Comment by dashundchen | Hacker News Reader

Comment by dashundchen | Hacker News Reader

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Just posting something doesn't make it true. Don't be disingenuous by making it seems like Sanders supports this idiotic "plan" just because he spoke out in favor of certain tariffs or against parts of free trade in the past.

In fact he called these tariffs along with Trump's plan to cut taxes on he wealthy an absurd transfer of wealth:

> Trump's absurd idea to replace the income tax with a sales tax on imported goods would be the largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history. If enacted, taxes would go up by over $5,000 a year for a middle class family, while those in the top 0.1% would get a $1.5 million tax break.

https://xcancel.com/BernieSanders/status/1850933809384137106

And Trump's economic plan "insane"

> https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/bernie-sanders-...

Many agree, most polls have Trump far underwater in his handling of the economy.

> Respondents gave Trump poor marks for his handling of the economy, which 37% approved of, with 30% approving of his work to address the high cost of living, an issue that also dogged Biden.

https://www.reuters.com/default/trump-approval-falls-43-lowe...

Sanders was a protectionist until it became seen as treasonous in Democrat circles: https://sandersinstitute.org/event/rep-bernie-sanders-oppose...

Again, just because Sanders would support some protectionist policies doesn't mean he supports the tariffs going on now. He's on the record saying they're a regressive sales tax benefiting the wealthy.

Which is why I was pointing out your comment is disingenuous by insinuating Sanders would support the tariffs because it's anti-free trade.

You're really driving home this "Hey everyone, Trump is just doing exactly what Pat Buchanan and Bernie Sanders agreed to do".

This is the equivalent of saying that any anti-war protester is instantly a complete ideological pacifist. It's illogical.

I challenge you to find a policy paper endorsed by Sanders that said "let's do universal tariffs on the entire planet by taking the inverse of our trade balance - and leave Russia out of it".

Everyone knows tariffs are a tool, often meant to encourage domestic production (when applicable and feasible) or to protect against unfair foreign trade practices.

They do not work as a permanent source of revenue in the modern era, and they can never operate as both a strong source of revenue AND a tool for repatriation of production. If they work as revenue, that means production stays foreign. If they work as incentive, they will diminish in revenue.

Nothing about this makes sense unless your goal is to tear down the US and the USD as a global economic power and global reserve currency. This is not about making America strong.

Protectionism is usually about protecting existing jobs and industries.

This idea of blanket tariffs to try and kickstart industries is unique.

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