General Discussion

edhopper

(35,752 posts) Fri Apr 4, 2025, 09:46 PM Apr 4

104

An interesting post found on Facebook

I think this is a perspective worthy considering.

People are focusing on the tariffs as economic policy. That’s a mistake. They have nothing to do with revenue generation or economic policy. Like the EOs on law firms they are a way to break civil society by making companies need a favor from Trump. Trump can grant exclusions to tariffs. He did that frequently in his first term. As with the law firms, the goal here is to threaten the profitability of powerful independent actors and make them beg for a deal from Trump. How do they get an exclusion? By showing or persuasively promising absolute loyalty to Trump. Watch as it plays out. If on either the EOs or the tariffs you get sucked in by the superficial aspects you are missing the point. Having broken Congress and making our representatives’ oaths to the Constitution meaningless, one by one he is breaking the big universities, the big law firms, and now the big multinational corporations to his will. It’s not that he is an idiot who fails to understand academic research, the role of lawyers in our society, or trade policy. He is a would be dictator who has studied the playbook of successful dictators and is systematically bringing to heel the powerful institutions that could oppose him.[/excerpt]

16 replies

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An interesting post found on Facebook (Original Post) edhopper Apr 4 OP

K&R Solly Mack Apr 4 #1

I doubt trump studied anything. Maybe Steven Miller and the other fascists who have his ear... brush Apr 4 #4

He can be schooled, as long as it is adapted in a way that captures his attention. Solly Mack Apr 4 #7

Agreed. He has help he didn't have before. Kelly and Matis the other generals... brush Apr 5 #16

Totally Steven Miller and who knows who else vapor2 Apr 4 #8

It's the Koch's playbook, trump is the actor recieving payment Bluethroughu Apr 4 #9

That Facebook person stole my explanation. gab13by13 Apr 4 #2

Did you see the theory suggested by Senator Chris Murphy? He convinced me. liberalla Apr 5 #15

Of course. That was obvious from the beginning. Ocelot II Apr 4 #3

Yep. dalton99a Apr 4 #5

I guess its going to take some serious pain and death BootinUp Apr 4 #6

I think that only the people of America can solve this and we got to use our voices oldmanlynn Apr 4 #10

Very interesting. H2O Man Apr 4 #11

TY.. This is basically what Sen Chris Murphy posted on BlueSky... Cha Apr 5 #12

Yes! Thank you. Sky Jewels Apr 5 #14

Very Machiavellian Seinan Sensei Apr 5 #13

Solly Mack

(94,693 posts)

1. K&R

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 09:48 PM

Apr 4

brush

(59,498 posts)

4. I doubt trump studied anything. Maybe Steven Miller and the other fascists who have his ear...

Reply to Solly Mack (Reply #1)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 09:59 PM

Apr 4

Last edited Sat Apr 5, 2025, 01:28 AM - Edit history (1)

are orchestrating his actions and give him scripts to recite on the tariffs and other bullshit he spews.

The fucker can hardly read the PDB unless it has photos and his name repeated several times.

This moron is not directing shit, IMO, except when it's time to go golfing and ordering KFC.

Solly Mack

(94,693 posts)

7. He can be schooled, as long as it is adapted in a way that captures his attention.

Reply to brush (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:08 PM

Apr 4

Do this and this happens. Keep it short and in keeping with his aims of revenge and control.

Trump understands bullying and extortion.

He's also someone who overreaches.

He also has help he didn't have last time. People who have learned to adapt to his whims while pitching their own agenda. There has been a melding, for example, of the conservative thinking of the Heritage Foundation (Project 2025) and the desires of Trump's ego.

brush

(59,498 posts)

16. Agreed. He has help he didn't have before. Kelly and Matis the other generals...

Reply to Solly Mack (Reply #7)

Sat Apr 5, 2025, 01:26 AM

Apr 5

who controlled his insane impulses before. Now that fascists and Project. 25 creators have his ear and tell him what to do.

vapor2

(2,090 posts)

8. Totally Steven Miller and who knows who else

Reply to brush (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:10 PM

Apr 4

He couldn't even read the PDB during his first term and with his dementia he clearly has help with this freakin decisions that are destroying our economy.

Bluethroughu

(7,098 posts)

9. It's the Koch's playbook, trump is the actor recieving payment

Reply to brush (Reply #4)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:56 PM

Apr 4

Based on proformance. These traitors have hated our Constitution since before they were born. Trump is perfectly dumb with a huge ego and vengeance to play the part...he's essentially a patsy. The Koch's sit back watch the show and are ready for the final bow, to take credit for their new way forward for this country.

gab13by13

(27,569 posts)

2. That Facebook person stole my explanation.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 09:51 PM

Apr 4

Krasnov's tariffs are designed to show the world how powerful he is. He will cut back on the tariffs of countries that send him money.

liberalla

(10,391 posts)

15. Did you see the theory suggested by Senator Chris Murphy? He convinced me.

Reply to gab13by13 (Reply #2)

Sat Apr 5, 2025, 01:03 AM

Apr 5

There are similarities with this facebook post, but I believe the post by the Senator gives a more complete explanation.

11 Bluesky texts from Senator Chris Murphy, posted overnight to explain what Trump's tariffs are really all about:

However you look at it, it's pretty effed up.

Ocelot II

(124,153 posts)

3. Of course. That was obvious from the beginning.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 09:53 PM

Apr 4

Tariffs are Trump's extortion racket.

dalton99a

(88,025 posts)

5. Yep.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:00 PM

Apr 4

BootinUp

(49,607 posts)

6. I guess its going to take some serious pain and death

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 10:02 PM

Apr 4

to make some/many people understand they are being conned again.

oldmanlynn

(638 posts)

10. I think that only the people of America can solve this and we got to use our voices

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 11:35 PM

Apr 4

H2O Man

(76,582 posts)

11. Very interesting.

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Fri Apr 4, 2025, 11:55 PM

Apr 4

Recommended. Thank you for this.

Cha

(309,543 posts)

12. TY.. This is basically what Sen Chris Murphy posted on BlueSky...

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sat Apr 5, 2025, 12:04 AM

Apr 5

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220204729

11 Bluesky texts from Senator Chris Murphy, posted overnight to explain what Trump's tariffs are really all about:

Sky Jewels

(9,050 posts)

14. Yes! Thank you.

Reply to Cha (Reply #12)

Sat Apr 5, 2025, 12:40 AM

Apr 5

I was going to post the same link.

Seinan Sensei

(935 posts)

13. Very Machiavellian

Reply to edhopper (Original post)

Sat Apr 5, 2025, 12:14 AM

Apr 5

A Professor, two weeks before semester's end, says
“I want y’all to write one more paper. Due Monday.”
Class moans and groans.
“That's too much “
“Give us more time “
“We have other classes”
“It’s not in the syllabus”

After a few minutes of this,
Professor scratches his head, shrugs, and says,
“Okay, then. You don’t have to write the paper.”

The class laughs and cheers.
“Thank you, thank you!”
They love the Professor.

Topic of the paper?
“Machiavellianism”

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