New Tarrifs

[SuperHoneyBadger]

It's a way to get more taxes on those that don't own any property.

Holy shit, I love this take. Same with the rise of privately owned speedtraps and red light cameras up here in Canada. Buddy at work got a $900 ticket for 20 over in a school zone.

[Jeff]

[mowens]

They may be higher in Illinois but they're prevalent everywhere in this country.

I associate them more with Republicans because there are so many Christians who want to inflict their own morality upon others even (especially?) if they have to punish them into it. And Republicans who claim to be Christians are a huge part of the "sin" taxes.

I say that because there are (or used to be) so many dry counties in the "bible belt" of the midwest. Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas. And I'm pretty damn sure all those places are filled with Trumpers.

In real life it's probably nonpartisan.

All taxes applied equally (sales taxes, sin taxes, etc) hit the people with the least income the hardest.

Kansas only has one dry county now, that I know of. I mean, we have no beaches mountains or trees. What else are we going to do?

Quote from Barney Miller
"One more time and we're transferring you to Kansas. Do you know what's in Kansas? Wheat."


Although, I was driving through the flint hills on Saturday and was struck by the scenery. It's range burning season so when you got to the top of a tall hill you could look out over the vistas and see a brown pasture next to a black area with green fuzz. It was pretty cool.

https://images.app.goo.gl/ou72gFZR3qCgx6jX7

[Smit]

The Flint hills is a nice scenic view in Kansas, especially in the spring time.

It seems China is playing 5D chess also.

China raising its retaliatory tariff on the US to 84%, up from 34%, effective April 10

Trump Tariffs Live: China strikes back with 84% tariffs as escalating trade war hits markets

[gcode]

no taxes on 6 fkn big gulps cups of mountain dew a day?

This comment struck a cord with me.
Our Manufacturing Manager died last October. mkd will remember him.
He was a Mountain Dew addict and had been afflicted with life threatening ultra high blood pressure for years.
Early last year he was diagnosed with a cancer in his neck.
He took the surgery and chemo like a boss. I don't think he missed 2 weeks work through the whole thing.
I had been ragging on him for years about his Mountain Dew habit and he said he'd given them up, but I knew it wasn't true. His blood pressure was still sky high and no doubt the Mountain Dew was part of that.
One Friday in Oct, he worked his normal day and went home. That evening he went to the emergency room and was hospitalized with kidney failure and sepsis. He did not survive. I guess the damage induced by a lifetime of high blood pressure and the chemo was too much for his kidneys. This place isn't the same without him.
I helped clean up his office, and stashed in a corner was a large cardboard box full of empty one liter Mountain Dew bottles.

[beej]

I listened to the Ezra Klein podcast yesterday. He interviewed Paul Klugman from the NYT. Klugman went on and on about how the tariffs only hurt the country that puts them in place. Fair enough. But then Ezra Klein asked him what he would say to the leaders of the other countries if they asked him about how to respond. Klugman said that he is actually friends with the new PM of Canada.

He said, I would tell him to retaliate. Because you have to stand up to this bullying.

This is why I have so many questions about tariffs. the message is non-congruent. If the president's policies are only hurting his own country and not Canada, how is that bullying? If I watched a bully threaten me by kicking himself in his own shin, how would most people react to a bully like that? would you then, start kicking your own shins in protest?

I'd like to understand it better, I really would. sitting here in my obtusiveness, i guess.

[Smit]

I'd like to understand it better, I really would. sitting here in my obtusiveness, i guess.

Sorry I can't believe that. I think you understand it exactly the way you want to right now. 

[Smit]

This comment struck a cord with me.
Our Manufacturing Manager died last October. mkd will remember him.
He was a Mountain Dew addict and had been afflicted with life threatening ultra high blood pressure for years.

That's sad, and I expect most guys our ages have a similar story of watching people damage themselves.

TBH I kinda like the idea of JFK talking about healthy lifestyles. If it wasn't for all the crazy whackadoodle stuff....

Some countries actually educate kids on health in school, as well as at home. Not in the fast food culture we Americans live in.

[Bucky Cornstarch]

Just recieved this email from one of our vendors:

The recent developments in U.S. trade regulations have led to the imposition of additional tariffs on goods imported into the United States. Unfortunately, these new tariffs have created significant cost increases for us and our products.
 
In response to these cost pressures, effective April 9th, 2025, we must temporarily adjust our pricing to reflect the new tariff conditions. All existing quotes and orders that have not yet shipped will be affected. While we understand that price adjustments are never ideal, please rest assured that we have worked diligently to minimize the impact on your operations.
 
We want to be as transparent as possible during this process, and our team is available to discuss these changes in greater detail should you have any questions or concerns.
 
We greatly appreciate your understanding and continued partnership as we adjust to these changes.
 
Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration.

This is happening in real time, with real consequences. Anyone else being affected, or is it all hunky dory out in Trumpyland?

[gcode]

Anyone else being affected,

I'm in the process of ordering some thread mills from Israel and a couple of already expensive Rego Fix holders
Haven't seen the numbers yet, but I expect them to be painful

[beej]

Sorry I can't believe that. I think you understand it exactly the way you want to right now. 

I'm skeptical of the people who claim understand it, and I'm skeptical of the flip-floppers on tariffs. But if you understand tariffs so well, explain Klugman's idea that tariffs only hurt the country that puts them in place but Canada should stand up to the bullying. If I had a competitor that was poisoning their own well, I would let them.

[JParis]

expensive Rego Fix holders

One of our local tooling reps "had" a Rego-Fix sale going....past tense, hed...

Good Morning,
 
We've got some unexpected news: due to newly imposed tariffs, we regret to inform you that we must end our current Rego-Fix ER collet flyer promotion early. The original end date was April 30th, but the sale will now end this Friday, April 11th.
 
We know this isn't ideal, and we're genuinely sorry for the short notice. If you've been thinking about stocking up, now's the time! Prices will increase on Monday April 14th due to the factory tariff hikes.

[Newbeeee™]

Just recieved this email from one of our vendors:

This is happening in real time, with real consequences. Anyone else being affected, or is it all hunky dory out in Trumpyland?

We're selling our place here in Spain....a couple (Murrican/German) were really interested - moaned like hell about his 401 and Trump - put a lowball into us and then went cold.
Funnily enough, so has everyone else....

[Jeff]

I'm in the process of ordering some thread mills from Israel and a couple of already expensive Rego Fix holders
Haven't seen the numbers yet, but I expect them to be painful

They do make good stuff, but man they know how to charge for them!

[neurosis]

This could be good news? 

Trump exempts phones, computers, chips from new tariffs


https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/12/trump-exempts-phones-computers-chips-tariffs-apple-dell.html