Welcome To Trump World

[Maof]

Going on another rampage. I think he's lost his mind.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5E serp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[jcole]

Lost it? I don't believe he's had for the last couple years.

Going on another rampage. I think he's lost his mind.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5E serp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[canuck]

He fired McCabe days before his retirement so he can't touch his pension!?

[jcole]

He fired McCabe days before his retirement so he can't touch his pension!?

Technically, HE didn't fire him; Sessions did it. But he tweeted about it several months back which shows that he's behind the whole thing. Sessions is just another puppet.

[Maof]

Technically, HE didn't fire him; Sessions did it. But he tweeted about it several months back which shows that he's behind the whole thing. Sessions is just another puppet.

Apparently, he doesn't care that his tweeting just might come back to bite him in the ass.

[Zacha341]

I wonder what Huey Long would done 'extra' had he access to the internet?

[ABetterDetroit]

I wonder what Huey Long would done 'extra' had he access to the internet?

Ironic.

I often wonder what Joseph Goebbels would have done with World Wide Internet and if it would look like some of the crap cranking people’s hate up today?

It did take 50 Million+ dead to sort out his nationalist bullshit.

Goebbels and his buds where a tad more of a actual threat to human life back then than Huey Long was.

[jcole]

Apparently, he doesn't care that his tweeting just might come back to bite him in the ass.

This firing is just an act of pure vindictiveness, as can be seen by that tweet. What worries me is if he is this petty with his own employees, how petty is he being with everyone else? Seems like his entire mantra is "payback"

[aj3647]

Another week, another head rolls, this time it's National Security Adviser HR McMaster.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/u...mp-bolton.html

McMaster is to be replaced by King of the Neocons, John Bolton. You might remember John Bolton from his days in the George W Bush Administration, where he was one of the original Iraq War cheerleaders. To this day, he still thinks the Iraq War was a great idea and a tremendous success. Bolton is a staunch neoconservative who believes that the U.S. military should be used to reshape the world in America's image though the liberal use of invasions and regime change. And he's militantly in favor of war with Iran. Basically, he represents the exact opposite of the type of "America First" foreign policy that Trump campaigned on in 2016. If you love unfunded trillion-dollar wars and thousands of dead American soldiers, Bolton is your guy. I'm sure oladub is beaming with pride in his MAGA hat today. You get the government you deserve, oladub.

The other major departure yesterday was the resignation of the head of the Trump's personal legal team in the Russiagate scandal, John Dowd.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...-probe-n859086

Dowd apparently had grown increasingly frustrated that the President was not listening to his legal advice to stay quiet about the investigation [[as opposed to tweeting about it constantly and publicly attacking Robert Mueller) and decided to get the fuck out of Dodge.

[Richard]

We did get the government we deserved,to bad some cannot see the forest because of the trees.

Still waiting on the proof of Russian collusion,said rip van winkle.

Here is one for you AJ

https://thehornnews.com/lead-clinton...un-over-march/

Jack Burkman, the leader of the controversial investigation into the murder of former DNC staffer Seth Rich, was shot twice in the back and run over by a man who claimed to have worked as a special agent in the Department of Energy, authorities say.

[aj3647]

https://thehornnews.com/lead-clinton...un-over-march/

Jack Burkman, the leader of the controversial investigation into the murder of former DNC staffer Seth Rich, was shot twice in the back and run over by a man who claimed to have worked as a special agent in the Department of Energy, authorities say.

You left some pertinent details off of your conspiracy theory, Richard.

From the Right Wing Daily Caller:
http://dailycaller.com/2018/03/20/se...ator-attacked/

Burkman fired Doherty and sent him a cease and desist letter, he told The Post.

“He became somewhat angry because he thought the Profiling Project belonged to him,” Burkman explained to The Post.
“I just figured the matter was closed,” Burkman added. “But what happened is, I guess, he was simmering and simmering and simmering.”

So Richard, you just conveniently forget to mention that Doherty WORKED FOR Burkman, was fired by him, and was angry over it? Even Burkman [[the victim) seemingly admits that the incident was a result of a personal grudge held by a disgruntled former employee.

But as always, just leave out the facts if they don't fit your insane conspiracy theories.

[Honky Tonk]

China "Claps Back..."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/chin...to-target.html

[aj3647]

China "Claps Back..."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/22/chin...to-target.html

Dow Jones was down almost 3% on the fears of a trade war yesterday.

