bass4funk comments

That in itself does not make you correct.

As I have outlined the facts, and as a business owner who does trade, it does.

Trump and his cabal of felons, freaks, and fools wouldn't know a sound economic policy if it showed up on Pam Bondi's desk...

More Lincoln bloviating, adds nothing intelligible to the conversation

Remember, this is the guy that bankrupted a CASINO...a mafioso without a high school degree can profitably run a casino...

What does that have to do with the tariffs?

Canada's and the US economy are so closely intertwined that harm to one becomes harm to the other...

I hope Canada understands this, since they have a lot more to lose

But don't expect this demented doorknob to understand that...

I think the Trump haters are the ones who really don’t understand, because hate is the only thing guiding them, no rational logic or judgment whatsoever….

Trump now whinging he wants -- nay, demands -- Japan to buy more American rice, and Europe to buy more American beef, is proof that he does not understand how international trade, tariffs, and most of all compromiseworks.

And these are things that can be worked out, I also have a house in Japan so I’m not entirely disagreeing with you on this particular part, so this is not finalized so there’s a lot that need to be discussed and I’m sure on this issue the Japanese can get him to understand their position on cars and rice, so negotiations will continue…

He is taking the "partnership" out of "trading partner", he wants to subjugate countries into being tributaries.

I don’t buy that for a second, but I do think both sides need to talk more and understand each other’s culture more and what the people need and want.

You are the one 100% wrong. 

No, absolutely not.

Tariffs are for trade, not used as a weapon against a country or leader because of something Trump does not like.

They are used as leverage, I explained this in detail.

Trump is the president of America,

I know, I voted for the guy.

not the world,

Yes, but we do business with the world and the world has screwed us for decades not anymore, he is trying to level out the playing field, oh and as a matter of fact….

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-could-collect-300-billion-tariff-revenue-this-year-treasury-chief-says-2025-07-08/

This is the new JT should be putting out since they use Reuters a lot instead of only the doom and gloom side of the Trump hate

who can impose his ideology willy-nilly on others. Other countries will retaliate against that.

No, but he’s not going to let the work punk us in trade anymore and if the world doesn’t like it, oh, well….

Trump has crossed a red line with his tariffs, using them as a weapon to control other countries he has no business doing.

Sorry, you are 100% wrong on that one.

And that's perfectly fine. The problem is that Clownstick van Spratan-face is selling the US' trade deficit as "unfair practice from other countries". And that nonsense just doesn't jive with reality.

Just because the U.S. has trade deals with countries like Japan and Canada doesn’t mean everything is fair or finished. Trade agreements aren’t set in stone—they need to be updated as things change. What made sense a few years ago might not work today, especially if other countries like China or the EU are getting better deals.

So what kind of "better deal", "fairer treatment" is the US expecting from Canada? Or Japan for that matter? For the latter there's already a trade agreement in place, under which Japan agreed to cut tariffs on US food and industrial goods. A trade agreement signed by Trump himself

Ok, let’s look at Japan’s situation. Yes, they agreed to cut some tariffs, but a lot of barriers still remain. American beef and dairy producers still struggle to get full access to the Japanese market, and Japan’s auto industry continues to dominate the U.S. while U.S. cars face roadblocks in Japan and yes, I get it, the Japanese don’t want I cars and I personally don’t blame them on that front, but it just goes to show you how complicated tariffs can be. With Canada, the U.S. has dealt with long-standing issues like softwood lumber and dairy protections. Even under USMCA, some of those problems haven’t gone away. Just having a deal on paper doesn’t mean it’s being enforced properly or that it’s completely fair you need to understand this.

So when U.S. leaders talk about a “better deal” or “fairer treatment,” it’s not always about tearing things up, it’s about making sure American workers and industries aren’t falling behind in a fast-changing world.

> I think the US is shooting itself in the foot by acting like this. More and more companies and countries are moving away from the US and finding alternative trade routes just because they can't deal with the unpredictable and fickle trade policies of the US. Companies working with the US have no idea what the tariffs will be not just six months from now but even tomorrow. It is impossible to have a functioning trade relationship under those circumstances.

