Trade Wars and Tariffs

[lawgator1]

Trump knows about tariffs that you every will. He deals with manufacturing and material costs every day, I'd say he's pretty intune with imports.

You believe that, don't you. Actually genuinely think that.

 

[Orange_Crush]

Exactly which Trump enterprise manufactures an actual product?

MAGA hats, Trump 2028 hats, Bibles...

But he's definitely a Real Estate guru. He lives in y'all's heads rent free.

 

[kiddiedoc]

It’s an absolute falsehood that people were better off in terms of standard of living

3x as many households have multiple cars compared to the 60s.

Average home size (by SF) has nearly doubled (now roughly 2500). Hong Kong, China, India, and Japan average 500-600sf. UK 800.

Tough times in the US.

 

[Vol8188]

3x as many households have multiple cars compared to the 60s.

Average home size (by SF) has nearly doubled (now roughly 2500). Hong Kong, China, India, and Japan average 500-600sf. UK 800.

Tough times in the US.

Just something liberals say to make them self feel better for their own failure.

“I would’ve been successful! If only I were born in the 60s!”

 

[BeardedVol]

MAGA hats, Trump 2028 hats, Bibles...

But he's definitely a Real Estate guru. He lives in y'all's heads rent free.

Those are contract produced by third-party companies. He has nothing to do with managing the supply chains of the companies that produce those products.

 

[Orange_Crush]

Those are contract produced by third-party companies. He has nothing to do with managing the supply chains of the companies that produce those products.

It was a joke, Debbie.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Just something liberals say to make them self feel better for their own failure.

“I would’ve been successful! If only I were born in the 60s!”

No internet, no wireless communication devices, no streaming TV or movies, only purchased physical music albums could be played at discretion, almost no delivery food service, no higher level calculators or computers, no household printers, no digital maps or location guidance (other than a compass), no microwaves, no Kamado grills, no digital musical effects, production, or recording, no ice makers, low definition TV with only a couple of games televised weekly, no online gambling, no video games, no jumbotrons, no EVs, minimal solar and nuclear power generation, mail was slow as hell, you had to lick stamps...

Heck, the only thing I can think of that's worse now is that froo-froo designer poodle mix breed dogs were created.

P.S. sorry, second thing: gun control laws.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

No internet, no wireless communication devices, no streaming TV or movies, only purchased physical music albums could be played at discretion, almost no delivery food service, no higher level calculators or computers, no household printers, no digital maps or location guidance (other than a compass), no microwaves, no Kamado grills, no digital musical effects, production, or recording, no ice makers, low definition TV with only a couple of games televised weekly, no online gambling, no video games, no jumbotrons, no EVs, minimal solar and nuclear power generation, mail was slow as hell, you had to lick stamps...

Heck, the only thing I can think of that's worse now is that froo-froo designer poodle mix breed dogs were created.

How on earth did we survive then?

 

[kiddiedoc]

How on earth did we survive then?

I was raised with two brothers and two working parents, so we basically ran wild and beat the **** out of each other.

The invention of the boom box and pong->Atari->C64->Nintendo changed everything.

 

[appvol]

It was announced in 2024 that UPS was cutting it's business with Amazon and would be closing facilities and laying off employees. The lies you guys fall for are truly amazing.

Dayum. 20,000. This comes on the heels of signing a lucrative contract with their drivers and already shuttering several facilities.

30 years in at UPS. When I 1st started driving in the early 2000s I would always get laid off at the beginning of the year. I would bump back into the part time shift to get my 8hrs in. A lot of the new buildings are automated that UPS has built so you don’t need as many part timers working. A lot the layoffs are probably part timers. During Covid we got crazy busy and UPS hired a bunch of drivers then. I’m on pace to make more money than ever this year. On a side note UPS CEO is a idiot that’s never done this job

 

[dalton_vol]

Exactly which Trump enterprise manufactures an actual product?