China is taking a rather cautious approach, this is just a warning shot. If they wanted to, they could place tariffs on things like soybeans, which would really fuck over a lot of Trump voters in the heartland.

If China really wanted to screw us though, all they would have to do is sell off a few hundred billion dollars in U.S. treasury debt that they hold. That would send interest rates up, markets falling, and very possibly trigger a new economic recession.

Amazon and Walmart are also sounding the alarm, since they sell imported Chinese goods. Trump might not care about Amazon, but he better care about red state WalMart, who have two Republican Senators from Arkansas in their back pocket, bought and paid for.

But since trade wars are "good and easy to win", I guess we'll just wait and see if Trump is an economic genius or a maniac who is ruining the country and the world. The proof will be in the pudding.

[oladub]

Dow Jones was down almost 3% on the fears of a trade war yesterday.

China is taking a rather cautious approach, this is just a warning shot. If they wanted to, they could place tariffs on things like soybeans, which would really fuck over a lot of Trump voters in the heartland.

If China really wanted to screw us though, all they would have to do is sell off a few hundred billion dollars in U.S. treasury debt that they hold. That would send interest rates up, markets falling, and very possibly trigger a new economic recession.

Amazon and Walmart are also sounding the alarm, since they sell imported Chinese goods. Trump might not care about Amazon, but he better care about red state WalMart, who have two Republican Senators from Arkansas in their back pocket, bought and paid for.

But since trade wars are "good and easy to win", I guess we'll just wait and see if Trump is an economic genius or a maniac who is ruining the country and the world. The proof will be in the pudding.

Wasn't January's trade imbalance with China $56B in China's favor? Sounds like we already are losing the trade war. However, at worst, if both countries impose an across the board 15% or 25% tariff on each others products, China loses. Quoting another poster, "Why should we continue to be China's bitch?" Adjustments will have to be made. Some products like oil, China is the largest importer of U.S. oil, and soybeans are fungible. Temporarily lower prices [[less demand) will mean lower prices for American consumers. Less available overseas cheap foreign labor will be a boon to American manufacturing. Until Woodrow Wilson transferred the tax burden from import companies onto the backs of America's middle class, the U.S. did not suffer from a lack of growth. Unlike you, I prioritize American workers and its middle class over corporations and their cheap profitable foreign labor.

One big loser if China gets angry about Trump upsetting China's profitable status quo will be U.S. companies operating in China because of OPIC. If China nationalizes GM plants, for instance, U.S. taxpayers will have to reimburse GM for its OPIC investment there. Its a pity that the Obama administration forced GM to close Hummer, Pontiac, and Saturn plants and showrooms only to have GM invest in China with federal loan money. We might wind up paying back GM.

[aj3647]

Wasn't January's trade imbalance with China $56B in China's favor?

Are you under the impression that the United States has to be a net exporter to every nation on earth in order to have a good economy? Also if tariffs are good for manufacturing, then why did Trump just exempt the EU, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, and Brazil from the metals tariffs? Only 2% of our steel comes from China. 17% comes from Canada [[now exempt), 14% from Brazil [[now exempt), 10% from South Korea [[exempt), 9% from Mexico [[exempt), etc.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43505804

If the point of the tariffs is to protect domestic manufacturing, then shouldn't they target those countries we actually buy steel from [[Canada, Brazil, South Korea, etc) and not an insignificant source like China?

Also, while you're here, any thoughts on Trump's new NSA, John Bolton?

[oladub]

Q) "Are you under the impression that the United States has to be a net exporter to every nation on earth in order to have a good economy?"
A) No

Q) "if tariffs are good for manufacturing, then why did Trump just exempt the EU, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Argentina, Australia, and Brazil from the metals tariffs?"
A) Possibly politics, neighbors in a couple of cases. China has some of its tariffs set higher for the U.S. than other countries. The U. S. can do the same to China. Those other countries do not have the extreme imbalance in trade with the U.S.

Q) "If the point of the tariffs is to protect domestic manufacturing, then shouldn't they target those countries we actually buy steel from [[Canada, Brazil, South Korea, etc) and not an insignificant source like China?"
A) Good point. Let's raise tariffs on them too to protect vital U.S. industries.