I get why people say the U.S. looks unpredictable when it comes to trade, but honestly, that flexibility is exactly what makes us strong; it's leverage. The global economy is constantly shifting—countries change their policies, manipulate markets, or undercut American workers with unfair trade practices. If we’re stuck in rigid deals with no way to respond, we lose.

What some call “fickle,” I see as being smart and adaptable. We need to be able to react quickly when other countries aren’t playing fair. That’s not being unstable—it’s protecting American industries and jobs, so Trump and future American conservative Presidents should never apologize for putting Americans and America's national interests first and foremost.

And sure, some companies get nervous. But, seriously, now the U.S. is still the biggest, most important consumer market in the world. Businesses want access to that, and they’ll keep coming back—even if there’s some friction because it’s worth it. So there is no way Canada would stop doing business with the U.S. it just won't happen.

When the U.S. uses tariffs or trade pressure, it’s not just to be difficult. It’s to push for better deals, fairer treatment, and to make sure we’re not the ones getting taken advantage of. And it works. We’ve seen countries come back to the table and make real changes because of it. Every single President going back to Carter wanted to do what Trump is doing, but they were too afraid to go that route, Trump did and it is definitely something to admire and be proud of, for once a U.S. President who kept his promise and not put the world's interests ahead of the U.S..

The truth is, if we just sat back and played nice while others were gaming the system, we’d keep losing jobs, industries, and control over our own economy. So yeah, it might ruffle feathers. But standing up for ourselves in trade isn’t weakness. It’s long-overdue strength.

In some countries like Spain, the locals have attacked the tourists to drive them away. Probably won't happen here.

I wish someone would attack me for just minding my own business. What is wrong with people?

I stopped eating ice cream for the most part, I prefer Frozen yogurt, Pinkberry, or tutti-frutti, Non-fat and less sugar and fat than ice cream has.

For the most part, horrible and many just don't make sense or have nothing to do with the product they are selling, even my Japanese wife thinks they are weird sometimes.

I bodybuilder, so for me, I always watch what I eat, except for weekends, then I am a junkfood whore. Lol

The majority of MAGAs eat whatever is available at the local Walmart and McDonalds.

In your mind, perhaps, but not in the real world.

Having more poorly educated people helps the GOP immensely.

If it keeps Dems out of power, gladly.

Exactly! The people support calling out a dictators actions.

If we had a dictator or a king as you libs say, a lot of peoples heads would be on a chopping block, no king would ever allow dissent of any kind, one myth busted right there.

Rather than to participate in ritualistic billionaire butt kissing.

Democrats

That's not what the orders from your president say.

I’m just saying as long as it’s limited

Otherwise sanctions wouldn't still be on the table.

They are.

The Putin invasion of Ukraine is a threat to NATO,

I know, I know, but I really don’t care. Let Europe take care of itself

Should have been done 100 days ago.

No, it should have been done by the Europeans

Again Trump serves his master Putin.

Mueller debunked that.

Trump taking decisive steps and supporting Ukraine by supplying weapons and 100 % secondary tariffs ? Well well, this once again proves the "he is a Russian asset / Putin puppet " sound bubbles are nothing but Trump ds sufferer nonsense.

Pretty much.

The MAGA fascist regime loves to destroy education..

The left already did that to the public schools.

No. It won’t.

You keep saying that and every single time you’re proven wrong.

Thats exactly why they're pursing this making education only the rich can afford. Dictators love keeping the populace uneducated.

Really?

https://youtu.be/NhH43XRAKV0?si=bhMnjcr1kjcO8QRt

No one can challenge them if they're believing his lies, and willfully blinding themselves from his scandals.

Who tried to censor who during the last administration all over social media and the courts and on TV? It wasn’t the GOP.

You wind up being a keyboard warrior like everyone's hated friend here.

Like the Trump hating one’s, go on…

Blindly supporting the modern musallini, we can only hope it ends the same way for this dictator.

