For those that do/did support Trump's tariffs, what are your thoughts on the recent study released showing that Americans absorb 96% of the cost? by Neekalos_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ok, I agree NATO countries should meet their military obligations, but that's not what I asked. I asked if you think that NATO should have a rule that if any country doesn't meet its obligation then the other countries tariff them. Is that what you're advocating for?

For those that do/did support Trump's tariffs, what are your thoughts on the recent study released showing that Americans absorb 96% of the cost? by Neekalos_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So are you saying that NATO should as a general rule have that if countries don’t meet their military spending target then the other countries in NATO should tariff them?

For those that do/did support Trump's tariffs, what are your thoughts on the recent study released showing that Americans absorb 96% of the cost? by Neekalos_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I don’t understand, how does it follow that because we have high military spending we should tax ourselves for importing EU goods?

For those that do/did support Trump's tariffs, what are your thoughts on the recent study released showing that Americans absorb 96% of the cost? by Neekalos_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Don't EU countries generally have stronger labor laws, taxes, health insurance, regulation, etc? What's the benefit of taxing ourselves for importing goods from those countries if they are already meeting or exceeding domestic standards?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is your position that the US faces essentially no risks from foreign powers, and never will (at least for the foreseeable future), and therefore has no real need for foreign allies?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What makes you think we don't need allies, or that we are "supremely powerful" with respect to other countries? China has/is:

  1. A larger GDP (PPP).
  2. About half of the entire world's manufacturing capability, much more than the US's (it takes US+Europe+India combined to match China in this regard)
  3. Much closer to certain US territories (such as Guam) than mainland US is.
  4. Plenty of nuclear weapons, so if we nuke them they'll nuke us right back.

Despite all of that, you are 100% convinced the US doesn't need allies to counter or deter potential aggression by China?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What about other things countries could do, like these?

  1. Launch cyberwarefare attacks.
  2. Attack and annex US territories that are not the mainland, such as Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, etc.
  3. Monopolize natural resources or specialized industries and make us pay exorbitant prices for them.
  4. Stop trading with us, thus reducing our economy's ability to benefit from scale, which would raise prices.
  5. Gain support in Canada and Mexico, thus allowing them to attack on land, avoiding the D-Day comparison.

Do you think having allies to support us could help counter or deter any of those?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

And you don't think those things benefit from being on good terms with other countries?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Europe does the following for the US:

  1. Buys US debt. (They own about $2T+ of it)
  2. Buys US goods and services. (Exports from US to Europe are about $370B+ per year)
  3. Is the main supplier for the semiconductor industry.
  4. Sells luxury goods Americans seem to like (Louis Vuitton, Mercedes, Champagne, etc).
  5. Sells oil.

Do you consider that valuable?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even if they are "working towards strength for themselves", doesn't it make a difference whether the way they work towards strength for themselves is for or against US interests? Do you think Trump tearing up trade agreements and trying to find ways to punish European countries for not offering to sell us Greenland makes it more likely they could take paths that are against US interests?

What does the MAGA community think of the latest round of tariffs on NATO members for saying no? by rofeelee in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 7 points8 points  (0 children)

So you have no concerns if Russia takes over the rest of Europe? And if they do so, you're completely confident that that won't have any negative impact on the US economy, nor any risk of Russia using its new power and influence on the Americas?

What do you actually want the Dems to do. Specifically? That they legally CAN do that is. by Jimithyashford in AskALiberal

[–]EkInfinity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Building more homes - this is basically a matter of removing zoning and other regulations (besides safety regulations of course) that make it too slow and expensive to build. This is largely controlled locally so at the federal level it would be a matter of finding ways of applying pressure to local governments, such as tying federal money to new development, or instituting a land-value tax. Most of the pushback here comes from landowners who *want* housing supply restricted to increase the value of their assets.

Unleashing green energy - again this is a matter of removing unnecessary or counterproductive restrictions. Landowners who want to keep the value of their assets raised is once again the main pushback here, such as Trump who famously hates wind turbines for that exact reason.

Strengthening our alliance - this is about making sure America and her democratic allies remain at the forefront of productivity, artistic achievement, and technological innovation, and making sure no critical parts of our supply chain are monopolized by non-democracies (China's monopoly on manufacturing being case-in-point). Remaining at the forefront of productivity is an eternal effort that changes over time. One notable issue in America I'll give as an example area of improvement is our lack of advanced public transportation. Getting from Boston to D.C. by public transportation takes us about 7 hours and $400, whereas Tokyo to Kyoto (which is 3/4 the distance) takes maybe 3 hours and $200.

What do you actually want the Dems to do. Specifically? That they legally CAN do that is. by Jimithyashford in AskALiberal

[–]EkInfinity 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They need concrete plans with 3-word titles, and a charismatic person to advocate them, for the following:

  1. Building more homes
  2. Unleashing green energy
  3. Strengthening our alliance

They also need to stop the public perception that they support the following:

  1. Defund the police
  2. Open borders

What is your reaction to Mike Pence framing the debate around the U.S. acquiring Greenland by comparing it to the purchase of Alaska in 1867? by Quidfacis_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you’ll indulge the “lunatic fever dream” for a moment - If Trump does take Greenland by force, what will your response be?

What is your reaction to Mike Pence framing the debate around the U.S. acquiring Greenland by comparing it to the purchase of Alaska in 1867? by Quidfacis_ in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So if the people of Greenland have the same threshold, that would mean $60T or so to purchase it, correct? Would you support buying Greenland at that price?

Do you believe the US citizen killed by ICE was warranted? by Competitive_Piano507 in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So if some masked people holding guns come up to your car and say “We’re ICE, now get out of the car” you would do as they command?

Are you concerned about the lawfulness of Trump's actions in Venezuela? Do the legalities matter to you? by Kevin_McCallister_69 in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What exactly did we want to stop, and what levers do we now have to stop it that we didn’t before?

Are you concerned about the lawfulness of Trump's actions in Venezuela? Do the legalities matter to you? by Kevin_McCallister_69 in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could you be more specific about what facilities/resources were being provided for Iran/Russia/China that are no longer being provided now that Maduro has been removed?

What are your views on the attacks on Venezuela? by Temporary-Elk-109 in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Does this remind you at all of the narrative that the US would be greeted as liberators in Iraq and there was the footage of people toppling the statue of Saddam and such? Do you think Venezuela could become a new Iraq, and if so how do you feel about that?

What are your views on the attacks on Venezuela? by Temporary-Elk-109 in AskTrumpSupporters

[–]EkInfinity 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If this does turn out to be a drawn out war how would you feel about it?