Q) "any thoughts on Trump's new NSA, John Bolton?"
A) Horrible choice, Trump may as well have chosen Hillary or McCain. One positive note though; CAIR came out against Bolton so he can't be all bad.

[Canadian Visitor]

Q) "

If the point of the tariffs is to protect domestic manufacturing, then shouldn't they target those countries we actually buy steel from [[Canada, Brazil, South Korea, etc) and not an insignificant source like China?"
A) Good point. Let's raise tariffs on them too to protect vital U.S. industries.

Are you aware the U.S. gets the vast majority of its aluminum from Canada? [[not its imported aluminum, all of it)

That its actually considered a strategic supply by your military?

That there is no way whatsoever that the U.S. could replace even a small part of Canadian production?

That a tariff would only serve to raise the price paid by U.S. consumers who couldn't buy the product anywhere else, any cheaper.

*rolls eyes*

How about that a lot of your heavy armor for military vehicles is made in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario by Essar Algoma Steel?

Contracts were offered to US producers first, who declined to make the product.

*thought so*

Maybe you were worried that all those highly paid Canadians w/health benefits and paid sick days and paid vacations were undercutting American jobs?

*Maybe you should look elsewhere*

Canada is more than a good friend and neighbour, its the life-blood of the U.S.

If we didn't supply the power, the lights would dim in much of U.S. [[electricity, gas, oil)

We also sell it you more cheaply than anyone else could or would.

We greatly appreciate how grateful you seem to be!

Always nice to have good friends and allies.

If you took out energy, the U.S. has a massive trade surplus with Canada.

You don't suppose that cheap energy aids U.S. manufacturers do you???

[Richard]

Are you aware the U.S. gets the vast majority of its aluminum from Canada? [[not its imported aluminum, all of it)

That its actually considered a strategic supply by your military?

That there is no way whatsoever that the U.S. could replace even a small part of Canadian production?

That a tariff would only serve to raise the price paid by U.S. consumers who couldn't buy the product anywhere else, any cheaper.

*rolls eyes*

How about that a lot of your heavy armor for military vehicles is made in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario by Essar Algoma Steel?

Contracts were offered to US producers first, who declined to make the product.

*thought so*

Maybe you were worried that all those highly paid Canadians w/health benefits and paid sick days and paid vacations were undercutting American jobs?

*Maybe you should look elsewhere*

Canada is more than a good friend and neighbour, its the life-blood of the U.S.

If we didn't supply the power, the lights would dim in much of U.S. [[electricity, gas, oil)

We also sell it you more cheaply than anyone else could or would.

We greatly appreciate how grateful you seem to be!

Always nice to have good friends and allies.

If you took out energy, the U.S. has a massive trade surplus with Canada.

You don't suppose that cheap energy aids U.S. manufacturers do you???

Below are the 15 countries from which the United States purchases the highest dollar value worth of aluminum. These suppliers accounted for 86.3% of all US aluminum imports during 2017.

1. Canada: US$8.5 billion [[36.3% of total aluminum exports)
2. China: $3.5 billion [[15.1%)
3. Russia: $1.6 billion [[7%)
4. United Arab Emirates: $1.5 billion [[6.5%)
5. Mexico: $1 billion [[4.3%)
6. Bahrain: $621.1 million [[2.7%)
7. Argentina: $570.8 million [[2.4%)
8. Germany: $561.7 million [[2.4%)
9. India: $484.1 million [[2.1%)
10. South Africa: $354.1 million [[1.5%)
11. Qatar: $307.4 million [[1.3%)
12. Japan: $295.6 million [[1.3%)
13. France: $294.1 million [[1.3%)
14. Thailand: $265.3 million [[1.1%)
15. Italy: $241.2 million [[1%)

36.3 % is considered a vast majority of our imported aluminum from Canada ?

http://www.worldstopexports.com/us-a...lying-country/

If that plant shutters, the United States would have to rely on factories overseas. Only the United Arab Emirates and China produce what's needed for the military, although Canadian smelters might be able to shift production to do it, as well.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/01/foreign-suppliers-are-flooding-the-u-s-aluminum-market/?utm_term=.d4b33f39afee

It would appear that countries other then Canada produce for our military.

Why does Canada need to import 8 billion worth of aluminum if it is such a high production country?

Unless you are being used as a dumping conduit.

