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Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

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Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#31

Post by Mistletoe »

davidw wrote: post #15
enraged_camel wrote: post #4

Like many others, I'm of the opinion that shit is about to hit the fan in terms of the economy. Too many alarm bells, too many attempts by the admin to cover up and distract from the pillars starting to show cracks. I hope the recession ends up being smaller in length and magnitude than the 2008-2009 recession because that one wrecked an entire generation in terms of wealth and psychology.

So what's everyone think is a good place for their money to be? I'm pretty vexxed by this question. To me it seems obvious that a lot of what is happening is going to hurt, both short term (tariffs) and long term (destruction of the US advantage in science), but markets have kept going up and up.

Hoping to do this in 2026.

https://portfoliocharts.com/2021/12/16/three-secret-ingredie...

Something like the Frontier-3. Small cap value, long term treasuries, and gold. That portfolio does amazing at all time periods and still hit 10% a year in the lost decade after the 2000 crash.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#32

Post by xyst »

demented don and pedophile of the united states strikes again.

This administration continues to find new ways to make this country shittier for the common man. Lower courts recently found his tariffs to be illegal but given the corrupt state of the SCOTUS. It’s only a matter of time until it’s overturned.

It’s sad that the best we can do is _delay_ the damage this demented fool is doing to this country.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#33

Post by ehnto »

justinrubek wrote: post #30
mmastrac wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From someone outside the US (Canada) and in a country that's been abused by its giant next-door neighbour -- longer than just the current, explicit abuse -- I kinda hope this recession is deep and hurts badly. We've already seen some huge, positive structural changes to our economy and a down-and-out, bleeding US will have nothing but positive effects for the rest of us. I'd have some sympathy but this is an entirely…

What a vile response. I hope you feel some of the pain that you wish to dish out. There are a lot of us in the US who don't want this bullshit and haven't wanted it. A lot.

Then I hope they vote next time.

I am not as optimistic as the parent comment, about a US recession being of benefit to the rest of the world. I think we're all various degrees of fucked if it all falls apart, though it is probably true that other countries will benefit in the long run.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#34

Post by philwelch »

kaitai wrote: post #14
jstummbillig wrote: post #5

That's what was supposed to happen, right?

There has long been a desire to privatize the USPS, so this also fits neatly into the narrative that the USPS should not be a public good.

A public good is a good that is both non-rivalrous and non-excludable. Establishing a federal monopoly doesn’t turn the product of that monopoly into a public good. Likewise, a public good can be provided by a non-government entity.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#35

Post by ants_everywhere »

mmastrac wrote: post #18
enraged_camel wrote: post #4

Like many others, I'm of the opinion that shit is about to hit the fan in terms of the economy. Too many alarm bells, too many attempts by the admin to cover up and distract from the pillars starting to show cracks. I hope the recession ends up being smaller in length and magnitude than the 2008-2009 recession because that one wrecked an entire generation in terms of wealth and psychology.

From someone outside the US (Canada) and in a country that's been abused by its giant next-door neighbour -- longer than just the current, explicit abuse -- I kinda hope this recession is deep and hurts badly. We've already seen some huge, positive structural changes to our economy and a down-and-out, bleeding US will have nothing but positive effects for the rest of us. I'd have some sympathy but this is an entirely…

Who are you imagining will step into the power vacuum if the US collapses economically?

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#36

Post by swasheck »

kaitai wrote: post #22
orochimaaru wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If 80% of postal traffic was commercial and just being used to not pay duty/tariffs, then the tariffs are achieving what was intended. I don’t like the broad application of tariffs that is implemented today. They should have been better targeted. But this is one area where they are achieving what was intended.

Don't worry, it also hits birthday cards from my cousins, Christmas presents from my siblings, care packages with those favorite candies and coffees that aren't sold in the US. My sibling can't send me hand-knit items or hand-me-down kids items, items truly of de minimis monetary value. It may be accomplishing what was intended -- but I don't think that people in the US (even those paying attention) understand what w…

> It may be accomplishing what was intended -- but I don't think that people in the US (even those paying attention) understand what was intended.

this is what i suspect too. most of his common supporters i interact with parrot the “america first will revitalize the economy and job market” and then when that doesnt happen they do the same with “i’m willing to deal with temporary bit of pain in order to ensure american interests are protected.” these comments are almost always framed against the Obama and Biden administrations and never stand on their own merit (e.g. “unlike biden who …”).

to be perfectly fair, I’m not entirely sure what the ultimate goal is, though. My perception of the character of the person of the president has been dim for many decades so when it’s something that he champions I immediately chalk it up to something that would serve his own self interest above that of any group of other people

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#37

Post by ehnto »

ants_everywhere wrote: post #35
mmastrac wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From someone outside the US (Canada) and in a country that's been abused by its giant next-door neighbour -- longer than just the current, explicit abuse -- I kinda hope this recession is deep and hurts badly. We've already seen some huge, positive structural changes to our economy and a down-and-out, bleeding US will have nothing but positive effects for the rest of us. I'd have some sympathy but this is an entirely…

Who are you imagining will step into the power vacuum if the US collapses economically?

China is by far the most likely candidate, if it navigates its aging demographic issue well.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#38

Post by swasheck »

wqaatwt wrote: post #29
nothercastle wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In think a lot of those good are simply not flowing anymore. Suddenly a bunch a products are from companies around the world are no longer viable to sell until current stock is purged and the price of everything goes up. A lot of vendors are still locked in with pre-tarrif pricing to big box stores so all of them need to go bankrupt before the full price increase takes effect.

EU did this years ago when they started applying VAT on small packages. You can still easily buy as much Chinese stuff as you lik, though. Chaos and uncertainty seem like a much bigger issue in the US than forcing foreign retailers to compete on an even footing with local sellers.

chaos and uncertainty are the result of what appears to be fundamental ignorance of how complex economic systems work. policies are being drafted and executed based on a cursory understanding of how things work, and undergirded by barely-suppressed racism.

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#39

Post by swasheck »

xyst wrote: post #32

demented don and pedophile of the united states strikes again. This administration continues to find new ways to make this country shittier for the common man. Lower courts recently found his tariffs to be illegal but given the corrupt state of the SCOTUS. It’s only a matter of time until it’s overturned. It’s sad that the best we can do is _delay_ the damage this demented fool is doing to this country.

maybe there’s a new application of delay, defer, deny

Re: Postal traffic to US down by over 80% amid tariffs, UN says

#40

Post by mc32 »

croes wrote: post #12
jstummbillig wrote: post #5

That's what was supposed to happen, right?

[flagged]

I agree that people overconsume "garbage." Indeed who needs 30 dolls or 30 Lego sets (Yes, I know Legos are not made in China, but never the less it's true). We don't need to revamp home decor every five years. What's wrong with having avocado green bathrooms or wood paneling in basements? Did the Russkies or Chinese communists ever feel like their people's housing needed new decor every few years? I doubt it.

We could do with fewer items --though items of higher quality and usefulness. Conspicuous consumerism is on a downward path, I hope.

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