“Tariffs are not the answer!” Um, remind me what the question was, again . . .?

Photo above - AI generated concept of what a "Canadian logging worker" looks like. Notice the authentic Buffalo plaid shirt. I'm going to ask it about Mexican oil rig workers next . . .

Since I didn’t vote for Trump (or Kamala/Biden), I’m allowed to ask uncomfortable questions, right? For starters, why are the newly imposed Canadian/Mexican tariffs (25%) higher than Chinese tariffs (only 10%)? I thought Canada was our friend. (See link below)

And Mexico, while not exactly a friend (drug cartels, illegal immigration, and kidnap/murders of US tourists) is still a neighbor, albeit one with significant, intractable problems.

Wait, it gets more complicated. Canadian oil and natural gas only have a 10% tariff. Presumably the full 25% duties apply to maple syrup, Chevy Silverado's from Ontario, and lumber? I’m not the market for a Silverado, but we DO have a shortage of houses last time I checked.

I suppose a 10% tax on Chinese EVs might be justified. They’re apparently using stolen Tesla patents and slave labor in outer Mongolia. And 10% is certainly more realistic than Kamala/Biden’s promise to put a 100% tax on Chinese EVs. Even if that was only an election year stunt to harvest UAW votes. But 25% on a Canadian Silverado? Does Trump have any idea how many of his supporters drive these things?

We can’t say we weren’t warned. Trump has been trash talking about tariffs since before the election. But now, moments after tariffs take effect, the head of the UAW, various auto execs, steel makers, and home builders are raising the alarm. Nice to know. Where were you in the runup to the election? And why did you give those billons in campaign contributions to both parties? Was this cynically intended to “buy access” to whoever won the White House coin toss, and that’s why you showered money on both sides?

And where was the media while 100%/25%/10% tariffs were on heavy rotation on the presidential campaign play lists? The entire reason we got stuck with Trump and Kamala is that newspapers and cable tv told us we “had no other choice”. Holy Chairman Xi . . . are we living in an era of state-controlled media?

I get it. Tariffs don’t work. Probably not embargos, either. Russia is still bombing the $hit out Ukranian cities, 3 years on. Cuba hasn’t surrendered after 60 years. I’m not sure how tariffs are going to stop smuggling by Sinaloa cartels which willing us AK47's and open fire from across the border on US federal agents. Maybe air strikes are needed? Instead of helicopter training fights over DC during rush hour, send them to the border.

What we need are better ideas. Both candidates were out of touch septuagenarians. Well, at least until Biden was forced out, and replaced by the dumbest VP in my lifetime: “I wouldn’t change any of Biden’s policies. When we fight, we win!” (Which sounds eerily like an echo of what caused the January 6th debacle, eh?)

Listen up, Trump (and budget busting congressional democrats and republicans): You’ve given the Fed complete air cover for raising interest rates again. But I fully expect you to campaign next time around against inflation and the lack of affordable housing. Because we ARE that gullible, and have the attention span of a goldfish.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

'Tariffs are not the answer': Industry and corporate leaders react to Trump duties on Mexico, Canada and China