It's Sorta' Like Disneyland...

Or perhaps like Disneyworld, since it has more rides and attractions and entertainment.

I'm talking about 'Murica, folks!  The biggest and best attraction among all the world's 195 countries!  In fact, we make up more than 29.5% of all the world's economic activity.  Nearly a quarter of every dollar (or yen, or DMark, or peso) used to buy or sell in the entire world is us!  And up to now we've permitted the world to walk into "Disneyworld" (America) and enjoy its offerings without paying an entry fee.  How friggin' stupid! 

And that, my Fellow Patriots, has now come to a screeching halt...  

POTUS D. J. Trump decided that America being upside down in international trade to the tune of more than $One Trillion Dollars, each and every year, was almost criminal.  And I agree.  We lost $525,000,000,000 to China in terms of trade equity last year.  That's because China imposes tarrifs upon us.  Tarrifs on wheat, and corn, and other grains, and computer chips, and rare earths, which we must have.  

And perhaps most of all, automobiles.  There are no Cadillacs cruising up and down Shanghai's main street.  Because China charges us a 50% tariff on cars.  And we've chosen to either pay it, and stop trying to sell Caddies.  Neither of which is a good choice.

So Trump decided we should charge other countries a fee to do business here.  And he believes they'll pay it.  Because we're the Biggest Game in the World.  They can't not do whatever we say.  Because their very livelyhood depends on it.  

Can you imagine the peasant uprising if there was nothing to make in those sweatshops?

Nearly everyone said it was a dumb idea.  And that it would cause a recession.  And make the price of everything double.  The Trump-haters were the loudest, and even usually calm Wall Streeters came down on the idea.  But Trump persisted.  He knew that it's the answer to our nearly $40 TRILLION DOLLAR national debt.  He knows that our failure to demand equal trading rules is the reason for our huge debt.  So he issued an E.O. making April 2nd our Day of Liberty.  

Being a Keynesian, I say, Finally.

I happen to be one of the few trained and certified economists around.  That means I possess something that is usually quite worthless.  But in this case I know whereof I speak.  Tariffs are designed to correct inequities in trading arrangements between countries.  And to protect national insterests.  And defend our industries against illegal attempts by foreign countries to endanger our businesses.  Our very first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton used our first tariff to defend our whiskey distillers against the Scots and the Canadians.  Both of which were trying to put our distilleries out of business.  He was successful.  

So I say if Alex used them, Trump can too.

In the four months since Trump pulled the trigger, he's reached new trade deals with more than 40 countries.  Switzerland now pays 39%.  To sell in America, the Swiss cough up nearly 40% of the price of those pricey watches to get to sell them to us.

And South Africa's now at 35%.  Laos is at 40%.  Syria pays 41%.  Canada's at 35%.  Although Trump may bump it up a bit to slap them for advocating for Palestinian statehood.  The dummies.

Iraq's at 35%, too.  The United Kingdom is at 25%, and so is the European Union of 27 countries.  Which is huge, because it's the first time they'll be able to buy our cars.  Before now the "Mehrvertsteur," or Value Added Tax, made a $60,000 American car cost $96,000 in Germany, and France, and Italy.  Etc.  England protects Jaguar and Landrover with excessive import duties.  Another word for tariff.  

Trump smacked Canada with a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel.  To protect U. S. Steel.  A corporation nearly out of business due to foreign predatory pricing.  No more.

They also have agreed to invest $775 Billion Dollars in a fund to be managed by Trump and his people.  To invest in our industries.  And we get to keep 90% of the profits.  Sound pretty good?  I wonder why the "Corporate Media" hasn't told you that?

We are now taking in more than $27.5 Billion Dollars a month in tariff income.  More than $150 Billion so far this year.  Trump is even talking about a direct payment to us Taxpayers from the tariff loot.  Like Alaska has been paying its residents annually from their oil and gas revenues.  Half to pay down the debt, and half back to us Taxpayers.  What's not to like?

I asked those of my readers who don't support Trump or tariffs, or both, to simply buy a pole and some luers and go fishing.  For a few months.  like 6 months.  And then look at the results.  I predicted a record stock market and a bunch of tariff earnings.  No recession, I said.  Countries would have to knuckle under, I said.  And four months in, I was right.

I'll comment again when to get to six months.  The Debbie Downers should be tired of fishing by then...