This whole situation is just embarrassing and scary, as is the entire Trump presidency, but I’d like to point out that the US exports a fuckton of goods and services around the world. At least, the US used to export a fuckton of goods and services around the world.

First, other countries can accept tariffs on their exports to the United States without retaliation, providing revenue to the U.S. Treasury to finance public goods provision. Critically, retaliation will exacerbate rather than improve the distribution of burdens and make it even more difficult for us to finance global public goods.

Second, they can stop unfair and harmful trading practices by opening their markets and buying more from America;

Third, they can boost defense spending and procurement from the U.S., buying more U.S.-made goods, and taking strain off our servicemembers and creating jobs here;

Fourth, they can invest in and install factories in America. They won’t face tariffs if they make their stuff in this country;

Fifth, they could simply write checks to Treasury that help us finance global public goods.

They genuinely still think other countries are the ones that will pay the tariffs…

Yes, and Trump has done it a lot. This is different though. This is going to undermine US trade relations permanently, even if he tries to walk back the tariffs or “cut deals” with some countries

Lichen can lichen my ass

I just couldn’t disagree more. Finland doesn’t have to actually do anything different. Telling Trump how great he is in private can get him off your back entirely, because he’s a narcissist. All he cares about is whether or not someone likes him. There’s absolutely nothing about this meeting that “just confirms Finland won’t be a major obstacle to his plan and/or Finland will just go along with it.”

It’s no secret that Trump is easy to manipulate with flattery. Surprised every leader in the world isn’t doing this. You can hate the guy’s guts, but give him a smile and a compliment and you can bend him to your will

Nah, we use old corncobs, just like pappy had done

Oh shit

It landed…poorly

Welcome to every technological advancement ever applied to the workforce

Nepenthes

Love it

Federal money is money paid by the states and the people though? Texas is one of those rare red states that actually pays more into the federal system than it receives.

Either way, this article is about sending disaster coordination responsibilities back to the states from the federal level, and that’s what I’m talking about. Texas can reasonably handle itself (as could e.g. California, New York, or Washington) whereas there are other states who are probably really going to struggle, like Louisiana, Mississippi, or West Virginia.

Are you talking about the Harvey response? I’m genuinely not sure. I’m from Louisiana, btw, solidly Cajun here. I lived in Houston over a decade after that. In no way trying to disrespect anyone

You’ve seen some videos of free range chickens that don’t have avian flu and think that constitutes evidence that avian flu isn’t a problem for free range chickens…?

Pretty much everywhere that rarely gets snow shuts down when it snows. A lot safer to shut down for a couple days than to expect everyone who has no experience driving in winter weather go about their days

Fully functional? Lol

We certainly appreciate the help! But “dependent” might not be an accurate description

Basically a map of the most hurricane-impacted areas

No argument here. Hello from Travis County, where we get similar treatment

I live in Texas, and I recognize we would probably be able to handle our own disaster response, given our size, economic heft, and functioning government (this last one is arguable, but in general Texas is pretty good about keeping the things they want working).

I used to live in Louisiana, which would be totally fucked under this plan. They have no hope whatsoever to take care of themselves.