Conservative Treehouse: The professional financial class are going bananas at the steel and aluminum tariffs being implemented by the Trump administration. As expected, most of the apoplectic drum-beating is coming from the Wall Street crowd. This same Wall Street crowd conveniently overlooks that last year the EU imposed even HIGHER tariffs on steel and aluminum than the Trump administration is proposing now.
Laughably this group of talking heads is pitching the trade and economic position of Canada and the EU in their talking points. However, the hypocrisy is off the charts.
If you think the professional financial class are over-the-top now, just wait until the administration pulls out of NAFTA. These are the battles that matter. The administration is directly over the target. The multinational corporate crowd, including their corporately owned media, are pushing a fundamentally false set of talking points; their economic dishonesty reflects their desperation. MORE HERE
Mark Levin was having a meltdown about the tariffs yesterday. He put his NeverTrumper hat on and screamed for I’m guessing 3 hours but I turned him off after one.
Screw Levin. He’s deranged.
These so-called free traders never seem to provide analysis as to why there might be sanctions.
Is there dumping?
If yes, what are you going to do but let entire U.S. industries collapse, or impose tariffs.
I don’t like tariffs, but sometimes they make sense.
Seems like a reasonable approach.
Need analysis?
Read a history book about previous Presidents doing this and how it turned out.
I think the wealth of nations is not built on gold or paper, but on steel. Steel is used to build, well, about everything. Nations that have abundant iron ore and coal, and the know-how to make steel, are wealthy. Nations that have one or the other import the raw materials they don’t have in order to make steel. China under Mao wrecked its agricultural base to focus on steel. Many ancient civilizations rose and flourished due to their ability to make first bronze, and then iron – precursors to steel.
I think too many people are too enamored by our paper and electronic economic system. Financial markets are necessary to shift resources to industries that need capital to develop and expand, but ultimately those economies need to be based on tangible things. I think our growing reliance on intangible economic instruments is dangerous and a literal house of paper cards; look at the economic devastation caused by the 2008 mortgage meltdown where, distilled to its essence, too many people borrowed more than they could repay. Google and Facebook have become economic giants although all they produce is information gleaned from data mining for use by people who want to sell products in exchange for funny cat videos. A lot of Wall Street brokers don’t even understand many of the financial products they sell, but they need these financial products to make their own money.
Tariffs can be dangerous things, but countries need to protect its vital industries – including and maybe primarily steel production. If foreign countries are dumping steel in order to dominate the market, I think this is one area the United States should protect its own interests.
US interests should always be first.
We went from an industrial base to a service/information based society. Nearly all we consume is imported at the expense of American industry, expertise, jobs and wealth.
MAGA.
I hope this is not too OT, but here’s an interesting take on Trump from another Conservative website:
Trump has an Achilles heel, he wants to be seen as a politician…..he’s not.
Politicians are the reason things are so f***ked up in this country, Trump has an opportunity to change the way things get done in DC but instead he’s trying to act like a politician and that’s playing right into their hands, sitting down with the enemy and then having the audacity to agree with them is incredibly reckless. Democrats don’t want bi-partisan agreements, they want their demands writ large, not a compromise with a man they detest with every fiber of their being.
If right leaning American voters wanted another feckless politician in the White House Jeb Bush would be President, squishy Republicans are red meat for Democrats because in reality they are all on the same team. They can play good cop bad cop depending what flavor is currently in the White House, it looks like they are fighting for their voters when in reality both sides are figuring out stupid ways to spend taxpayer money and become millionaires themselves with favors to the highest bidder. Trump was elected to put an end to politics as normal, not join in on the fun.
If President Trump can start acting more businessman Trump the opportunity for change is still there, if he insists on wining and dining the other side to prove he can reach across the isle then all is lost, including a 2020 re-election.
I have been pleasantly surprised with what Trump has accomplished in his first year only to have that optimism wiped out with one sit down with Democrats having a “discussion” on gun control. Democrats don’t care about bump stocks, they want all guns and it starts with a Republican President willing to throw them a bone, set the precedent then when another mass shooting occurs, (and it will regardless of restrictive gun laws), they follow the script and go for more guns.
President Trump needs to remember who Republican Candidate Trump was, the fire and brimstone of the campaign needs to be revisited in the White House. Sleeping with the enemy will only prove what the left has been calling him from day one, a crass uneducated buffoon who fooled millions into voting for him.