Not sure what that meant was, the Dems will have a chance one day when they kick radicalism and gender and race politics and a war on capitalism to the curb.

ROFL...how is a RED STATE blue?

No one said it was.

This is getting good....

Not for the left, they really can’t say or claim anything with their own inexcusable abysmal record when it comes to public education

Where, at the Dept of Education?

Yes

Better read the article again... LMAO....

I did

Home-schooled kids lack social skills with others.

Public school kids lack basic communication skills and common sense

The American literacy rate is too low for the dollars spent.

We have too many unqualified and too many awakened teachers

Approximately 21% of U.S. adults have difficulty with basic literacy, and a substantial 54% read below a sixth-grade level. This indicates a need for improvement in literacy education and initiatives. 

The American literacy rate is 79%.

Japan's literacy rate is consistently high, often cited as 99%. This high rate aligns with the country's strong performance in international assessments of reading and mathematics, such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Ok, but what does all that have anything to do with rich blue states with money having minorities who are falling behind, red states, I get it, poor lack of funding, but blue states, should not happen and it is.

I would think that since your POOR RED STATES are so far behind and clearly failing at educating their children, you'd be focused on that...

Who do these people usually vote for? Team blue. I mean, I grew up in California, but always voted red, same analogy.

and the fact that Trump is now making that situation much worse by taking away the federal funding these POOR RED STATES rely on...

Well, then I would suggest getting a job if you physically can.

Nope, Congress has checked how it is being used and approved it. The president has no authority to change that.

He did, now what?

And yet he isn’t doing this. He just cut the funding. He hasn’t done any kind of investigation at all.

And now what?

And even if he did, if he wants to change it, he has to use Congress.

True, but Congress will go along with this.

Not enough homeskooling.

So you are saying that in California and most of the West Coast, most minority kids are falling behind because of homeschooling?

American institutional racism restricts the educational achievements of minority students. This is not simply a matter of individual prejudice, but rather systemic barriers embedded in policies and practices that perpetuate inequalities. 

In other words, California and the Democrats are racists? Well, at least they can't blame Republicans since its a one-party state.

Schools with predominantly minority student populations often receive less funding than those with mostly White students, impacting the quality of teachers, resources, and overall learning environment.

More reason as to why Newsom is a villain with his racist policies holding these people back.

Good, now he's got them, and now the talks can begin. This is how you get these people to the table

In other words, they don't exist.

Because YOU, of all people, say so? Oh, boy, here we go....lol

It's just cutting off money for poor kids because poor kids are a waste of money, and not as important as billionaires.

And who are the billionaires overwhelmingly? Democrats.

Nope.

Absolutely!

Flailing. You don't have to support this move, you know.

If Parents can work, they should work and get off their butts, and no money should be given. If there are kids who don't have parents, but are orphans, they will be provided for. It's the same as Medicaid; if you are able-bodied and can work, you should not get a dime, but if there is no other way and you can prove that you are incapable of working, then you will get aid. Please stop listening to that super smart Maddow.

"US states consistently rank low in educational attainment include West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with West Virginia often cited as having the lowest overall education levels. Other states that frequently appear in the bottom ranks are Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama."

All RED...

I understand poor states, I get that, always been historically, but why are kids failing in Blue states? These states are loaded with cash, and yet, kids, particularly minority kids, are falling behind in reading and math. How is that even possible? Racism? 

https://www.city-journal.org/article/education-reform-students-reading-math-republican-states

Poor kids are.

Read the article.

I read the article, and they will be fine, particularly the needy ones. Hey, what is up with you guys and the concern?! Lol

You mean Russell Vought. Trump doesn't care one way or the other.

The left only cared about identity politics, gender politics, and mutilating children

I haven't seen anything specific about how these programs aren't working, are wasting money, or what the administration's "goals" for poor kids are.

You may not have, and I am sorry, and not sure why Trump didn't fill you in, but I will send him a text and tell him to show you the budget spreadsheets, I got you!

Can you provide those specifics?

I'm good, but sadly, I am not in the budget and education department 

I'm sure A1 can help.

No need, it doesn't know either