I will abolish triple a and special battery sizes,make universal USB sizes, bring back glass headlight covers( fun fact when volvo was producing the infamous yellowing opaque head light covers there was a glass

The President of who cares or irrelevant in the big picture.

 

[Roamers]

rural mail delivery

One of the few things mentioned that is actually federal duty.

 

[Roamers]

elect me as president-first year

I'll run against you, first term:

• Immediate hiring freeze
• Seal the borders, enforce current immigration laws to see if they need modification.
• Cut all subsidies 25% each year.
• Announce first 3 Departments that will be eliminated; there is your pool if you need an eemolyee.
• Look at pieces of Departments that are still needed; reassign to different Department. Over a few years, reduce spending that will be disappearing; gives states time to change their tax structure to meet their responsibilities.
• Encourage Congress to implement flat tax. No deductions, no credits. You earned $XX,XXX salary and $X,XXX realized gains employer/bank gives you what is left after withholding your fair share (YY%)
• Handle other stuff that comes up.
• Start campaigning for 2nd term.

 

[mschwett]

Nice new direction, # of people. Pretty sure we've been talking $. Is it possible for fewer people to spend more money? Swing, miss.

Fact: there is federal gov't spending that is not aligned with what the Constitution indicates they are assigned. Regardless of the number of people involved.

the only way so “few” people spend a lot of money is by simply giving it to other people… which is the vast majority of federal spending. the only way you really significantly cut federal spending is by reducing or eliminating medicare, medicaid, social security, and maybe national defense. everyone who has ever seriously tried to attack this problem knows this, and that’s why nobody has made much progress. remember the newt gingrich era attempt to do the same thing?

the answer to the federal government deficit is not abolishing the IRS or laying off half of everyone who collects taxes or fees or makes rules, it’s delaying the onset of social security, reducing medicare and medicaid spending by transitioning to a national single payer system like pretty much every other developed country (and focusing on actual health and preventive care), and raising taxes on those who can afford it. everything else is smoke and mirrors - there simply isn’t enough discretionary spending to matter.

for the record, i don’t disagree that government can be very “inefficient.” but in part that’s because it’s not a business, it’s a social service. it’s a good idea for a federal government to owe money to its people up to a certain point (it creates a mutual benefit for continued existence and stability) but i do agree that it has gotten out of control and needs to be reined back.

 

[DaveMatthews]

again we need "benign" socialism with the overtures of representative republic( we will never have a true democracy too many special interest groups- elect me as president-first year I will abolish triple a and special battery sizes,make universal USB sizes, bring back glass headlight covers( fun fact when volvo was producing the infamous yellowing opaque head light covers there was a glass replacement available) abolish lobbying,do away with pharma commercials,institute UBI,speed up immigration legality,annex Mexico and BC get a hold on runaway gov't reward for failure programs,abolish the do nothing depts.etc.Of course I realize I would be assassinated within 6wks,ah yes stop starting so many wars,

Annex BC?
You'll never take me alive copper!!!
And, methinks you'd be better off the other way around...

 

[Roamers]

medicare and social security

These two are self funded and shouldn't be considered part of the trimable budget. If the self funding isn't improved, benefits should be cut, not supplemented w/ income tax $.

 

[mschwett]

These two are self funded and shouldn't be considered part of the trimable budget. If the self funding isn't improved, benefits should be cut, not supplemented w/ income tax $.

do you think the people who are claiming to cut $2T from the federal budget know this? the ENTIRE discretionary budget (after social security, medicare/medicaid and a few smaller income security programs, pensions) is only $1.7t. half is defense. it’s just so patently stupid for anyone to claim they’re going to cut $2T when there isn’t even $2T in spending outside those “self funded” programs. why would you trust someone who makes claims like that?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

The "self-funding" of Social Security and Medicare are mere accounting tricks and not reflective of objective reality.

When either of these programs take in more tax revenue than their expenses, they purchase T-bills with that surplus. When they have more expenses than revenues, they sell some of those T-bills. The net effect of all that is that all of the tax money is 100 percent fungible.

From a practical standpoint there isn't anywhere you can park the proceeds from such a system than in government debt.

 

[Roamers]

From a practical standpoint there isn't anywhere you can park the proceeds from such a system than in government debt.

I bet my Fidelity guy could offer a solution.