I work with Canadian aluminum and steel and to be honest the quality is about as crappy as your white wood that you guys pass off as lumber,and the slickness of restamping #2 and passing it off as #3 in order to get a higher price.

You make it out like this country would fold and wither away if it was not for Canada,seriously?

What would happen to Canada if we dropped 386 billion in trade with you?

Just think of how many automatic weapons that would have to disappear into crap hole countries in order to make up for that.

Why do we need to ram a pipeline through our sovereign territories for your exclusive use in order to export your oil.

The United States was not formed to make Canada happy it was formed to make Americans happy first and if we need to fire up our plants and put Americans back to work then so be it,if that upsets you and judging by how you respond to posts,good riddance.

Maybe we could build a big aluminum wall on our northern border.

[Canadian Visitor]

Below are the 15 countries from which the United States purchases the highest dollar value worth of aluminum. These suppliers accounted for 86.3% of all US aluminum imports during 2017.

1. Canada: US$8.5 billion [[36.3% of total aluminum exports)
2. China: $3.5 billion [[15.1%)
3. Russia: $1.6 billion [[7%)
4. United Arab Emirates: $1.5 billion [[6.5%)
5. Mexico: $1 billion [[4.3%)
6. Bahrain: $621.1 million [[2.7%)
7. Argentina: $570.8 million [[2.4%)
8. Germany: $561.7 million [[2.4%)
9. India: $484.1 million [[2.1%)
10. South Africa: $354.1 million [[1.5%)
11. Qatar: $307.4 million [[1.3%)
12. Japan: $295.6 million [[1.3%)
13. France: $294.1 million [[1.3%)
14. Thailand: $265.3 million [[1.1%)
15. Italy: $241.2 million [[1%)

36.3 % is considered a vast majority of our imported aluminum from Canada ?

http://www.worldstopexports.com/us-a...lying-country/

If that plant shutters, the United States would have to rely on factories overseas. Only the United Arab Emirates and China produce what's needed for the military, although Canadian smelters might be able to shift production to do it, as well.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/03/01/foreign-suppliers-are-flooding-the-u-s-aluminum-market/?utm_term=.d4b33f39afee

It would appear that countries other then Canada produce for our military.

Why does Canada need to import 8 billion worth of aluminum if it is such a high production country?

Unless you are being used as a dumping conduit.

I work with Canadian aluminum and steel and to be honest the quality is about as crappy as your white wood that you guys pass off as lumber,and the slickness of restamping #2 and passing it off as #3 in order to get a higher price.

You make it out like this country would fold and wither away if it was not for Canada,seriously?

What would happen to Canada if we dropped 386 billion in trade with you?

Just think of how many automatic weapons that would have to disappear into crap hole countries in order to make up for that.

Why do we need to ram a pipeline through our sovereign territories for your exclusive use in order to export your oil.

The United States was not formed to make Canada happy it was formed to make Americans happy first and if we need to fire up our plants and put Americans back to work then so be it,if that upsets you and judging by how you respond to posts,good riddance.

Maybe we could build a big aluminum wall on our northern border.

Read this:

http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx...imary%20Al.png

As usual, your wrong.

The other nonsense you spew doesn't even merit a reply.

Except in this regard.

I value the United States and the vast majority of her citizens.

I do not value you, neither does the vast majority of the United States. They would gladly deport you in a heart beat.
Sadly, they won't find anyone to take you.

You are a vulgar man. You willfully misread posts, and make replies to statements never made.

You are not nice by nature, you overstate and overestimate your knowledge and ability at almost every turn.

Even those who share you politics throw you under the proverbial bus at the first chance, because they know nothing you say can be taken seriously.

You will notice in that last post I said nothing bad about you; but you couldn't resist in your misinformed, foaming at the mouth, rabid reply to get in every, over-the-top, nonsensical shot in you could.

Well, you'll never win that war, or even one battle in it.

Save yourself the bother of trying; and me the bother of reading.

[oladub]

Canadian Visitor, I don't work for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Canada protects its dairy farmers but, in your book, the U.S. doesn't have a right to protects its workers and industries? "The United States has gone from having 23 operational aluminum smelters in 1993 to just five today, with only two running at full capacity." As a strategic supply used by are military it makes sense to be able to produce adequate supplies in the U.S.. Thanks for making that point. Then you go on to make a threat, "If we didn't supply the power, the lights would dim in much of U.S. [[electricity, gas, oil)". Why depend on the whims of P.M. Trudeau or anyone making threats? No sale. The US needs more tax revenue. Putting Americans to work so they pay taxes while discouraging the flow of money out of the country sounds reasonable.