I hope he figures this out before it’s to late for us and for him.
h/t ANodtotheGods
I’m getting sick and tired of these Globalists reaction to this today. We machine parts for the military and all metal needs to be DFARS compliant. ( Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement). Basically that regulation specifies what countries melt you can buy from.
DFAR countries are Australia
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Egypt
Federal Republic of Germany
France
Greece
Israel
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
This list has not been updated in quite some time. Why’s Turkey on that list?
Some alloys you are hard pressed to find that are American Melt. Heavy Nickel Alloys are really tough. We should do away with this agreement and demand American Melt.
Also ironically Aluminum alloys are exempt. I’ve seen some air craft grade (7075 t6) plate from China that has so many voids and cracks in the plate it looked like swiss cheese. But yet that’s a compliant material to put in a B52.
Vietvet, do you think Trump is trying to be a politician? I think it’s impossible to be the President and not be political, but I think Trump is doing well not to be a politician. I can see where somebody would paint Trump as a politician for the purpose of undermining his efforts, but so far Trump is doing a good job of pissing off the career politicians. GO TRUMP!! MAGA!!
Vietvet, the guy who wrote the article hasn’t read PDJT’s books. He’s not rubbing cheeks with the dems and rinos, he is making them show their cheeks. Love what he’s doing.
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We have lived and breathed steel for 50+ years. We re all over the tariffs . Yes! Wish someone could bring down the unions and eliminate the golden parachutes for brass who screw up companies, but that’s not his job. Plus he needs rank and file behind him. Many are forever dems, but many of them voted for him. I’ll take what I can get to MAGA.
I still have some stainless steel American made kitchen equipment from 50 years ago when we first set up our home. I just cant replace anything of same quality. Most stuff is cr@p. Two years ago two sets of “stainless” steel measuring cups arrived from Amazon. The 1/2 cup measures from BOTH sets were rusted at the point where flat bottom met the vertical. Those units were the top of the pricing so they were not cheapies. i could give more examples.
My 20+ year old Amana mocrowave gave up the ghost last spring. I needed a specific size to fit my cabinet. We had to settle on 2 brands. The first one worked for 2.5 minutes then quit. The other brand is also crap, but it has to do. Yes, the Amana cost 3 times more back then than the piece of of schiff I have now, but I would pay it plus inflation $$ without blinking an eye. We became a throw away populace because of cheaply made products. In some instances those cheaply made products aren’t cheap.
I sew, and long for the beautiful fabrics from our southern mills but most are no longer in business. They probably wont return, but maybe real steel will. I will gladly put an extra $100 bucks into an American made appliance.
@joe6pak: I didn’t write that opinion, I merely copied it and put it here because I thought it was an interesting point the guy made, and one worthy of consideration. I personally don’t view anyone – even Trump – as being incapable of error, and only time will tell if he’s right about Trump wanting to appear to be a politician.
Vietvet, that’s the way I took it, in fact I made an effort to not sound accusatory toward you in my comment.
We love Wilbur. What he did to save a the local steel mill was great. Wish it was still under same mgmt.
“If you think the professional financial class are over-the-top now, just wait until the administration pulls out of NAFTA…”
If you think the Bushes hate Trump now, just wait until the administration pulls out of NAFTA.
Plain Jane — I sew, too. But I can no longer make an item of clothing and expect it to look nice for very long because unless I want to spend $14+/yard for good (imported) shirt weight cotton, all this cheap fabric won’t hold up. I remember when good (not best, but good) cotton could be had on sale for 2 bucks a yard. No mills left in America.
And on your pots and pans? Me too. I purchased a full set of Faberware when I was just out of H.S. and they were guaranteed for life (and stamped with a letter/number on each piece) or you could simply send it back and have it replaced. The problem now is Faberware is no longer made in America (now China?) and I wouldn’t want the cheap replacement! This whole thing about America being a Service Economy was a great big lie. We gave away our material independence.
I love Wilbur Ross. I hope he makes through POTUS Trump’s entire term.
AA, “Sew” glad 🙂 to hear from another seamstress and homemaker. I’ve been on this shtick about quality for at least 25 years.
About 5 years ago I pulled out a remnant of beautifully colored, beautiful weave that I made washable drapes for the boys’ room over 30 years ago. I had enough to make an Easter tablecloth that got ooohs and aahs. I drooled at the handling of the fabric.
