[Youngian]

Much of this alleged waste will be pork barrel grants to in hock red states. Trump can tell GOP senators to 'STFU you owe me your seat' for a short term as money drains from their states.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I doubt it's even going to be that "rational". It's just going to target people that Musk and Trump don't like the sound of. Lutherans caring for seniors, fuck them. Evangelicals, leave them alone.

But there'll probably be a massive effect on red states. Apparently, Lutherans do a lot of senior care in South Dakota, the state of the Senate Majority Leader. I was assuming he carries enough clout to get this stopped, but you might be right, Trump just tells him to fuck off because he can.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Canadian Tory leader in Ontario, where there's a state monopoly on alcohol wholesale.

[Abernathy]

Is it only me, or is anyone else still having difficulty understanding just exactly what Trump’s purpose is in slapping draconian tariffs on just about everything that gets imported into the USA ?

What is he trying to achieve, exactly ? Most of his voters don’t seem to appreciate or understand that imposing tariffs on stuff means that they as consumers will be paying more for their stuff, but The Donald told them they were great, his very favourite thing. Won’t they be annoyed when they realise the truth and inflation runs rampant ?

[Andy McDandy]

I'm paraphrasing Stephen King here, but there's a bit in his book "The Stand" where they're talking about post-collapse societies.

Imagine you have 2 communities. One is pretty idyllic. There's a generator, medical supplies and personnel, lots of food, small town meeting style government. Then there's another, which is dark, cold and hungry. A strongman takes over, and blames everything on the smug bastards with the working lights. What's better than loading up on guns and teaching them a lesson?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Is it only me, or is anyone else still having difficulty understanding just exactly what Trump’s purpose is in slapping draconian tariffs on just about everything that gets imported into the USA ?

What is he trying to achieve, exactly ? Most of his voters don’t seem to appreciate or understand that imposing tariffs on stuff means that they as consumers will be paying more for their stuff, but The Donald told them they were great, his very favourite thing. Won’t they be annoyed when they realise the truth and inflation runs rampant ?

He thinks trade deficits are the same as another country stealing from you, and supports autarky. Seriously, he does.

[Tubby Isaacs]

British Columbia has banned American alcohol from Red states specifically. Ha ha ha.

[Watchman]

Canadian Tory leader in Ontario, where there's a state monopoly on alcohol wholesale.

Having been in Canada back end of last year, the LCBO stores are very well stocked with beers and wines from around the world, plus their own very good beer. Canada as a booming craft beer “industry” of very good quality

[Abernathy]

I thought I knew what autarky was (and I should have done), but I wasn’t sure. So I googled it (natch) :

Explanation
Autarky is a concept that applies to societies, communities, and states.
It involves producing everything a country needs within its own borders.
Autarky can also mean being independent from foreign investment, imports, and trade.
Autarky can be applied to social and cultural aspects, as well as economic aspects.

Example
In Nazi Germany the "New Plan" promoted autarky as a way to achieve economic stability.
Adolf Hitler believed autarky was necessary to prepare the German economy for a European war.

Yup. Figures.

[Tubby Isaacs]

That's a good link. I hadn't been thinking in terms of the cultural aspect, but of course that's very important, and probably how Trump has got to it. See also Danny Kruger.

[Bones McCoy]

Canadian Tory leader in Ontario, where there's a state monopoly on alcohol wholesale.

Fuuck, that's a slap back.

[Youngian]

As populist blowhards don't do common endeavour between nations they rub each other up the wrong way instead of forging alliances. And it all ends in tears.

[Bones McCoy]

Is it only me, or is anyone else still having difficulty understanding just exactly what Trump’s purpose is in slapping draconian tariffs on just about everything that gets imported into the USA ?

What is he trying to achieve, exactly ? Most of his voters don’t seem to appreciate or understand that imposing tariffs on stuff means that they as consumers will be paying more for their stuff, but The Donald told them they were great, his very favourite thing. Won’t they be annoyed when they realise the truth and inflation runs rampant ?

Starting trade wars to make it easier to take over the government was the plot to the Star Wars prequels.

I prefer to think the tariffs are intended to accumulate a massive pile of money.
One which will "disappear" (oops) while government departments are being dismantled.

[Youngian]

Is it only me, or is anyone else still having difficulty understanding just exactly what Trump’s purpose is in slapping draconian tariffs on just about everything that gets imported into the USA ?

What is he trying to achieve, exactly ? Most of his voters don’t seem to appreciate or understand that imposing tariffs on stuff means that they as consumers will be paying more for their stuff, but The Donald told them they were great, his very favourite thing. Won’t they be annoyed when they realise the truth and inflation runs rampant ?

He thinks trade deficits are the same as another country stealing from you, and supports autarky. Seriously, he does.

The 25% tariff proposals on Mexico and Canada are leverage to close the border to Fentanyl smugglers. But the next day they are an end in themselves to revitalise American made products.
Would Trump sell products 20 percent cheaper than Mexican versions with this tarriff imposed. Or might he just bump the price up to trouser a larger profit?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Fuuck, that's a slap back.

He's a (province-level) Canadian Tory and all. His national party leader has been seen as pretty Trump-friendly, and has seen his lead plunge recently (Trudeau resigning will probably have helped a bit too).

[Abernathy]

The 25% tariff proposals on Mexico and Canada are leverage to close the border to Fentanyl smugglers.

Don’t understand. How will that work, exactly?

[Tubby Isaacs]

James Chalmers
‪@jameschalmers.bsky.social‬
One thing I don't fully understand: if you were Elon Musk, would you not be mildly concerned that Trump falls out with you in six months' time and instructs the DoJ to go after you for "some VERY BAD things... far beyond any instructions from ME!!!"

Yep.

[kreuzberger]

Doesn't Musk have his hand now on the mother of all federal databases? I'll lay 100 Pesos on it containing a whole load of "interesting" information. Tax records, and the like.

[Youngian]

The 25% tariff proposals on Mexico and Canada are leverage to close the border to Fentanyl smugglers.

Don’t understand. How will that work, exactly?

[kreuzberger]

Don't American authorities deal with what and who is coming in?