My non-threatening proposal would be to extend the Canada-U.S. auto agreement to all U. S. trade. In the agreement, an equal number of auto products are shipped across the border tax free. Only an excess of products going in one direction get taxed. That could be extended to all products. China or Canada could sell all the products it wants in the US tariff free to the extent that it purchases the same value of products. Of course, any nation should be able to determine which industries are necessary for defense or other priorities and remain outside such agreements.

[Richard]

Read this:

http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx...imary%20Al.png

As usual, your wrong.

The other nonsense you spew doesn't even merit a reply.

Except in this regard.

I value the United States and the vast majority of her citizens.

I do not value you, neither does the vast majority of the United States. They would gladly deport you in a heart beat.
Sadly, they won't find anyone to take you.

You are a vulgar man. You willfully misread posts, and make replies to statements never made.

You are not nice by nature, you overstate and overestimate your knowledge and ability at almost every turn.

Even those who share you politics throw you under the proverbial bus at the first chance, because they know nothing you say can be taken seriously.

You will notice in that last post I said nothing bad about you; but you couldn't resist in your misinformed, foaming at the mouth, rabid reply to get in every, over-the-top, nonsensical shot in you could.

Well, you'll never win that war, or even one battle in it.

Save yourself the bother of trying; and me the bother of reading.

Shows how much you know about the metals market,I posted an updated link 2017 and you counteract with a 2016 scale,Canada has also been losing 9% ground yearly,would you like me to look that up for you also?

And yes your last reply to me was the usual school yard bully type,but I am thinking you are in your early 20 something's so I take the maturity leval into account.

Once again,if my posts bother you so much why do you insist on reading them?Nobody is forceing you to deal with the lower classes so ignore me.

But that is your problem,you view a discussion as a war when it is not and contrary to your wanting to control how others think and your reactions when they disagree with you,people are entitled to their opinions and view and have the freedom of speech in this country,just because you willingly gave it up in yours does not give you the right to suppress others here.

In short,grow up.

In case you have not noticed this is a site of diversity with many different opinions and views,everybody is entitled to them and deserves the respect of the time they take in participating in the discussion,go back and read your posts and how many times you have told others to shut up when you do not agree with them or start the dumb little name calling.

I am comfortable in myself and my life when I do not need everybody to agree with me in order to feel good and I certainly would not expect everybody to like or agree with me,because I do not agree with somebody I still do not feel the need to chastise or call names,because that would show a lack of respect towards others.

[Canadian Visitor]

Canadian Visitor, I don't work for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

No one suggested you were, or asked you to be

Canada protects its dairy farmers but, in your book, the U.S. doesn't have a right to protects its workers and industries?

This old trope is such an irritation.

The United States subsidizes dairy farmers out the wazoo.

Canada does not transfer a single tax dollar to our industry.

What we do in order to prevent our industry from being blown out of the water by U.S. Federal subsidies to your farmers is have supply management.

Which means that only existing farmers who own quota can sell into the dairy boards.

This restricts supply, which allows prices to be higher at the retail level; and farmer's to have a steady income without/gov't largesse.

The U.S. is not hard done by in this arrangement.

The U.S. also has exceptions in NAFTA to protect various industries.

Then you go on to make a threat, "If we didn't supply the power, the lights would dim in much of U.S. [[electricity, gas, oil)". Why depend on the whims of P.M. Trudeau or anyone making threats? No sale. The US needs more tax revenue. Putting Americans to work so they pay taxes while discouraging the flow of money out of the country sounds reasonable.

First, there was no threat.

While I am moderately well connected, LOL, I certainly don't get to phone the PM up and cancel energy exports to anywhere, on a whim or otherwise.

What I suggested is that you express on a whim a willingness to injure Canadians economically and give an impression that somehow NAFTA worked out one-sidedly in our favour; showing no gratefulness for the fact that it is Canadian resources to a great degree, that make U.S. manufacturing possible.

