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(drewdevault.com)
847 points kick | 2 comments | 20 Nov 19 15:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.471s | source
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mdorazio ◴[20 Nov 19 16:21 UTC] No.21585218[source]▶
The problem is that doing what the author proposes and severing trade relations entirely would be extremely harmful to the 99% of Americans in the short term. Prices for virtually everything would skyrocket far faster than wages. And they would do so for everyone, not just blue collar workers. In the long term things might be better, but it would be a lot more painful to get there than I think most Americans are prepared to stomach.

Personally, my thoughts are in line with the author’s, but realistically we need to be looking at unified trade sanctions on key goods and potentially clamping down on foreign investment in both directions.

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1. esotericn ◴[20 Nov 19 16:28 UTC] No.21585295[source]▶
If you treat the cost of consumer goods in isolation as the only thing that matters in the economy, sure.

People who are gainfully employed do not have a problem with the cost of general goods like food and electronics; this stuff is cheap.

The problem (not only in the US) for most is under/unemployment and the cost of housing.

Because the jobs have been shipped offshore.

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2. zip1234 ◴[20 Nov 19 18:20 UTC] No.21586694[source]▶
The cost of housing is a complicated matter but is mostly not due to jobs going elsewhere. Single family zoning and 'never change' rules in home owners associations and cities are some of the biggest drivers of housing prices.