Neighborly

 

Our friends, Canada and Mexico, are dishonest in trade.

Globalization of trade should be free and clear of any encumbrances or unfair practices. When a nation chooses to create a trade imbalance intended to benefit their economy while punishing another nation, it is a violation of the tenets of free trade. Protectionism is the primary reason that nations tip the scales in their favor. Many of our “friends” have taken advantage of the United States’ largesse and have a considerable trade imbalance with the US. Much of the blame for the large trade deficit with most of the world, comes right back to us. The US incentivized developing nations so that those countries would use those additional funds to energize their economies, enabling them to purchase more American goods. This strategy has backfired, spectacularly.

Japan instituted tariffs on many American made products, in particular, tariffs on Harley Davidson products make it next to impossible to import to Japan. China refuses to do business with American companies unless they move some of their manufacturing to China, where products are reverse engineered and intellectual property stolen. Then those products are manufactured at other Chinese factories, sometimes using slave labor, ship them around the world, and undersell the American made products. These types of practices, which are dishonest and should be illegal on the global market, cost American jobs and some American companies have lost enough market share that they had to close their businesses.

Japan and China are not alone making it difficult to market American products. It has become a worldwide industry to sell “knock off” products and to routinely disadvantage American companies and products. The US took little to no action against these unfair practices until President Trump decided to level the playing field by levying reciprocal tariffs on those nations placing impediments to free trade with us. Unfortunately, the democrat party has been using the legal system, filing lawsuits in partisan courts to undercut the President’s authority. Democrats would rather American industries and workers suffer than allow President Trump to utilize tariffs as a tool to convince other nations to play fairly in trade.

The trade agreement (USMCA) with our northern and southern neighbors is regularly violated, or worked around, to Mexico’s and Canada’s advantage and to our detriment. Back door deals with China for cheap steel and aluminum, that both Canada and Mexico use in the manufacturing of automotive parts, undercut American companies. This allows China to violate fair trade practices and evade any sanctions. It is not enough for both Canada and Mexico to have trade surpluses of over $50Billion annually. Canada is now aligning with the United States’ and the western world’s chief adversary, China. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has been very disingenuous with recent trade negotiations with the US, mischaracterizing negotiations and drumming up animosity among the Canadian people. Worse, democrat Governors of states that are trade partners with Canada are aligning themselves with Canada instead of supporting the interests of the US. This is more typical democrat hypocrisy, that borders on treason.

Along with the theocratic, murderous regime in Iran, some of our friends believe weakening the President, weakens the US position, allowing them an opportunity to use that to their advantage. Democrats also believe that by weakening the US position to harm President Trump and Republicans will enable them to return to power. The plight of the American people means nothing to the democrats. You are merely pawns that only matter when you vote for them and are to be disregarded until the next election. As for all of us knuckle-dragging conservatives, so much the better if we are punished, politically, socially, and economically.

Affordability is the rallying cry from the democrats, conveniently forgetting that the reckless spending by the Biden administration drove up inflation by over 21% and added over $8 Trillion to the National Debt. Those prices that have exponentially increased for everything from apples to zucchini were substantially affected by the reckless spending of democrats. Now they blame President Trump. Yes, the price of gas is up, partly because of the Iran conflict, but the rest of the unaffordability problem is a direct result of democrat policies. Allow them to regain power and we just may become history. Not in a good way, more like all the other failed nations that destroyed themselves.

We have a real choice. Be angry that gas prices are too high and vote for the democrat “saviors,” or understand that prices at the pump will return to normal once Iran and its’ proxies are defeated. Should democrats regain power, they will appease Iran and the world will continue to be held hostage by a bunch of religious lunatics. Iran WILL then be able to possess a nuclear weapon that they would not hesitate to use. Stay the course and the majority of our society will continue to uphold the rule of law, support those who would keep our nation safe, respect all life, and reject the lunacy that is the left. It’s your call.

 

If at First You don’t Succeed

 

Lie, lie again!

As the democrat party fades into irrelevancy, they have launched a strategy to use outright lies to undermine the Trump administration. There is no nuance to their actions since they have nothing valid to offer this nation, other than bitter hatred of Trump. The democrat party was rejected in the 2024 election, yet they continue to embrace insane leftist ideology. Democrats have lost their way. They stubbornly cling to all things woke, even though this often places them at odds with 70-80% of the population. Not only is the democrat party failing to adjust their strategy to align with common sense societal values, they refuse to acknowledge the error of their ways.

Democrats on transgenderism – They remain steadfast in their belief that little Johnny can become little Janet and that if the child chooses to alter their gender, parents need not be consulted. It is ideology over reality. They approve of chosen gender pronouns, gender reassignment surgeries, and life altering puberty blocking drugs for minors. Anyone else that is gender confused can obtain medical treatments at government expense, including those imprisoned. Male inmates can elect to be housed with females if they claim that they are women. There are no unforeseen consequences to those actions that could occur?