It is an accurate reflection of the scale of Canada's energy exports to say the U.S. is dependent on them. Hydro Quebec, BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro and even Hydro One [[Ontario) are all exporters to the U.S. of thousands of mega watts of power every hour.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=21992

BC shows as a net importer, but there's a cute asterisk about dams on the Columbia River, in BC.

That's before you get to natural gas exports and oil.

My non-threatening proposal would be to extend the Canada-U.S. auto agreement to all U. S. trade. In the agreement, an equal number of auto products are shipped across the border tax free.

Wow, would we ever kill to get that deal, currently Canada has less than 20% of the auto and auto parts trade w/the U.S.

You're gonna raise us to equal! Awesome, Where do we sign?

I can get the PM on the phone for that one; you just phone Mr. Trump....LOL

You don't realize for all your kevetching that Canadians are clear we lost manufacturing capacity first under the Free Trade Agreement w/the U.S. then even more under NAFTA w/Mexico.

You [[the U.S.) were our Mexico, because you have lower wages and benefits in the U.S. than do comparable Canadian workers.

This deal was and is in your favour w/Canada.

Mexico is a different story.

Let's compare Minimum wages [[exact manufacturing wages will be higher for the most part, and differ by sector, but its a good proxy for competitive advantage)

Michigan - $9.25USD per hour
Ontario - $10.50 USD per hour
Mexico - .59c USD per hour

Read this story for a take that should give you a shift in POV

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/comm...-industry.html

Its the interminable idea that somehow we in Canada are taking advantage of you the U.S. that riles.

Overall our deals are mutually beneficial, but up here, we're quite clear who got the better end of the deal, and it wasn't us.

[jcole]

I wish there was a like, no, LOVE button on here for this.

Read this:

http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx...imary%20Al.png

As usual, your wrong.

The other nonsense you spew doesn't even merit a reply.

Except in this regard.

I value the United States and the vast majority of her citizens.

I do not value you, neither does the vast majority of the United States. They would gladly deport you in a heart beat.
Sadly, they won't find anyone to take you.

You are a vulgar man. You willfully misread posts, and make replies to statements never made.

You are not nice by nature, you overstate and overestimate your knowledge and ability at almost every turn.

Even those who share you politics throw you under the proverbial bus at the first chance, because they know nothing you say can be taken seriously.

You will notice in that last post I said nothing bad about you; but you couldn't resist in your misinformed, foaming at the mouth, rabid reply to get in every, over-the-top, nonsensical shot in you could.

Well, you'll never win that war, or even one battle in it.

Save yourself the bother of trying; and me the bother of reading.

[Richard]

^ that just stands to reason because it is really a bash Trump thread and anybody that says anything positive about him is automatically the lowest form on earth,I guess that method works pretty good because he is not in office.

O wait,he is.

[oladub]

Canadian Visitor, Canada does have its own protectionist policies for its dairy farmers and other Canadian interests. I am ok with that. That is Canada's prerogative. Putting tariffs on foreign imports is also a U.S. prerogative.

I'll decide for myself what is a threat. Your comment, "If we didn't supply the power, the lights would dim in much of U.S. [[electricity, gas, oil), in my opinion contains a veiled threat. To the extent that your comment is true, this security situation should be remedied. Then you added that the U.S. should be 'grateful' "for the fact that it is Canadian resources to a great degree, that make U.S. manufacturing possible". I agree but don't like the idea of depending on the largess of anyone who reminds me of their goodness.

Tariffs were the main source of revenue for the federal government from 1789 to 1914. They don't seem to have hindered U.S. growth during that time period. They were authorized by the Consitution. It wasn't until Pres. Wilson[[D) pushed through the federal income tax with the 16th. Amendment that the tax burden was transferred from import companies to the backs of the middle class. Since then, corporations have been incentivized to import products made more affordable by hiring cheaper foreign labor. Corporations that profit by employing cheaper foreign labor overseas have written agreements like NAFTA. I appreciated your article on NAFTA by the way. Their interests are in their own profit margins not those of American workers or taxpayers. The simplest solution would be to slap a 15% tax on all imports and cut income taxes by the same amount assuming other countries would do the same. I don't suppose we'll ever be allowed an advisory vote on that.

However, because I realize the advantages of free and fair trade, I suggested free trade of products of equal value and only adding tariffs to the difference in trade pending nations' needs to protect their self-interests.