neukm - 7/7/2018 20:23

So you had hogs a few years longer than I did, but it sounds like we've sold the same number of crops. Now, what does that have to do with this discussion? And tariffs are the long term answer to what exactly? This is not the 1950s when the US was essentially the only economy in the world, there are alternatives today and protectionist trade policies will only slow economic growth. The only way this is a good strategy is if an agreement can be reached soon resulting in a reduction of trade barriers from where we began. I don't necessarily believe that is underway or happening.

It's pretty easy to understand the criticism towards the POTUS. This administration is the first one in a long time to actively oppose the economic interest of agriculture, from exiting TPP, RINS waivers and imposing tariffs on our best customers. Trump is criticized because essentially he brought a coup to the Republican Party. The conservative movement, Chamber of Commerce types and Libertarian leaners are essentially left without a party, in favor of big government trade unions, and authoritarian Statism. You don't hear Democrats condemning Trump on the tariffs, because they agree with him. It's a few Rebulicans who are secure enough to risk a tweet storm who are speaking out, like Ben Sasse and Mitt Romney. Had the previous administration publicly threatened Harley Davidson, this forum would rightfully condemn it, but only silence now. It's going to take a great leader to reunite the fractured Republican base post Trump, and THAT is shortsighted.