re: Ackman is off the Trump Train, warns of "self-induced, economic nuclear winter"

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What are the downsides to widespread tariffs?

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They've been well covered on this board. What has not been covered is that all of those negative outcomes have been baked into the cake since well before 2016 when I typed that post above. With or without Donald Trump trouble was inevitable and the last 5 years of economic madness have made those downsides worse. Another 5 years of the same will make them even worse.

The rest of the world is in bad shape too, and our dependence on their output to meet our needs is no longer a viable choice. Neither we nor they can afford it and it will end soon, one way or the other. Trumps actions so far have been to choose the lesser of two evils, bad results now instead of worse results later. Best case is a long hard road of austerity on the way to recovery, which was the point of that 2016 post.

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Cut spending

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You boomers are rioting in the streets over DOGE and making Social Security more efficient

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I don't make these ridiculous subjective comparisons

I want what's best for America(ns), but that isn't a discussion in terms of weight sovereignty of various nations. That's just silly analysis.

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Won't fix it, but it will mean we've produced a greater percentage of what we consume.

At higher prices, hurting GDP which will decrease tax receipts and hurt our deficit. That's not good.

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. It will mean we're less dependent on foreign production.

Irrelevant for the discussion.

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Our economy is already bad

Our economy is not bad. It's by far the #1 economy in the world.

Even if you want to try some Platonic ideal statement, everyone else in the system that we're describing is worse, and we're discussing the interplay of that system, which makes this assertion irrelevant.

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The only reason the dollar isn't weak already is our trading partners are supporting it.

It's not the only reason. Our economy being the best is the largest reason. Our military (and Pax Americana) are the 2nd largest reason.

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Your talking points are economically unsound.

You can't even make truthful statements about the status of the various economic factors in play.

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I don't do what you just did. Your points are Irrelevant for the discussion, silly analysis, and untruthful, and not good. We're not rich or strong.

I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thanks for teaching me the finer points of debate that you've perfected over your long and prolific career as a TD poster. Next I need to learn to use the laughing emoji, to prove how silly your responses are.

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think you're just a shitty communicator.

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Then why are we involved in this ridiculous game?

Cut spending. Then worry about these trade deficits that are not very well understood.

This is the bread and circuses we were warned about.

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Sometimes you and i agree, at least tangentially, and this is one of those times. Cut spending, across the board, end fiscal stimulus, root out corruption and waste, reduce the size and scope of federal, state and local govt. Austerity will ensue and debt, private and public, will be restructured, or defaulted. Banks will fail and be recapitalized on a more sound basis. Lending for consumption will decline, we will build smaller houses/apartments, drive smaller cars, use more public transportation, use less energy. Own less stuff but own it outright through our own production and productivity. Savings and careful personal spending will be in vogue again.

The mirage of US wealth that SlowFloPro keeps peddling will be revealed as just that, a debt fueled mirage. Somewhere along the way, probably even before we default, we will be forced to reduce and balance our foreign trade and become more self-sufficient, without the need for tariffs. It doesn't have to all be done in one presidential term, but starting it now would be doing it on our terms.

Corporations have been doing this forever. They end up smaller, more focused on ROI, more efficient, less dependent on borrowing. Or they wait too long and fold. Governments seem to prefer destroying their currency, but that will be a bonfire, rather than the ice age portrayed above, IMO

Has anyone told Ackman he can go frick himself yet?

quote]What about our children and their children? I happen to give a damn about them[/quote]
Hear hear

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The larger question is why MAGA wants to promote DEM talking points.

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Dude, you promote Democrat talking points on here daily with your TDS. You are aligned with every unhinged Dem/liberal TDSer out there. Pathetic.

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You boomers are rioting in the streets over DOGE and making Social Security more efficient

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Same people you'll see at the next BLM rally.

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The larger question is why MAGA wants to promote DEM talking points

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You literally defend (or at least play devils advocate on their behalf) the most insane leftist policies on here regularly