I would like the tax cut to expire. Republicans screw up the economy every damn time they get in office. If either party was serious about saving money, they would hire the best money people to descend on the Pentagon and fix the waste, fraud, & abuse there. I could kick the idiots that voted this destruction to our country.
Thank you for sharing, Adam. The topic can be confusing, and that is why I did the adds first. Getting charts to match from good sources was the part that makes it credible. Still, I see trouble down the pike. Hiccups.
You're most welcome. As soon as the talk coalesced around tariffs, I knew we were in far more trouble than anticipated.
Some years back I worked for US Customes in the Ministerial Division with the commodity teams who calculated the VAT's or Value Added Taxes. Call that a fancy name for a tariff.
When you know a subject well, then hear claims of knowing how things work "better than the experts" from a dude that should be wearing an "I'm with Stupid" t-shirt featuring his own photo, you know you've got trouble.
Adam, please add insights that you have regarding the impact of tariffs on spending. I see people pulling back from the marketplace and not buying. A salesperson I know (that handles groundskeeping equipment and small tractors) says people are buying NOTHING. This is early May, for heaven’s sake. I see doom if people withdraw from the marketplace.
Too many people fail to understand our complex world and how intertwined all economies are. They need to feel pain to further their understanding and the party in powers' grandstanding coupled with their ridiculous claims don't help matters any.
I'm a musician on the side and was planning a new band project for 2025 when this tariff talk started in late 2024. In January 2025 I became concerned enough to buy everything I needed (including the PA system that I intended to buy this coming August) to avoid the coming tariffs.
I told all of my friends who didn't want to believe this. Most folks that I know are putting off larger purchases like car, travel and such but for instance, my sister still plans to buy a house.
The salesperson's anecdote makes sense. How much groundskeeping equipment does one need? But the lack of sales threatens that particular industry and of course the employees which creates a ripple effect affecting other industries.
A few other folks I know are doing as I am and preparing just in case but uncertainty is a stress inducer.
Yesterday I had a conversation with another musician friend who previously eschewed my advice. He's getting scared now that he knows about the port of Seattle being virtually empty of container ships.
I'm buying things. A min-freezer, stocking up on paper products, canned goods and bottled water. Most folks I know are wandering around like everything is fine. They can't see what I'm talking about... yet.
In summation, I don't know if I've sufficiently answered your question. I left Customs in 1986 and have only personal observations not hard data.
Admittedly I am not a numbers person, so articles like this -- which is exceptional in its presentation BTW -- make my brain churn.
But when it settles down, I'm left with this image distilled from all the text ---> these ghouls will end Medicaid / cut SNAP benefits -- which feed hungry children (not nearly enough, but at least it's *something*) / continue to wring tax $$$ from the tips of service workers ... while Trump & Musk high-five each other in the Oval Office.
The only word for that is "obscene." It makes me ill -- (which is maybe why I'm not a numbers person to begin with.) However, thank you, Carl, for the astounding work you put into this. Go get yourself some ice cream.
There is yet another dimension in the Republican shell game. One can look at cuts in Medicaid as at least a hidden tax on people who obtain private insurance through their employer or directly. Cuts in Medicaid translate into more uninsured appearing at the ER (with more acute, preventable conditions at that because they put off primary care).
I would like the tax cut to expire. Republicans screw up the economy every damn time they get in office. If either party was serious about saving money, they would hire the best money people to descend on the Pentagon and fix the waste, fraud, & abuse there. I could kick the idiots that voted this destruction to our country.
This was a relatively easy read Carl. Thank you for making it so in addition to your valued analysis.
Thank you for sharing, Adam. The topic can be confusing, and that is why I did the adds first. Getting charts to match from good sources was the part that makes it credible. Still, I see trouble down the pike. Hiccups.
You're most welcome. As soon as the talk coalesced around tariffs, I knew we were in far more trouble than anticipated.
Some years back I worked for US Customes in the Ministerial Division with the commodity teams who calculated the VAT's or Value Added Taxes. Call that a fancy name for a tariff.
When you know a subject well, then hear claims of knowing how things work "better than the experts" from a dude that should be wearing an "I'm with Stupid" t-shirt featuring his own photo, you know you've got trouble.
Adam, please add insights that you have regarding the impact of tariffs on spending. I see people pulling back from the marketplace and not buying. A salesperson I know (that handles groundskeeping equipment and small tractors) says people are buying NOTHING. This is early May, for heaven’s sake. I see doom if people withdraw from the marketplace.
Too many people fail to understand our complex world and how intertwined all economies are. They need to feel pain to further their understanding and the party in powers' grandstanding coupled with their ridiculous claims don't help matters any.
I'm a musician on the side and was planning a new band project for 2025 when this tariff talk started in late 2024. In January 2025 I became concerned enough to buy everything I needed (including the PA system that I intended to buy this coming August) to avoid the coming tariffs.
I told all of my friends who didn't want to believe this. Most folks that I know are putting off larger purchases like car, travel and such but for instance, my sister still plans to buy a house.
The salesperson's anecdote makes sense. How much groundskeeping equipment does one need? But the lack of sales threatens that particular industry and of course the employees which creates a ripple effect affecting other industries.
A few other folks I know are doing as I am and preparing just in case but uncertainty is a stress inducer.
Yesterday I had a conversation with another musician friend who previously eschewed my advice. He's getting scared now that he knows about the port of Seattle being virtually empty of container ships.
I'm buying things. A min-freezer, stocking up on paper products, canned goods and bottled water. Most folks I know are wandering around like everything is fine. They can't see what I'm talking about... yet.
In summation, I don't know if I've sufficiently answered your question. I left Customs in 1986 and have only personal observations not hard data.
I am a numbers guy, this was excellent info and presented in easy to understand charts and graphs.
FYI, the last big tax-payer funded bail-out for the ‘farmers’ under Trump went almost entirely to the largest industrial farming conglomerates.
Thank you for the kind words.
Admittedly I am not a numbers person, so articles like this -- which is exceptional in its presentation BTW -- make my brain churn.
But when it settles down, I'm left with this image distilled from all the text ---> these ghouls will end Medicaid / cut SNAP benefits -- which feed hungry children (not nearly enough, but at least it's *something*) / continue to wring tax $$$ from the tips of service workers ... while Trump & Musk high-five each other in the Oval Office.
The only word for that is "obscene." It makes me ill -- (which is maybe why I'm not a numbers person to begin with.) However, thank you, Carl, for the astounding work you put into this. Go get yourself some ice cream.
I tried to make it understandable. Send it to your Senator.
There is yet another dimension in the Republican shell game. One can look at cuts in Medicaid as at least a hidden tax on people who obtain private insurance through their employer or directly. Cuts in Medicaid translate into more uninsured appearing at the ER (with more acute, preventable conditions at that because they put off primary care).
I do not think they will be able to cut Medicad Expansion, Kim. We will fight them.
Thanks for your analysis.
I do this for you Gloria!