Hacker News Reader

Doesn't matter - tariffs decrease purchasing power (these things have a tendency to affect unrelated markets because of the economy's interconnectedness), and lower purchasing power means slower economic activity, which includes investment in things like research.

View on HN

The idea of such a tariff, imposed by countries other than the US, would not be either preserving US "economic activity", nor to foster "investment in things like research" in the US.

Slower economic activity might not be a bad thing. Global CO2 output was definitely positively affected by the financial crisis.

This also broke the EUs climate quota system, but that's a separate discussion.

It may be fine for self-absorbed silicon valley types with plenty to eat but that sentiment condemns people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder to financial ruin and death.

I know it's unpopular in the US but higher taxes on rich people/companies and higher well fare benefits might also be a way to help people on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com