So, you fabric people. Why in the heck are towels that you buy now, 100% cotton, seem to actually repel water? What the heck is the deal with that. Kitchen towels, you couldn’t dry off a counter if you had to.
Plain Jane — Sorry, this thread raced by today. I would love to see (and feel) your tablecloth! We have a high-end fabric “boutique” in our local community. I’d love to splurge but can’t justify a $100.00 camp shirt — ya know what I mean? All her cottons are from France or some such. But even one of our larger store’s (Pacific Fabrics) prices are high. I blame the quilters for turning sewing into an expensive hobby. 😉 (I know we’ve got a few quilters here)
Joe6pak — If you have dark colored towels it’s because of the saturation of dye in the cotton fibers. Biggest mistake I ever made was buying black towels. For the first couple years it was like trying to dry yourself with a plastic shower curtain. It took like five years worth of washing to make them really absorbent. And white towels, even if they are 100% cotton, it depends on where the cotton comes from. Most household linens are made in China, so who knows where they source their cotton. Since towels are such a major investment anymore, I find a good selection at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Look for Egyptian cotton. Otherwise just keep laundering them until they get soft. Hope that helps.
AA. My mom bought me towels for Christmas a few years ago and I’ve teased her that they actually repel water. She has a good sense of humor, but I didn’t need to say that.
Joe6pac do you use bounce or any other dyer sheets? They are water repellent and will make your towels like visqueen. Get rid of the dryer sheets.
Dark’s cold Whites hot. No reds with whites and you will be good to go.
Freaken pussies. I just shake off like a dawg.
Yeah Brad, I’m a bit of a pussy sometimes. I’ll even have mrs6pak bring me a towel right out of the dryer so I don’t catch a chill. Yeah right….just kidding…..in my dreams.
joe6pak
Dang Joe, that’s how I learned to shake off like a dawg. I ask Mrs. Bad for a towel and she laughed and walked out. With the damn dog.
PS
Mean while she’s got a damn towel heater. I poop you not. She lays her towels over this contraption to heat them up while she showers. Never used it. Never had any towels. Shit.
AA I had to go 125 miles to find sophia knit for a special dress a few years ago. For years I was used to going to a department store 45 minutes away. When they folded, I could find great fabric at Marshal Fields and some shops in Chicago. I wont go into Chicago any more.
I’m reduced to shopping on line. By the time I buy the samples and decide on one or two, my window of sewing time is about closed.
@Bad_Brad (12:11 am): Does your wife make you go outside to shake off?
That’s what my mom always did with our dog.
😉
@joe6pak (at 6:15 pm): I didn’t mean to imply that I thought you were being accusatory – you weren’t – just that it wasn’t my opinion, one way or the other. Personally, I don’t really know what’s going on in POTUS’ mind. But I thought it was an interesting enough viewpoint to share.
@Plain Jane (at 5:58 pm) – Sorry to hear about your microwave. It made me think about the 1984 model Panasonic I have in my kitchen today. It’s got a problem or two – a couple of chips in the glass turntable, and occasionally after using it if you shut the door the wrong way it wants to start back up and you have to stop it – but it still works fine and I don’t have a really good reason to replace it. It’s been a good machine for many years.
(Now that I’ve praised it, it will probably die tomorrow. That’s how things go around my house.)
🙂
I like Stuart Varney and LouDobbs on FBN. I’m getting where I can’t stand Cavuto and his leftward approach.
I remember having an $800 Amana which had 700 watts vs. cheaper brands with 500 watts. Now, you can get a 1200 watt microwave for $100 or less.
First VCR was several hundred dollars .
Same as above with CD and DVD 📀 players.
My first pocket calculator was around $100 ($3 today buys a better one).
First flat screen television was around $1500 (40” 720 p). Got a lot better more compact one for around $300.
We are living in a throwaway era. Most of these devices are not repairable or much cheaper to replace.
However, I still have a set of Wharfedale speakers from 1968 and a Miracord turntable I got in around 1972. Over the years, I’ve upgraded the receiver as I’ve Updated the home theater surround system and moved the old technology unit to drive the original speakers. An old DVD player serves as the CD player, replacing the old Roberta (Akai) reel to reel, which didn’t survive.
Noe I carry an iPhone with all its computer interface and thousands of songs and pictures.
Life goes o.
Vietvet, I hear you. We had a new flooring put in the house except the bedrooms a few months before the Amana went out, All through the remodelling I bragged on the Amana when the carpenters heated uptheir lunches.