American Politics

[QUOTE=Canada;3071909][b]Tariffs are working[/b]

Tariffs are not only working to equalize the trade deficits but it is also bringing in hundreds of companies from several countries moving their manufacturing to USA. So far 42 Canadian companies have moved their manufacturing to Canada. Japan and South Korea have moved numerous companies to USA. GDP is increasing monthly and USA has finally evened to trade tariffs with most countries. Most people are smart enough to see this but sometimes their TDS just deteriorates their minds. USA is winning and it's fun to watch. What a difference from the Biden fiasco.[/QUOTE]The A. I. Overviews:

[QUOTE][b]Is manufacturing still losing jobs in the USA? [/b]
+3
[B]Yes, the U.S. manufacturing sector is still losing jobs, despite a surge in factory construction spending and rising output. The industry has faced persistent job declines, with factory employment hitting a six-year low in recent surveys.[/B]

Key facts regarding the decline include:Massive Layoffs: Job cuts at U.S. factories recently reached their highest levels since the 20082009 financial crisis.Historical Context: The U.S. has lost roughly 4.5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000 as production shifted to countries with lower labor costs, such as India, Vietnam, and Mexico.Key Drivers: Economists point to a mix of heavy automation on the factory floor, high operating costs, [b]and lingering uncertainties caused by global trade policies and tariffs.[/b]The Construction Paradox: While investment in building new manufacturing facilities (especially for electronics and semiconductors) has skyrocketed, these are[b] temporary construction jobs. [/b]The resulting automated, high-tech factories require significantly fewer permanent workers to operate once built.If you want to understand this trend better, let me know:Which specific industries you are most interested in (e.g., autos, semiconductors, aerospace).Whether you want to focus on national policy impacts or regional labor trends.U.S. manufacturers are still shedding thousands of jobs, as workers ask White ...Mar 6, 2569 BE In the meantime,[b] employment data shows American manufacturers are continuing to cut jobs, with the U.S. shedding 83,000 manufacturing jobs during Mr. Trump's fi...CBS NewsFactory job cuts in June neared financial crisis and Covid levels, S&P says - CNBCJun 23, 2569 BE Job cuts at U.S. factories ran near their highest levels since the end of the global financial crisis in 2009 and the Covid-19 pandemic as worries grew over glo...[/b][/QUOTE][QUOTE][b]Are more foreign companies moving manufacturing to the us under Trump?[/b]
+4

[B]Yes, many foreign companies are expanding their manufacturing footprint in the U.S. to bypass sweeping trade tariffs. However, this "reshoring" effort hasn't translated into a broad domestic factory hiring boom, as total U.S. manufacturing employment has actually declined overall.[/b]Specific actions by foreign companies include:Pharmaceuticals: Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca committed to a $50 billion investment to expand U.S. production by 2030, while GSK is investing $30 billion.Automotive: Hyundai Motor Group is investing $21 billion in U.S. operations, and Honda moved production of its Civic hybrid from Mexico to Indiana.Consumer Goods: Italian coffee maker Lavazza is pushing to have 100% of its U.S.-sold products manufactured locally to avoid Reuters tariff fallout.Despite these high-profile capital investments from overseas, the Wall Street Journal reports that total U.S. manufacturing employment has declined by over 200,000 roles in recent years.[/QUOTE]BTW, were you thinking that foreign companies moving manufacturing to the USA was going to cause prices of those products to decline for the American Consumer?

Uh. Nope.

[QUOTE][b]Do products made by foreign companies in the usa cost more?[/b]
+8

[B]Products manufactured by foreign companies on U.S. soil generally carry higher price tags.[/b] This is primarily driven by the higher cost of U.S. labor, stricter regulatory standards, and steep localized overhead. Additionally, many components for these items must still be imported, triggering supply-chain fees and import tariffs.The primary factors driving up costs include:Labor & Benefits: U.S. manufacturing wages and mandatory worker benefits (such as health insurance) are substantially higher than in manufacturing hubs like China or Vietnam.Compliance & Overhead: American factories must comply with strict environmental, labor, and safety regulations, which require significant capital to maintain.Imported Parts: Foreign companies often build "made-in-the-USA" assembly plants but still rely on globally sourced raw materials and electronic components[/QUOTE]Good for GDP? Since when?

[B]Trump Has Sent Americas GDP Into a Downward Spiral.
April 9, 2026[/B]

[URL]https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/trump-sent-economy-free-fall-134836388.html[/URL]

[QUOTE]Between October and December, America's real gross domestic product fell from 4.4 percent to just 0.5 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday.

