What do you think of Trump’s economic strategy? Does the US even need other countries for anything, or can we go back to producing it all ourselves?

Question

I’ve talked to older Americans about it and in the past they say that the US used to be the world’s factory, and was literally producing everything.

I’ve heard that pencils, pens, erasers, classroom supplies, even shoes and clothing before then. They say that literally everything we use that’s now made in China and all these other places used to be made in the US.

So we have the capability of all making it ourselves from what I can tell, since we used to make it all ourselves in the past.

There isn’t a thing in the world other countries have that we can’t produce- to the best of my knowledge

ASIDE FROM taiwanese semiconductors I believe. But that’s the only thing I think.

Now obviously China has the whole rare-earth mineral market nowadays but even then the US used to be the world’s largest producer of rare earth minerals for decades before then.

So in conclusion, I think Trump’s economic strategy makes sense.

Our economic decline and stagnation has largely been due to incompetence and self imposed suicide.

If we tariff other countries at high rates, and offer massive tax breaks to companies that build and produce in the US, then why wouldn’t we receive an economic renaissance?

Weren’t our best decades where Americans lived the best during the 50’s and 70’s back when we used to produce virtually everything?

But besides that tho, isn’t it important to bring back certain industries to the US that are vital to our security?

In the event of war, shouldn’t we not have to be dependent on other countries?

Shouldn’t we be able to produce our own steel, oil, energy, food, semiconductors, technology, cars (which can be converted to tank and AFV production like during ww2), etc.

All in all I think Trump’s strategy makes sense and even though I don’t necessarily want clothing and shoe production back in the US, I think it makes sense to threaten those countries with tariffs so they open their markets and bend to our will.

I truly believe there isn’t a single thing we can’t do.

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

The US is currently vulnerable because we are not economically independent. Drumpf’s plan appears to be directed at giving us that independence so we don’t rely on other nations’ resources or their willingness and ability to back our currency. It’s one thing to align ourselves to benefit from a global economy. It’s something different entirely to be dependent upon it to any extent.
The vast majority of people who are against his plan are only opposed because it’s Drumpf. If their party came up with it, they’d be all in.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

We definitely need to make more things domestically. We need to make things like electronics and pharmaceuticals. I live in an area that was known for making shoes and boots. I can remember the last few shoe manufacturers.
There is a barge as big as three football fields that goes from China to the port of LA. It comes to the US practically awash in cheap Chinese made junk and goes back to China practically empty.
Until President Trump was elected I thought I was the only one tht was concerned about this.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

The proof is - as always - in the pudding.

Syntosi · Answer

First of all, that is not Trumps economic strategy. He does not HAVE an economic strategy. But sure, lets start unraveling some of peoples nostalgia and point out why its stupid.

If I describe a nation where everyone works in sweatshops producing plastic junk, what do you think of? A wealthy western country or a 3rd world shithole? Sure, nationalism feels good and seeing "made in America" fills you with pride but what do you think being "the world’s factory" actually means?

There are certainly good reasons to keep some manufacturing jobs within your nation on both economic and security reasons but there are negatives associated with that. Factory work is not particularly good jobs, either productively nor economically. In fact, the whole idea of a factory is to make something with as little skill and effort as possible so the better we become at making factories the shittier the jobs become. You dont want to hire an expert if you can automate the job enough that a hobo could do it for the cost of beans after all.

So from a purely economical point of view it is better to focus on jobs that provides the highest return and then use some of that money to buy resources and pay others to do the production for you. You get the same results but you still have extra money left over. Even if we consider security its a better strategy to outgrow your enemies than to counter them. Take Russia as an example, they used to be a mighty foe to USA but after a few decades the Russians are still back where they started where as USA has dwarfed them economically.

Worrying about security concerns only matters if conflicts are imminent. Otherwise all your preparations for said conflict is slowing down your economic growth which at best keeps you equally strong for eternity and at worst means that your enemy is going to outgrow you and defeat you easily tomorrow.

As such your immediate security is important but not the thing that will ultimately decide if your nation lives or dies in the long run. For that you need economic growth.. as quickly as you can.. forever.

So let us consider the position of USA. Basically alone on an "island" surrounded by Mexico and Canada which (at least before Trump) used to be solid allies and the best neighbors one could ask for. Canadian industry is already tied into America which means they are basically a puppet state already and Mexico is like the personal cheap sweatshop factory for America. Together they could function basically as an independent economic block fairly similar to the isolationist ideas of "MAGA" or if you have some vision then they could become the foundation for American economic dominance once again.

But again, this relies on America paying others to do their dirty work. Why? Because America is basically already 100% employed, and that is including all the illegal immigrants that Trump is trying to deport. The gas pedal is already at the floor, there is realistically no more people to open up new factories or extract more resources. If you kick out the illegal immigrants then those jobs will no longer be completed. If you move people from one job to another then you are just making gaps elsewhere.

