To my own detriment, I'm attempting to find some sort of silver lining in this whole "tariff war" we’re partaking in. There are a few people I respect who seem happy about it, but I think their reasons are myopic—or, at the very least, disconnected. You see, the idea of temporary pain for long-term gain only makes sense if you're not already drowning, if you can actually survive the "temporary" part.
One of the voices excited about things getting a lot more expensive is Anthony Pompliano.
But, because I respect him, and know him to be smart, I will attempt to present his position in the best light possible.
America First
In the eyes of plenty of tariff enthusiasts (as I will call them from now on), this battle is about leveling the playing field. They believe that for far too long, America has been taken advantage of, and it's about time we strike back.
The common question they love to ask is: What is wrong with America First?—Clever, but the framing doesn't address the concerns people actually have. It's obvious no American wants bad things to happen to their country, but we can’t seem to agree on what "bad" and "good" even mean.
Pompliano insists that these tariffs will bring countries to the negotiating table and that we will eventually fine-tune them accordingly. No time frame, of course, can be offered—because at this point, there’s not a single person who knows. Not even Trump himself. The pain is temporary, they’d say. How temporary?—Coming soon. Trademark pending.
Libertarians walking away
A sure sign of shifting tides is how libertarians are reacting to these new moves from the Trump administration. Some are very vocal about their disappointment, but it’s a bit late for backsies, as they say.
People have begun digging up old tweets to throw back in the faces of those who knew best—an activity that, although entertaining, does nothing to help anyone.
Aside from the Orwellian language (which already says a lot), sensible people are worried about the instability this is causing. Markets are reacting accordingly, of course. It’s hard not to feel overexposed when a simple tweet can sway the tides so much—when Trump’s political bipolarity is the only thing you can count on.
It’s hard for me to imagine Trump and his administration making these moves out of anything but self-indulgence. I accept that my biases pull me in one direction, but the messaging is too confusing for anyone to make real sense of it. It seems like those who defend these moves have to spend quite a lot of mental capital on justifications—post hoc rationalizations.
Don't worry Patriot
Those who make their living from engagement-farming people with red hats have received their orders. They’ve begun the next phase of the gaslighting process: Yes, it’s true, it’s bad, but we are going to be okay anyway. We are but one move away from everything being Biden’s fault—the culmination of this theatrical cacophony.
This type of messaging reminds me of an opinion piece I saw months ago. A hard-hitting report about how our desire to eat breakfast is destroying our economic futures.
Sounds like a joke, because it is a joke.
Because I want everyone who reads my ramblings to walk away with some fire in their hearts, I’ll leave you with the only tweet that makes sense this morning:
Take your time to read it, and make the only sane choice you can. Reject their ridiculous framing.
MenO
If you want to see crapitalism properly framed, read chapter 9 of this book: https://archive.org/details/ironhee00lond/mode/2up.
I've heard of this book. Its one of those Dystopias, that seem have been prophetic. I mean, I'm sure the Elon's of the world thing it's beautiful.
I can't read it for you.
IF you want to know why 'the greatest system the world has ever known' crapitalism has led us to this dystopia where we are killing children for being on the wrong side of a fence, and could do nothing else, by design, you gotta read it for yourself.
You've heard of 1984 and BNW because those serve the narrative, they don't talk about The Iron Heel because they know what happens if they do.
Reading through it now, stay out of the Chicago Commune, is my take away thus far @antisocialist.
On a tangential note I am curious to know how automation and AI will make us consider labor in another two decades.
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Ai and bots won't take that long to end most low skill employment.
Yes, large groups of starving people are likely to attack any that are not of them.
The Crowd
So, what did you take away from his characterization of crapitalism in chapter 9?
The design is for all the money to accrue to the top.
The large concerns to swallow the smaller ones.
Until the restofus burn down the town, again.
I haven't got that far, just parsed the early matter. Hadn't read London in a bit, and he's an enjoyable read regardless of the context.
I'll make some notes though when I get a bit further.
!lolz, I forgot that the commune is mentioned in the forward, it comes back in chapter 22.
Once you've read the book, and grokked what it said, you will likely know why they don't mention this book in their hysteria to perpetuate 1984 and BNW.
When you get ready, if you like, I will turn you on to the book that forced me to accept that I was communist.
It was written in 1887 and the author thought we would have fixed things by now, but nope.
It was quite a shock, having been an-crap for many years up to that point, I was some months in adjusting my thinking.
It did explain why the og anarchists hated crapitalism soooo much.
I found both of those books, in paperback, in a very exclusive, small library.
It just went to prove that authority wasn't reading the books there, either.
You let the slaves read the wrong books and they never accept their enslavement peacefully ever again.
No worries, I will read this. I'm sure its going to blow my mind.
At least tRump has been consistent (if wrong) on this as he always talked up tariffs. We know he is a failed businessman and maybe someone talked him into it, but nobody on his team has the guts to contradict him. From what I've seen these rates were calculated based on the balance of trade with each country, so not necessarily for them taxing US goods. They even put tariffs on islands where only penguins live.
I would expect international trade to be based on talking first, but tRump threatens first. Treating your allies like this is bad. It seems there are no tariffs on Russia.
What will the US do if big nations says... Ok, screw the dollar, we are going to use X.
War?
The BRICS plans have been somewhat derailed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resultant fallout, but US belligerence could certainly push Russia and China closer than they have been since the Soviet era, even if they're just allies of convenience. The Bretton-Woods system and petrodollar have both already collapsed, and it's just a matter of time before the consequences are openly acknowledged. Crypto, gold, and silver are probably safe bets for the long term against the dollar. I'm not convinced the Euro is any better.
China could gain from this and Putin may be pulling strings.
Not that X I assume. The dollar may lose value. You might say it's less 'great'.
That process has started already (smaller nations are already stepping away from the dollar), and if this madness continues, more are going to opt for an alternative.
No point in tariffs when there are trade sanctions. Weird how restricting trade on adversaries is punitive, but restricting trade on your citizens is beneficial though.
I was waiting for this post. I was thinking of writing one myself, but ... better not. You said it all.
This says it all.
I'll be waiting for your take on it too. I'm sure its dying to come out.
I'm biting my tongue honestly.
The Tariffs just makes stuff cost more for everybody. People act like it’s smart, but their wallets will feel it on a daily basis soon.
😏😏😏😏😏😏😏🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 as accurate as can be. Liberation
A lot of libertarians jumped on the Trump bandwagon as a calculated "lesser of two evils" choice. Some acknowledged the risk. Others drank the MAGA kool-ade. I tried to have a balanced view, and I think my best case and worst case posts from November held up a bit too well.
I didn't vote. I'm grappling with the moral and philosophical implications of participation in politics, and can't in good conscience until I've resolved some internal debate surrounding the nature of The State even if I cast a protest vote for a minor party or write myself in.
I don't think I'm ever voting again. It's all fake. There is no choice. I refuse.
I totally share you view in this, I do not have a good feeling about all of this tariff back and forth and It’s just making things more difficult for everyone. I feel it’s just another one of Trumps irrational decisions
He's playing roulette politics. It would funny if it was a movie, but in real life its just scary.
Absolutely
kiss the ring, repent or else.