That figure is significantly less than the agency's second estimate of 0.7 percent growth, reported last month.[/QUOTE]To recap:

Trump's Tariffs are "working" to increase prices for products the American Consumer wants or needs to buy while losing jobs for the American Working Men and Women and sending America's GDP into a downward spiral.

Oh, and the rate of inflation due to Trump's policies is increasing rather than decreasing, which Trump loves:

[B]Trump says 'I love the inflation' as US prices rise at fastest rate in three years.
June 11, 2026[/B]

[URL]https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0myzxjkw99o[/URL]

[B]Its Not Just High Gas Prices Inflation Is Now Spreading Through the U.S. Economy.
May 28, 2026[/B]

[URL]https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/not-just-high-gas-prices-181248183.html[/URL]

The climate virtue signaling in France has become so strong that people are dying. Instead of encouraging elderly and infirm French men and women to seek and install air conditioning the government encourages coping mechanisms, like wetting yourself with water and eating cold soup. If you have ac you should confine it to one room and set the thermostat to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. This is from today's WSJ. Meanwhile, the good people at the left-of-center Economist took a model developed by a French researcher and applied it to forecasted temperatures on June 24 to June 26. That indicates there will be 1500 excess deaths from heat in those 3 days in Paris alone! And the death rate should be up about 300%! I'm writing from my mobile phone and those are pay sites anyway, but if you have subscriptions you'll have no problem finding the articles.

[QUOTE=Canada;3071909][b]Tariffs are working[/b]

Tariffs are not only working to equalize the trade deficits but it is also bringing in hundreds of companies from several countries moving their manufacturing to USA. So far 42 Canadian companies have moved their manufacturing to Canada. Japan and South Korea have moved numerous companies to USA. GDP is increasing monthly and USA has finally evened to trade tariffs with most countries. Most people are smart enough to see this but sometimes their TDS just deteriorates their minds. USA is winning and it's fun to watch. What a difference from the Biden fiasco.[/QUOTE]Joe Biden caused factory construction to increase. By American companies, for American companies, benefitting Americans and hiring American workers.

Behold the usual stark contrast between the economic policy and stewardship results of Dems like Joe Biden vs those of Repubs like Donald Trump:

[B]Trump's tariffs are causing harm to American manufacturers instead of benefiting them.
March 18, 2026[/B]

[URL]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/trumps-tariffs-are-causing-harm-to-american-manufacturers-instead-of-benefiting-them[/URL]

[QUOTE][b]Manufacturing jobs have declined during Trump's first year back[/b]

Trump's core rationale for tariffs has been that they would force more factories to open in the U.S. and would generate enough revenue to close federal budget deficits. But that hasn't materialized.

Factories continue to shed workers, with 98,000 manufacturing jobs lost during Trump's first full 12 months back in the White House. American companies that foot the bill for tariffs are now suing the Trump administration for more than $130 billion in tariff refunds. Meanwhile, the federal deficit is projected to climb over the next decade.
................
[B]Construction is up but that's due to Biden's bill[/b]

Some of the bright spots in construction cited by the White House appear to be the result of programs launched by then-President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Factory construction spending began to accelerate in 2022 with the anticipation of government support from Biden's CHIPS and Science Act, which included big subsidies for computer chip plants. The law was a primary contributor to a historic surge in the annualized rate of construction spending on manufacturing facilities, said Skanda Amarnath, executive director of the economic policy group Employ America.[/QUOTE]Attention actual USA Citizens qualified to register and vote in the USA; if you prefer the latter results in the above linked citation, vote Dem up and down the ballot in every election. If you prefer the former results, either don't bother to vote or, worse, vote for candidates other than Dems anywhere on your ballot.

[QUOTE=HotDog666;3071979]OK, maybe I misunderstood your position in the comment:

"However, if you believe the highest end of mankind is to raise revenues for all encompassing government, you're not going to be able to milk the rich for much more than the USA already is. The maximum tax rate (federal + state + local) on ordinary income is 40.8% to 54% and on long term capital gains 23.8% to 39%, depending on location. That's close to Western European levels. Total tax rates (income tax + sales tax + property tax) on middle income Americans are much lower than European levels. You can't raise anywhere close to what Progressives like AOC and Bernie Sanders want by upping taxes on the wealthy."

It seemed to me that you don't think that the US has any capacity to increase its tax take. Which is the reason I displayed the overall tax as a proportion of GDP rankings. While I don't think the European models of extreme taxation are right or feasible, that doesn't mean the status quo is sustainable. The bottom line is America has a huge and growing debt overhang and none of Trump's policies (if you can call them that) aren't fit for purpose or their counterproductive. How do you propose to manage this?

I'm glad that you're not making BS claims like some here that the tariffs have reduced trade deficits ([URL]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ge4yxwnlno[/URL])[/QUOTE]From what you quoted: "Total tax rates (income tax + sales tax + property tax) on middle income Americans are much lower than European levels. " In an earlier reply to you I also said you'd have to impose a regressive value added tax to pay for what progressive Democrats want. Of course the USA has the ability to raise tax substantially on the less-than-wealthy and become like France. Progressive Democrat politicians refuse to admit they can't do that just by taxing people who make over $300,000 a year (Biden) or who are worth more than $100 million (Warren and Newsome). They're using class warfare to get votes.

As to tariffs I don't like them for the reasons you don't. However GDP growth has chugged along nicely despite them. When I get some time, I'll elaborate in a reply to Elvis who disagreed in another of his thought provoking (honestly) posts.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;3072004]The climate virtue signaling in France has become so strong that people are dying. Instead of encouraging elderly and infirm French men and women to seek and install air conditioning the government encourages coping mechanisms, like wetting yourself with water and eating cold soup. If you have ac you should confine it to one room and set the thermostat to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. This is from today's WSJ. Meanwhile, the good people at the left-of-center Economist took a model developed by a French researcher and applied it to forecasted temperatures on June 24 to June 26. That indicates there will be 1500 excess deaths from heat in those 3 days in Paris alone! And the death rate should be up about 300%! I'm writing from my mobile phone and those are pay sites anyway, but if you have subscriptions you'll have no problem finding the articles.[/QUOTE]Typical American thinking he knows, when just ignorant, believing everything written on internet, probably by stupid US AI. Since 2003 very high heat, all residences for old people must have a with AC room to refresh all old people living in the residence. For old people living in their home, employees from towns administration follow these old people situation, calling them reminding them to drink, asking them if they are fine. Reality in France where I live and get all true information. Of course, not healthy are at risk under high heat, same like obese. Many young also have problems, because not healthy from US foods they eat and thinking they are able to swim, but not really able and also ignorant, not knowing cold water can be dangerous when high heat. Yes, in France, we don t put AC everywhere, I never put on in my car, when lowering engine power and bad for health, catching cold. US Trump not caring about pollution, make heat going higher, more fire, more tornados, killing people, just a criminal, after war criminal who killed 150 young Iranian girls in a school. At least, true facts, for Trump and his pollution, competing with China. A American pollute almost double than a Western European I am.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;3072006]
Attention actual USA Citizens qualified to register and vote in the USA; if you prefer the latter results in the above linked citation, vote Dem up and down the ballot in every election. If you prefer the former results, either don't bother to vote or, worse, vote for candidates other than Dems anywhere on your ballot.[/QUOTE]Nobody's going to fall for that Tooms.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;3072029]Nobody's going to fall for that Tooms.[/QUOTE]Tell us more about your totally unfounded and unsubstantiated opinion that GDP has been "chugging along" despite Trump's Tariffs rather than declining.

This is all I'm going to say. NFLX is at 52 week lows, a good company with decent valuation. Buy a bunch now, and in a coupla months when it hits 100 bucks, you'll thank me. That's assuming we're all still alive in a few months. This is a way better trade than they idiots buying MSTY. There's no future in AI! Also, Ebola is in France, while it's having its worst heat wave in decades, so France ain't shit either!

[QUOTE=Sirioja;3072028]Yes, in France, we don t put AC everywhere, I never put on in my car, when lowering engine power and bad for health, catching cold. US Trump not caring about pollution, make heat going higher, more fire, more tornados, killing people, just a criminal, after war criminal who killed 150 young Iranian girls in a school. At least, true facts, for Trump and his pollution, competing with China. A American pollute almost double than a Western European I am.[/QUOTE]Well, Ive recently read a couple of articles about children dying in cars from heat in France. Maybe the French need to get over the fear of pollution, climate change and catching cold, and leave their engines running and air conditioning on when kids are in the car. I realize that gasoline costs a lot more and the French make a lot less than we do. And if you leave your engine running with your kids inside in France, there's a good chance an immigrant will steal your car and kidnap your children. I guess there's no good solution.