Democrats on LGTBQI+ - Woke school boards allow pornographic homosexual novels to be placed in elementary school libraries. The very same books, when read aloud by parents at a school board meeting are shut down due to their graphic nature. Pride flags flown proudly at democrat state capitols take the place of state and POW flags. Pride parades that are no more than an excuse for homosexual exhibitionism are celebrated. Pride month? Where do their priorities lie?

Democrats on fraud, waste, and bloated bureaucracy – It would seem that making government more efficient and accountable would be an issue that transcends politics, but democrats are fighting DOGE tooth and nail. They are beholden to the public sector unions that funnel $Millions to the DNC. Unfortunately, some elected officials may find themselves in hot water once Elon and his compatriots follow the money trail from these bloated agencies. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are facing insolvency in the next decade. If we cannot trim down the federal budget, those entitlements could be severely reduced. Interest payments on the national debt is approaching $1Trillon annually. Democrats continue to accuse Trump of trying to gut those programs, when their obstructionism will adversely affect the solvency of those programs.

Democrats on “saving our democracy” – over 100 lawsuits have been filed to obstruct legitimate executive actions by cherry picking radical leftist judges, most that have no jurisdiction on the matter, then have the audacity to issue orders to the President. Imagine that, a US District Court Judge issuing rulings that restrict the executive branch from carrying out Constitutionally protected duties and executive orders. Next federal laws, upheld as constitutional will be struck down by any radical leftist judge and the democrats will approve.

Democrats as the “loyal opposition” party – Resist, obstruct, derail, lie, and whatever else is necessary to destroy not only the Trump administration, but the majority of this nation that elected him. Not only has their rhetoric influenced radicals within the US, it has emboldened other nations to act brazenly against the US. Our nation’s world standing has suffered as democrats continually rebuke every White House statement or action.

Democrats on tariffs – Other nations have accumulated massive trade surpluses with the US due to their imposing tariffs on US goods. Canada has amassed over $60 Billion, Mexico over $150 Billion annually. Democrats lambast President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs as “inflationary” when the reciprocity will simply level the playing field and likely lower other countries tariffs on the US. Democrats are wrong again and their resistance will ultimately harm the US consumer.

The list could go on, but democrats have made the choice to be on the wrong side of history, yet they resist changing direction. Unless they return to a semblance of normalcy and begin to prioritize serving the people again, rather than being the obstructionists that they now are, they will fade into oblivion. And it will be well deserved.

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery. Proverbs 6:12-15.

Sound a bit like today’s democrat party? Well, if the shoe fits, wear it!

 

Made in China

On March 29th 2000, President Clinton advocated for granting China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) paving the way for China to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) stating that this would be a great deal for America. "We do nothing," Clinton said. "They have to lower tariffs. They open up telecommunications for investment. They allow us to sell cars made in America in China at much lower tariffs. They allow us to put our own distributorships there. They allow us to put our own parts there. We don't have to transfer technology or do joint manufacturing in China any more. This a hundred-to-nothing deal for America when it comes to the economic consequences."
While the idea of normalizing trade with China and facilitating their economic growth in order for our economy to take advantage of the emerging market there was promising, this held inherent risks that have come to fruition. Over the long term, stimulating a nation with over a billion people, just coming of age, ready to reap the rewards of new and exciting products made in America, made all the sense in the world at that time. It was believed that our strong economy could withstand the short term costs of helping China’s economy grow. But, like the drug addict that decides to take over the territory of the drug dealer and drive him out of business, so has the little engine that could, as China dominates our growing trade deficit.

The forced transfer of technology by China to US businesses located within China, China’s brazen theft of intellectual property and wanton patent infringement costs the US economy over $600 billion annually. This added to our almost $400 billion trade imbalance adds up to a $1 trillion hit to the US economy annually. Our government has acquiesced to China’s blatant and unfair trade over the years, allowing the Chinese economy to grow at our, and the world’s expense. Our policies of appeasement and simply grousing about our trade imbalance without imposing any consequences for China's behavior have simply emboldened the Chinese government. For years China has thumbed their noses at the world while they steal technology and violate patents while their economy expands. The growth China is experiencing coupled with their unrestrained disregard of any pollution standards, has made China the world’s greatest polluter.

It is long past time to confront China economically and President Trump is more than justified to enact tariffs on Chinese goods in an effort to force them to engage in fair trade. Unfair tariffs by other countries often force US companies to move manufacturing plants to those countries, eliminating jobs in the US and harming our manufacturing sector. Reducing our trade deficit will also go a long way in slowing our ever expanding national debt. The new trade agreements negotiated by President Trump will enable our economy to continue to thrive. Short term harm caused by these tariffs will be overcome by the future benefits by opening new and fair markets for our products. China cannot be allowed to continue to take advantage of the US and our companies with impunity. Stand strong and withstand the hardships in the short term to enable us all to prosper and grow in the future.