Can Everyone Please Stop Being Stupid About Who Pays Tariffs? (opens in new tab)

(benthams.substack.com)

5 pointsyoble2mo ago6 comments

6 comments

jqpabc1232mo ago

Tariffs are a tax on consumers --- i.e. you and me.

Foreign governments don't pay tariffs

akagusu2mo ago

Now convince Trump's supporters that this is true.

jqpabc1232mo ago

Unfortunately, it's too late. And they obviously like being lied to.

bediger40002mo ago

Right, but a bit vacuous: Trump personally decides what (categories of) goods get tariffs, and which importers and exporters. I personally never want to hear conservatives talk about "distorting the market" or similar topics. Either they were lying about faith in markets pre-Trump, or they're lying about how good a mercantilist system is today. And, no, "we've gotten new data" is not an excuse. Conservatives were standing athwart history and yelling "Stop!" They had these sacred, immutable principles that "new data" did not effect.

jqpabc1232mo ago

They had these sacred, immutable principles that "new data" did not effect.

Their only immutable principle was lust for control.

tim-tday2mo ago

There’s a big disinformation campaign by a charismatic leader.

Even smart people fall for identity based manipulation. And half of everyone is of below average intelligence.

So dumb people + manipulation == lots of people holding obviously false opinions.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

6 comments

jqpabc1232mo ago

Tariffs are a tax on consumers --- i.e. you and me.

Foreign governments don't pay tariffs

akagusu2mo ago

Now convince Trump's supporters that this is true.

jqpabc1232mo ago

Unfortunately, it's too late. And they obviously like being lied to.

bediger40002mo ago

jqpabc1232mo ago

They had these sacred, immutable principles that "new data" did not effect.

Their only immutable principle was lust for control.

tim-tday2mo ago

There’s a big disinformation campaign by a charismatic leader.

Even smart people fall for identity based manipulation. And half of everyone is of below average intelligence.

So dumb people + manipulation == lots of people holding obviously false opinions.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse