From a Canadian: A Question. What happens if or when Trump's tariffs pay off for your country? [View all]

[LiberalLovinLug]

Trump has almost 4 years (at least). He is rapidly converting the government into a mafia style autocracy. Where he threatens law firms if they dare be a part of any litigation against him. Where he silences mews media companies with lawsuits if they dare report on him negatively. Where he muffles freedom of speech with deportation of protesters. And that’s just the start

But outside the country he is behaving the same way. Extortion and threats to smaller economies to fall in line or his “protection” fee will go up. And also may be reduced if they cooperate and submit.

IF he is allowed to continue…if SCOTUS has his back as well, It could very well work. In the end. Sure the US will have lost its friends. Lost all respect in the world. But, like a mob boss that is insulated from his crimes by a corrupt police and judiciary….because he has successfully put in charge his own stooges….he doesn’t care about his victims misery. Eventually the tariff money will come flooding in. Countries will only be relieved of part of the tariffs if they turn over certain resources rights to Trump in exchange. Also other countries businesses who cater to US consumers, will be forced to relocate to the US as the only way to survive the tariff war. I have already heard some Canadian companies say they will have to do just that.

So the US economy will potentially be booming before Trump finishes his second term. At the expense of its neighbours and former allies. And of course within your own country, at the expense of freedom of expression, and protest. Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, union rights etc etc. With a cowed press and intimidated judiciary. Even the right to use the courts to stop him is gone as he openly defies them without consequence.

BUT…. The economy is booming. Trump starts getting in so much that he lowers all household taxes dramatically. He announces big mega projects…bridges, roads, high speed rail. Basically by stealing from other countries, plus money saved from radical cuts to social programs and public health and safety departments.

What I as a Canadian fear, is that it’s easy to protest Trump now. When milk and eggs are high priced. But how many Americans will have our backs if they start to feel positive results of his brutal plan? The benefits of living under the protection of their thieving godfather in the white house?

I think the Trump admin is so cocky now because they know that in politics a week is a long time let alone 4 years. And most people are greedy to one degree or another. What if by the time the mid terms arrive, the country is already starting to see the benefits of the US taking advantage of its economic power to squeeze and bankrupt other countries into submission?

Will even some here on DU sit back and say. “you know what? My 401k is soaring. I have more job security, plants are opening up, taxes are lower. Maybe other countries WERE ripping us off. Why should we listen to the whining of Canadians or other countries? America is Great Again!”

And I wonder sometimes if the Democratic party has a plan for this outcome. They seem to have put themselves into a reactionary position where its all about Trump’s latest scandal like the Signal debacle. Which is already old news and forgotten. The, dare I say, brilliance of the Trump team’s plan is that Democrats are being steered onto the role of defending other countries economies while Trump comes off prioritizing the US’s economy.

Going from the concept of “raising all boats” to shooting holes in other boats and robbing them as they sink. But if this ship flying the skull and bones flag comes back into harbour loaded with treasure, how many Americans will ignore the horror stories of how this treasure was gotten, and be mezmerized by the gold?