Trump’s folly
Proponent’s of Trump’s economic acumen point to the fact that he’s the author of “Making the Deal.” They don’t point out that the book was ghost written and without any input from Trump, according to the author.
Trump’s casual disregard for economic truths is now getting ready to come home. China has proposed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Eastern companies will be led to favor trade with members of the RECP, which specifically excludes the U.S. The U.S. sells $5 billion in goods to Japan. Japan will now seek these goods from China. Great move, Donald! Furthermore, Trump is going to put a 5 to 10 percent tariff on imports, which will further alienate manufacturers from selling their wares to the U.S. The result: higher consumer prices in the U.S. and seriously reduced trade with the East.
But Trump’s bumbling economic moves are not confined to the East. Nearer at home, he has condemned NAFTA and has threatened Japanese manufacturer’s, such as Toyota, for building manufacturing facilities in Mexico. The result: The Japanese Prime Minister recently signed 57 trade deals with Buenos Aires. Canada depends a great deal (no pun) on trade with the U.S. Canada is working on a free trade deal with European countries as well as with South America and several Asian nations.
India is apparently delighted with Trump’s heavy-handed (and ignorant economic moves) since it will stop the brain-train of well-educated, university graduates to the U.S. and keep them at home where they can help grow India’s industries.
Trump’s attacks on free trade generally and trade with China in particular are not only ill-advised, they are stupid. China holds more American debt than any other country. If China wanted to use this debt as an economic weapon, our economy would suffer greatly as our ability to sell bonds and other debt would be seriously handicapped.
Trump’s pledges almost guarantee a severe economic slow down—if not a depression—plus rising consumer prices and a corresponding layoff of
American workers, not a very nice trio of outcomes.
This letter also doesn’t address the complete stupidity of building the Great Wall of China between Mexico and the U.S The U.S. has no way of making Mexico pay for the wall. The American taxpayers will have to pay for this monstrosity of a boondoggle—all, except Trump, who carries real estate losses forward and, therefore, does not have to pay income taxes.
Charles Moton, Lucerne
A costly term
How long will the swan-song last?
In his attempt to create a legacy, President Obama is creating a greater divide than he has done during the last eight years. Never has American seen anything like this.
At least he does not leave the White House broke like the Clintons did. He has homes in Hawaii, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
The Political Insider, March 17, 2016, provides this information;
“While Americans are suffering in the Obama economy, President Barack Obama is seeking to increase the money available to him after he leaves the White House.
The Congressional Research Service reports that for requests for both 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, Obama’s proposed federal budget would expand funding through the Former Presidents Act. In 2017 alone, Obama wants nearly an 18% hike in expenditures… $588,000. That means $3.865,000 in appropriations will be available to spend on former Presidents!
The 2016 proposed budget includes an additional $25,000 increase.”
(Read more: http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/breaking-obama-just-gave-massive-pay-raise/#ixzz4VlPhD63G)
He doesn’t have to worry about hiring a security staff as he signed a bill to give secret service protection to ex-presidents and spouses for life. Even though Hillary did not make it, we continue to pay for the Clinton’s Secret Service.
Do hope everyone sad about the 2016 election smiles when paying their federal taxes knowing they are taking care of the Clintons and Obamas for the rest of their lives.
And, when paying state taxes, Californians can smile knowing Governor Brown has Eric Holder on the state’s payroll at $300,000 and they will also be helping to fund the $25 billion or more a year to care for illegal immigrants in a sanctuary state.
Leona M. Butts, Clearlake Oaks
What does Trump mean?
It is good to hear that Mac agrees that voter fraud is almost non-existent. Even when Trump stated that he would have won the popular vote if millions of fraudulent votes had not been cast. Is this a lie or a false statement or do I not understand what Trump means.
Speaking of what Trump means, if he did not mean what he said about Mexican illegal immigrants, then what did he mean? There was a lot of outrage by the general populace (at least liberals) so I suspect that more people than I did not understand him.
Speaking of translating Trump. While you explain the above to me would you also translate these. Global warming is a hoax by China. Obama’s birth certificate is fake. Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s Mexican heritage presents ‘Absolute conflict’ in presiding over Trump University case. The election was rigged. “That makes me smart” about not paying taxes. “You can do anything… Grab them by the p—.”
And, thank you Mac for agreeing with another of my points. Without government regulations Wells Fargo would still be bilking customers and several more Deepwater Horizons would be ruining the lives of small business owners.
Back to 1789. The Founding Fathers. I don’t recall any health insurance companies back then. Weren’t they using leaches and bloodletting? But let me ask Mac why a colonoscopy only costs $1000 or less in other industrial nations and cost from $5000 to $10,000 in the US? Because the medical industry (including insurance companies) took it from an office visit to a visit in a hospital. I have paid for my health insurance all my life and would not complain about higher taxes to support others who do not have it. So leave the free stuff at home. Mac says the Republicans will give us better health care than the ACA, it will just take some time. How long have the Republicans tried to repeal the ACA? Five years? Six? Still no replacement plan. Will it take them another five year, do you think?
But, I really do want to see the proof that Hillary did not care about Benghazi. So, please Mac, tell me where to find it. Even Trey Gowdy admitted that he could not find the proof.
Kevin Bracken, Kelseyville