You do know that he purchases materials to build things, right? Large quantities. You understand that right? He's followed steel prices, building prices for decades. He's been doing it for longer than you've been alive

 

[DinkinFlicka]

3x as many households have multiple cars compared to the 60s.

Average home size (by SF) has nearly doubled (now roughly 2500). Hong Kong, China, India, and Japan average 500-600sf. UK 800.

Tough times in the US.

Not planting my flag on either side of this argument just yet but I will say square footage doesn't equate to a higher standard of living as much at does to decadence.

I'm not one to place value on a big yard unless you utilize it. I also wonder why the hell westerners need a den, a living room, and a bonus room when they all serve the same lack of utility.

Just my take. I recently started working remotely and lasted about 3 work days in my house before I had to grab my laptop and go work somewhere else.

Signed,
Not a homebody

 

[kiddiedoc]

I had to grab my laptop and go work somewhere else.

Like I said, tough times.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Like I said, tough times.

I don't feel like that supports your argument when laptops exist in the countries you listed with small square footage homes.

 

[kiddiedoc]

I don't feel like that supports your argument when laptops exist in the countries you listed with small square footage homes.

The comparison that I'm refuting was to life in the 60s. "Remote working" wasn't exactly an option.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

Certainly life is more convenient than it was in 1980. That's technological advancement for you. You have trade offs.

Buying a house was a something the lower class could afford not but a decade ago. Then it became more of a lower middle class thing. Since 2020, it's something reserved for well-to-do singles or middle class couples.

My grandpa bought his house when he was 19, single, and waiting tables.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Certainly life is more convenient than it was in 1980. That's technological advancement for you. You have trade offs.

Buying a house was a something the lower class could afford not but a decade ago. Then it became more of a lower middle class thing. Since 2020, it's something reserved for well-to-do singles or middle class couples.

My grandpa bought his house when he was 19, single, and waiting tables.

The low interest rates in the early 80s really helped. My parents financed a couple in the 14-16% range.

Rates 10 years ago were in the 3-4% range (finishing the last payment on our 2.8% this year!) but did rise sharply after 2020. What happened?

 

[DinkinFlicka]

The low interest rates in the early 80s really helped. My parents financed a couple in the 14-16% range.

No doubt.

Homes are just grossly overpriced these days.

Think of what 400k got you in 2015 versus now. Meanwhile, median wages have only slightly budged upward since.

 

[kiddiedoc]

No doubt.

Homes are just grossly overpriced these days.

Think of what 400k got you in 2015 versus now. Meanwhile, median wages have only slightly budged upward since.

On that we can definitely agree. A brick rectangle in my neck of west knox is $1M+ now. It's absurd. When I tell younger people what we paid for our house 9.5 years ago, they don't believe me.

I really don't see how young, recent grads with student loans and starting a family can afford anything in town. Rent is no better.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

On that we can definitely agree. A brick rectangle in my neck of west knox is $1M+ now. It's absurd. When I tell younger people what we paid for our house 9.5 years ago, they don't believe me.

I really don't see how young, recent grads with student loans and starting a family can afford anything in town. Rent is no better.

Rent is sad. I still rent because any time I've been in a position to buy in the past decade, I didn't have a good feeling in my gut. Things would be different if I had crotch goblins or a wife, sure.

Sucks not paying into equity, but I also played landlord in my twenties and that was a pain in my ass.

The fact that landlords have driven up their own collective market value is a shame. Sure, you expect incremental increases over time, but you saw Knoxville's rent nearly triple in 7 years time.

I'm a capitalist at heart but landlords are collective dicks right now, lol.

 

[kiddiedoc]

Rent is sad. I still rent because any time I've been in a position to buy in the past decade, I didn't have a good feeling in my gut. Things would be different if I had crotch goblins or a wife, sure.

Sucks not paying into equity, but I also played landlord in my twenties and that was a pain in my ass.

The fact that landlords have driven up their own collective market value is a shame. Sure, you expect incremental increases over time, but you saw Knoxville's rent nearly triple in 7 years time.

