East Central South Dakota | Long, there is no doubt we are in a super charged political environment. There is also no doubt that the trade war, as of today, has had a negative effect on agriculture, while being supportive to other manufacturing based industries. There is also no doubt that most people don't vote on just one issue. For some people who farm, getting conservative Judges on the bench is more important than trade issues. For some people that farm getting oil pipelines built, getting rid of Waters regulations, defeat of ISIS and ect. ect. ect. are important. To simply frame it as "I got hurt by the trade issue, Trump is bad" is not only an injustice, but over simplifies the situation. I had one of the best years I have ever had in farming in 2018----and it was mostly because I was proactive and not reactive. My family (in a multi-generational context) can make way more money long term by getting Government out of my life then I can make with Government regulating and policing me out of business----regardless what trade policy is. In any cost/benefit analysis there are almost always social benefits that are hard to assign a dollar value to. I will not trade personal freedoms and Constitutional rights for the few pieces of silver that I lost in a trade war----a war that is not even over yet. The trade war might play out all right or we might have got screwed----doesn't matter as other issues are involved also.....
Edited by white shadow 4/15/2019 16:27
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Art of the Deal
