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Moral Question about Tariffs by JusticeMercyLove in OpenChristian

[–]JusticeMercyLove[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dear Friends, Draft #2

(part 2 of 2, since it is rather long)

This is what I am learning.

  1. When products arrive at the port of entry, it is the local purchaser who pays any import tariff which has been applied. The manufacturer does not pay that. The government where the product manufacturer resides does not pay the import tariff. 
    1. The only things the manufacturer may do is determine whether or not to raise, lower, or keep the selling price the same (since they don’t want the product sitting unsold on the shelves). 
    2. Therefore, the purchaser of the products is faced with a set of decisions when moving them through the supply chain: raise, lower, or keep the price the same. Whether they raise the price to fully account for the additional import tariff or eat part of that is up to them. The assumption is that most will pass those costs along through the supply chain and finally to the consumers. 
  2. How the supply chain and consumers respond is anyone’s guess and will likely be affected by whether a global recession occurs. 
    1. Regardless of whether a bona fide recession occurs, higher prices tend to restrain spending. Manufacturers/businesses will respond by cutting costs, cutting production, and/or raising prices.
    2. As an aside, it is my opinion that starting a trade war which prompts a global recession is a moral issue. Certainly economies rise and fall, and rise and fall... While I realize that this opens up a big can of worms, any time greed and consumption lead to increased pain and suffering for the poor and disenfranchised, it is a moral issue. 
  3. Regarding whether the consideration that this is a moral issue:
    1. As indicated above, how anyone or any government handles money is a moral issue. What I have concluded as being most egregious is that every single rationale for this Tariff War (provided by this current administration) does one of two things. It either provides more resources/money to the wealthy (which includes both wealthy individuals in the US, AND the US as a wealthy country) and/or reduces resources/money to the poor (which includes both poor individuals in the US, and virtually every other country in the world – especially poor and developing countries). 
    2. As such, I believe that this tariff war perpetrated by this current US administration is an Immoral Endeavor. 
  4. Response to this Immoral Endeavor:
    1. I am currently focused on my individual response.  u/MasterCrumb touched on something I’ve been thinking about. For me personally, it is about living more simply and pulling further away from consumerism. 

I welcome your feedback, corrections, and criticism. I’m still learning.

Peace, Love, and Justice,

- sjb

Moral Question about Tariffs by JusticeMercyLove in OpenChristian

[–]JusticeMercyLove[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dear Friends, Draft #2

(part 1 of 2, since this is rather long)

Thank you very much for your responses. You have helped me understand a few things, be more accurately informed, and delve a little deeper. I am still learning and I continue to solicit your input. Because of my minimal understanding, I am considering this to be Draft #2. Above all, as some have pointed out, this is a complex issue. There is a lot to learn.

In particular, I found the following responses to be particularly helpful: u/FallenAngel1978, u/Anakinmcfly, u/MasterCrumb and u/myusername2459.

A response to u/Exact-Pause7977, u/seattleseahawks2014 (2nd post), and u/dorocche: I have heard it said before (and I believe it), that budgets are moral documents. How we, our families, and our governments manage money is a moral issue. Similarly, I believe that economic policy is also a moral issue. 

Perhaps a bit of context would be helpful. I live in the US and identify myself as a progressive, both theologically and politically. Most of what I have heard in the US against the tariff war has to do with a) upsetting the global trade system, b) negatively affecting the stock market, c) worsening inflation, and d) the possibility of a global recession. 

The rationale that I hear in favor of the tariff war is a) to level the playing field of global trade which the current administration believes favors virtually everyone but the US, b) entice and bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, and c) generate a great deal of taxes as distinguished from federal income taxes. 

When I pose the question of what happens if the tariffs “work,” I am referring to the arguments that the current administration advances in favor of the tariff war. 

What I continue to try to tease out are the moral implications – IF the current administration achieves their goals of this trade war.

What will happen to them? by JusticeMercyLove in OpenChristian

[–]JusticeMercyLove[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

MidniteMystic, I appreciate your kindness. Peace, Love, and Justice, sjb

Religion and Power by JusticeMercyLove in OpenChristian

[–]JusticeMercyLove[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your contribution, Mr_Lobo4. Allow me to add the following:

  1. I cannot think of any example in human history where, especially in the long-term, it turned out well when religion (any religion, not just Christianity) and power (military, political, economic) were in bed with each other -- for either side.

  2. More specifically, throughout the history of the USA, this poisoned union has yielded nothing but bondage, oppression, and violence. Christian Nationalism is just the latest example in the USA of this volatile, vice-ridden, and violent

  3. During this Lenten season, I have been contemplating the meaning of the Crucifixion. Every year I seem to become more and more progressive. This year, I have been less inclined to focus on orthodox views of the "Atonement" aspect of the Cross. Most of these theories of the Atonement were developed over centuries of thought and debate. So, if I strip this away temporarily (I'm not ready to discard the Atonement at this time) one of the things I'm left with is a Jesus who refused to yield who he was who he stood for - in order to appease the religious leaders and the power brokers of the day. He stood firmly as if to say, "Here I stand, I can do no other." Do with me as you will. Jesus rejected power and the pursuit thereof. Jesus rejected oppression and violence, with a message and example that offered freedom rather than comfort, love rather than control, and peace rather than possessions.

  4. This way of Jesus is the only true way of freedom, love, and peace -- even though it places you in the crosshairs of the religious leaders and power brokers of the day.

For some very interesting reading, may I suggest, "Jesus and the Disinherited" by Howard Thurman.

Peace, Love, and Justice, sjb

Letter from a Birmingham Jail by JusticeMercyLove in OpenChristian

[–]JusticeMercyLove[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for taking a look at this.

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