I'm a capitalist at heart but landlords are collective dicks right now, lol.

I have a son at UT (2 next year) and understand the downtown rental market entirely too well. Places advertising to students for $1200-2500/month PER BEDROOM. GTFO.

I drove by a new little development off Cambell station the other day and Zillow searched a house for sale. It was new and pretty, but boring with no yard or amenities. $1.4 M with estimated monthly payment of $8k given current rates.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

I have a son at UT (2 next year) and understand the downtown rental market entirely too well. Places advertising to students for $1200-2500/month PER BEDROOM. GTFO.

I drove by a new little development off Cambell station the other day and Zillow searched a house for sale. It was new and pretty, but boring with no yard or amenities. $1.4 M with estimated monthly payment of $8k given current rates.

I remember thinking those by-the-room complexes near Cherokee Medical were absurd in my day. I think they were 300-400?

Lordy I wish I had held onto my 4th/Gill and Parkridge props. I'd have sold them all for a 500%+ turn and would be retiring early and living on a Mediterranean beach right now.

I can't stand most new builds anyway. I'm also NOT a fan of craftsman. The ones from scratch are bad enough, but when I see these queen anne vics in Mechanicsville and historic north being turned into stupid craftsman homes it makes me blood boil.

 

[BeardedVol]

You do know that he purchases materials to build things, right? Large quantities. You understand that right? He's followed steel prices, building prices for decades. He's been doing it for longer than you've been alive

Lol, you think Trump purchases building materials for his buildings?

This is really what you believe?

 

[kiddiedoc]

I remember thinking those by-the-room complexes near Cherokee Medical were absurd in my day. I think they were 300-400?

Lordy I wish I had held onto my 4th/Gill and Parkridge props. I'd have sold them all for a 500%+ turn and would be retiring early and living on a Mediterranean beach right now.

I can't stand most new builds anyway. I'm also NOT a fan of craftsman. The ones from scratch are bad enough, but when I see these queen anne vics in Mechanicsville and historic north being turned into stupid craftsman homes it makes me blood boil.

I paid $600 for a 3BR off Chapman.

In full transparency, one of my best friends owns an inherited condo at Cherokee Bluffs, and we have a nice agreement in place while he renovates it and my son and friends live there. Otherwise, he would probably be commuting.

Another best friend bought and is renovating one of the nicer historic homes in the north/4th and Gill area. She paid a ton for it but it's looking really awesome. She had to preserve much of the character and style and has done well abiding by that. It's been an expensive project though.

 

[TheDeeble]

It was announced in 2024 that UPS was cutting it's business with Amazon and would be closing facilities and laying off employees. The lies you guys fall for are truly amazing.

Amazon wasn’t a big money maker for them. Same reason fedex dropped them a few years ago. Amazon kept the bulk deliveries and packages in the cities that were cheap/convenient for their delivery and farmed out the single deliveries spread out all across the county to ups/fedex. More time consuming and expensive to deliver all the individual packages spread out.

Talked to a friend of mine at UPS. He thinks some of it is the most recent union contract UPS agreed to. There are instances where drivers can get paid 4x hourly. (Yes quadruple overtime). If you work more than 9.5 hours a day three days in a row you can file a grievance and get 4x pay for those hours over. So you get drivers that drag their feet on routes that should take around 8 hours give or take to make it last 11-12 hours. Do that 3 days in a row then file grievance for 4x hourly pay for those 6-8 hours over. 1st 8 hours is straight time. Over 40 is time and half. But hit that 9.5 3 days in a row and those go to 4x. And it’s not like UPS is creating routes that take that long. Drivers can drag it out on purpose. And if UPS tries to have someone follow them on their route to see if they’re intentionally going slow the union will just claim he’s being harassed.

So employees have an incentive to drag their feet to make incredible overtime on a bunch of Amazon packages that weren’t making UPS money to begin with.

Like you’ve suggested it likely has nothing to do with tariffs.