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Trade (and Tariffs)

xkcd.com

1–10 of 275 posts

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#4

I think a lesson is going to be taught, all right. Unfortunately the feedback loop in nations is much slower than in bodies.

That’s the whole trick: if the feedback cycle is long enough, the next person gets blamed for it, not the current.

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#6
post #4

I think a lesson is going to be taught, all right. Unfortunately the feedback loop in nations is much slower than in bodies.

That’s the whole trick: if the feedback cycle is long enough, the next person gets blamed for it, not the current.

The most impressive thing about Trump is that he managed to shorten up the feedback loops on an overwhelming number of his policies.

You would expect the US industry to silently absorb his trade policies and only break decades after he leaves. Somehow, they aren't healthy enough for that.

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#7
This is a pretty reductive take. If a nation works 6 days a week, 12 hours a shift then obviously they will outcompete any nation where people work 5 days a week for 8 hours.

Protecting workers from that kind of competition seems fair. Tariffs aren't bad in itself. They are just a tool.

Unfortunately fools wielding a tool like this can cause a lot of damage, but that's true for any tool.

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#8

This is a pretty reductive take. If a nation works 6 days a week, 12 hours a shift then obviously they will outcompete any nation where people work 5 days a week for 8 hours. Protecting workers from that kind of competition seems fair. Tariffs aren't bad in itself. They are just a tool. Unfortunately fools wielding a tool like this can cause a lot of damage, but that's true for any tool.

I don't think the comic is claiming that all tariffs in any context are bad, that would indeed be a reductive, bad take.

Given the timing and the metaphor of blood being sent to and from a limb, this is almost surely a reference to the tariff threats against Canada.

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#9

This is a pretty reductive take. If a nation works 6 days a week, 12 hours a shift then obviously they will outcompete any nation where people work 5 days a week for 8 hours. Protecting workers from that kind of competition seems fair. Tariffs aren't bad in itself. They are just a tool. Unfortunately fools wielding a tool like this can cause a lot of damage, but that's true for any tool.

I never realized I've been working this much.

Re: Trade (and Tariffs)

#10

This is a pretty reductive take. If a nation works 6 days a week, 12 hours a shift then obviously they will outcompete any nation where people work 5 days a week for 8 hours. Protecting workers from that kind of competition seems fair. Tariffs aren't bad in itself. They are just a tool. Unfortunately fools wielding a tool like this can cause a lot of damage, but that's true for any tool.

That is a ... pretty reductive take as well.
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