Hah! The French are always insulting other countries and thinking they're better than everyone else, so how can they in their infinite wisdom allow a little tiny heat to kill off people? Puh lease. We're talking about Phoenix like weather, that's nothing! (I want you guys to imagine PePe Lepeu speaking now in his accent) Zee French should learn how to tolerate 110 degree heat a little better like us folks here in Arizona. Give me a break! Freaking 43 Celsius or 110 Fahrenheit ain't nothing for the South West baby! Bunch of cry baby euros.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;3072066]Well, Ive recently read a couple of articles about children dying in cars from heat in France. Maybe the French need to get over the fear of pollution, climate change and catching cold, and leave their engines running and air conditioning on when kids are in the car. I realize that gasoline costs a lot more and the French make a lot less than we do. And if you leave your engine running with your kids inside in France, there's a good chance an immigrant will steal your car and kidnap your children. I guess there's no good solution.[/QUOTE]Yes, sad, terrible accidents for 3 young children, same like so many young who are drowning, not having good level enough to swim, whatever they can think they can do everything, but dying in water, not able to swim. When people tell me I'm crazy not to use AC in my car, but for 3 children, it was totally different: Cars were not working but parked, children played and hide in cars under high heat. Mothers looked where were children and discovered hidden in cars and dead. Just 2 very sad accidents, nothing about safety, nor people who forget or let pets or children or granny in car under heat like in oven. I think you are too much a Trump blind follower about immigration, even I agree this is also a now uncontrolled problem in Europe, but we don t have your Epstein and all those who did benefit around him, with stars and politics, when we have Caucasian types who rape women and under 18 and kill children, not always Arabs or Black, even also, but not always. Some white are also rappers or pedophile, like your Epstein and all his friends and Trump accused by several women. Do You think all these women lie?

The Dis United States of America is an excellent place (used to be) to make money. Quality of life by all reports from individuals I trust is that it has declined. Oklahoma run by Republicans is an example.

[QUOTE=Canada;3071922]USA is still the best country to work [/QUOTE]If you mean be a wage slave on a corporate / government plantation then you might be correct now. But AI is taking jobs away from people. So your statement might not age too well.

[QUOTE=Canada;3071922]and live in.[/QUOTE][B]No![/B]

Point of fact, you have never lived in another country have you [B]Canada[/B]?

Not only me and 60% Americans, but also seaweed don t like Trump megalomania. So funny, they are fucking his painting. Newton had the apple fall, now the orange fall, no peace, but defeat at war, needing now to pay 300 billions for same geopolitics than before. Americans will have to pay his spending and feeding seaweed. So funny. In fact, not really when he doesn't care about citizens, a president scorning most of citizens.

[QUOTE=Tiny12;3072004]The climate virtue signaling in France has become so strong that people are dying. Instead of encouraging elderly and infirm French men and women to seek and install air conditioning the government encourages coping mechanisms, like wetting yourself with water and eating cold soup. If you have ac you should confine it to one room and set the thermostat to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. This is from today's WSJ. Meanwhile, the good people at the left-of-center Economist took a model developed by a French researcher and applied it to forecasted temperatures on June 24 to June 26. That indicates there will be 1500 excess deaths from heat in those 3 days in Paris alone! And the death rate should be up about 300%! I'm writing from my mobile phone and those are pay sites anyway, but if you have subscriptions you'll have no problem finding the articles.[/QUOTE]France like several other Europe countries were stupid enough to fall for the climate change hoax. It has increased energy costs so much that people can't afford to cool or heat their homes. France also followed Biden woke policies and Biden open border disaster which continue to destroy the country. At least USA is trying to correct their problems but France continues their failures.

[QUOTE=EihTooms;3072053]Tell us more about your totally unfounded and unsubstantiated opinion that GDP has been "chugging along" despite Trump's Tariffs rather than declining.[/QUOTE]
It’s not an opinion, it’s fact.

GDP is measured quarterly. It was up 2.7% from the 1Q2025, when Trump took office, to 1Q2026, the most recent reported quarter. For the 2Q2026, which will end shortly, the consensus forecast on Bloomberg, from 65 contributors, is 2.5% for the quarter on quarter seasonally adjusted annualized rate. Economists think long term GDP growth will be around 2% or a little lower. So 2.5%+ is pretty good.

That said, GDP growth would have been higher without the tariffs and the second Iran war.

On the other hand, all else being equal, GDP growth would have been lower without Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and probably without deregulation.