The only realistic way for USA to expand its economic power is to get more people abroad to work for the benefit of USA. This is why tariffs are stupid, because it literally does the opposite. If you introduce tariffs then that means America can no longer use the one resource it specializes in, money, to leverage for resources and labor elsewhere. If you asked me for a way to undermine USA as a super power then this would definitely be on the list of things I would recommend.

And then consider for a moment that the thing which I consider to be national sabotage, is the foundation for what you think is the current presidents economic strategy.

loveslongnails · Answer

It must be soooo nice to be sooooo ignorant and live in the past. LOL The industrial revolution in the USA is long gone. Statements like this: " There isn’t a thing in the world other countries have that we can’t produce- to the best of my knowledge" show your lack of understanding of today's global market.

The USA has very little RAW material for producing anything. The stuff we DO have COSTS MORE to produce than shipping it to other countries and bringing it back in! Do you understand that? Go find some major corporations who want to come back to the USA and manufacture ANYTHING they can make somewhere else for a tenth of the price. Go ahead. I'll wait. Go find them.

Even if a company did do that, who could afford to pay for the goods in the USA where the cost of living is so damn high? The top 3%? They don't drive the economy. And who would you SHIP the goods to at 3 times the price they can buy it for from China, Vietnam, Mexico, or any Asian producer? Tell me who. Again, I'll wait.

No one is building or refurbing factories in the USA, no matter what your fuhrer tells you. The USA can't EXIST without low cost imports because no one can afford to buy shit anymore. But do tell us about the good old days, when the rich were still getting richer and there kind of was a middle class. Tell us about it, because it will NEVER exist again in the USA. Never.

hannamontana · Answer

Trump’s economic strategy focused a lot on “America First.” That means he wanted the U. S. to make more things at home, buy less from other countries, and bring jobs back to American workers. He used tariffs (extra taxes on imports) to push this idea.

But in today’s world, countries are connected. The U. S. still needs other countries—for things like rare materials, cheaper goods, and trade partners. Making everything at home sounds good, but it can cost more, and some items or resources just aren’t available in the U. S.

lightbulb27 · Answer

it's the right effort, global and "consumer economy" went too far. But now it's going to cost another mint to bring it back and what happens if the other party gains power and shifts it back. the businesses have no choice but to shift directions.

I think the manufacturing of stuff is all over the place anyways... cars are made from parts from everywhere.

whom is going to plunk down the money to build a factory, to try to find the skilled workers/robots/tech to run it with the risk of it being obsolete by the next eletion. That has to be dealt with, else all the investment talk is BS.

NaultD · Answer

There was this guy who made a chicken sandwich from scratch like grow the wheat for the bread, get sea salt, and the easiest part was raising the chicken from an egg. It took 6 months and well over $1000. Once eating the sandwich it was fairly mediocre.

This was how a king would eat back 1000 years ago. Now we go to Wendy's and get something better on the value menu. It's moronic to cut off trade and try to rebuild it. Who the fuck wants to be a third world sweat shop worker in the usa? From there who the fuck is going to buy after pissing off the entire globe?

If we are to build things in USA today it has to be new things like space satellites like we have been for a long time now. What's simulator a lot of green energy technologies. Super high end front cost and basically free fuel. Usa could have boomed over the modern industrial revolution with this high end front cost selling it globally but we want to make clothing?

Anonymous · Answer

Trump has clearly displayed he doesn't understand anything.

He claims costs of "groceries" are down (has he ever been inside a grocery store?) They aren't.

He claims cost of gas is down... isn't. That a station in Ca has gas at $1.99 a gallon. Last time that was true it was the 1970's.

He has no idea how tariffs work. He's tanking the economy.

On and on and on. Every move is a lie or lethal.

It doesn't matter how loudly he proclaims how awesome he is, how everything is: it isn't.

He has the understanding of a second grader. If he was 7 years old it would then be understandable. He isn't.

His strategy of destroy and lie will bite him. Hard.

BonzoInBitburg · Answer

You can slap a 20% tariff on all Nike shoes made in Vietnam and it's still cheaper than what it would cost to make them in Nebraska. All you have accomplished is made shoes more expensive.

Dongie · Answer

Possibly a few things but there are loads of things that could and would be brought back here with the proper and fair, absent of democrat, taxes.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Two words: Comparative advantage. It's foundational to capitalism. Free trade benefits all participants. It's stupid to do it all yourself.

OddBeMe · Answer

"Go back to producing it all ourselves". That's like "when America was great"... an ephemeral era that never happened.

Close your door and see how long you can be self sustaining in your mom's basement

Anonymous · Answer

We just need better more fairer deals. We've been giving away our wealth for political influence for decades. They think of America like a fat cow that they can suck dry from its teets.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

American global greed will prevent your idea from happening.

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Evidently, not.

What do you think of Trump’s economic strategy? Does the US even need other countries for anything, or can we go back to producing it all ourselves?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Now that it's clear Trump's tariffs aren't helping manufacturing in the US, will he change course?

What do you think of Trump’s economic strategy? Does the US even need other countries for anything, or can we go back to producing it all ourselves?

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What Girls & Guys Said

Now that it's clear Trump's tariffs aren't helping manufacturing in the US, will he change course?

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