Thread

1. mcmcmc · 1790027665 · focus · HN ↗

   It truly boggles the mind how Trump managed to sell tariffs as anything other than a tax on American consumers

   1. jacobolus · 1790034226 · focus · HN ↗

      > managed to sell tariffs

      He didn't manage to sell them. Everyone hates the tariffs, which are widely understood to have contributed to high prices and economic stagnation.

      What he did manage to do is bully the abjectly servile GOP leaders of Congress into not doing anything about the tariffs, even though setting trade policy is expressly assigned to Congress by Article I of the Constitution, and Trump has repeatedly exceeded any legal authority.

      1. EgregiousCube · 1790036566 · focus · HN ↗

         Nope, Congress has authorized the executive to impose tariffs multiple times for multiple different reasons. Tariff Act of '30, Trade Expansion Act of '62, Trade Act of '74, etc.

         1. jacobolus · 1790048927 · focus · HN ↗

            Past congressional actions were premised on an executive acting in good faith, upholding their oath of office, and following Congress's explicit intentions described in the laws you mention.

            A situation where a corrupt and incompetent president is explicitly trying to blow up the US economy using not-really-relevant laws as a pretext was not ever anticipated, and he will hopefully be strongly rebuked (e.g. impeached) by the next Congress.

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